Career Grand Slam winner Rory McIlroy returns to this week’s BMW PGA Championship aiming to add to his past success and make a special week in Surrey even sweeter.
Related: Shane Lowry cruises to Amgen Irish Open win
The World Number Two triumphed at Wentworth Club in 2014 when he overturned a seven-shot overnight deficit, posting a closing 66 to clinch victory over close friend and now seven-time DP World Tour winner Shane Lowry.
It marked his first professional win on British soil and kickstarted a remarkable run of form that saw him go on to win The Open and US PGA Championship.
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More than a decade on, the Northern Irishman is hoping to replicate his winning ways on the West Course, in a week that sits among his favourites of the year.
McIlroy, who finished strongly at last week’s Amgen Irish Open, will need to outplay a world-class field on the outskirts of London, including defending champion Alex Norén.
The Swede secured his second BMW PGA Championship title last year after making a birdie on the first play-off hole to pip Frenchman Adrien Saddier to victory following an enthralling final round.
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He will now look to join an exclusive group of three-time winners – Sir Nick Faldo holds the record with four victories, one ahead of Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie who have both won three times in the DP World Tour era since 1972.
Spaniard Jon Rahm will be among those also challenging for the title, in search of his sixth Rolex Series victory.
The two-time Major Champion and former World Number One boasts an impressive record over his four previous appearances at Wentworth Club, finishing runner-up in 2019 and 2022, fourth in 2023 and tied 13th last season.
Reigning US PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai, who will tee it up with McIlroy and Open Champion Ryan Fox across the first two rounds, will be hoping to build on an already impressive year, as will fellow English Major winner Justin Rose, in what will mark his 21st appearance at the historic event.
Player Quotes
Rory McIlroy: It’s always nice to be back, I guess even more meaningful now that we have a home here. It really does feel like a home event. I haven’t always had the best of times around the West Course, but certainly over the last few years I’ve played well here, given myself some chances to win.
I feel it’s a great event. A great field is always assembled, and we always play in front of an amazing atmosphere. Honestly, it’s one of my favourite weeks of the year. Looking forward to getting going again.
Obviously I’m in a very fortunate position, I guess, to be going for an eighth Race to Dubai. I can’t believe I’m sitting here with seven. So, yeah, I’d love to give myself a chance again.
Last week wasn’t a great week for me in terms of the overall points. Patrick (Reed) had a good week, and I didn’t have such a great week. I’m going to try – I’m going to have to try to make up for that this week.
I’m certainly motivated to play well for the rest of the year. Still working on some things in my swing, so just trying to have a balance between still keeping an eye on that but trying to play my best golf and give myself some chances to win.
It doesn’t matter who’s up there. I think being second right now and being a little ways off first, that’s motivation enough to try to finish the year off well.
