JJ Spaun emerged on top of a bunched leaderboard to win the BMW PGA Championship in his maiden appearance.
At the start of the day at Wentworth, Manuel Elvira and Filippo Celli co-led by one, but there were a host of big names firmly in contention.
As well as 2025 US Open champion Spaun, others still in with a realistic chance of victory included 2014 winner Rory McIlroy, Aaron Rai and Adam Scott.
Joost Luiten was the early clubhouse leader after an eight-under-par 64 took him to 14 under, but it wasn't long before he was surpassed.
Rai made three consecutive birdies between the 12th and 14th to move into the solo lead at 15 under. However, the Englishman couldn't build on that, finishing with four consecutive pars.
Elvira joined Rai at the top with a birdie at the 10th, while McIlroy recovered from a bogey at the 11th as he began to make a charge.
He birdied the 14th and 17th to get to 15 under, and he would have been confident of at least a birdie on the 18th to take the outright lead.
Rory McIlroy finished tied for second
He couldn’t take advantage, though, finding a bunker off the tee, which forced a layup.
He still left himself with a putt for birdie, but when it narrowly missed, he was stranded at 15-under-par and at the mercy of the contenders with holes to play.
One was Spaun, who seized his opportunity. The American birdied the 15th to join the leaders before his third consecutive birdie at the 16th took him into the solo lead.
He then left himself a 28-foot eagle putt at the par-5 18th. Although his attempt came up short, he still made a birdie for a five-under 67 to set the new clubhouse target at 17 under.
JJ Spaun won by two
Elvira was still chasing, but when he missed a birdie putt at the 16th, it strengthened Spaun's chances.
The Spaniard responded brilliantly, making an eagle at the 17th to join Spaun at the top of the leaderboard.
That left him needing a birdie at the par-5 18th to claim his maiden professional victory outright, while a par would have forced a playoff.
However, his second shot found a bunker and his third flew over the green. After taking a free drop, Elvira found another bunker with his fourth, leaving him needing to hole his next shot to force extra holes.
Manuel Elvira made a double-bogey at the 18th hole
He couldn't manage it, and after missing his short putt for bogey, he closed with a double to leave him tied for second at 15 under alongside Rai, McIlroy and Adam Scott, with Spaun taking a two-shot victory.
Following the win, Spaun said: "It means so much. You know, I've kind of blossomed into this player I never thought I could be, and to take my game across the world, and more specifically here in England, a place that's dear to my family's heart, we vacation here quite a bit.
"The stars kind of aligned this week for me to come out on top, and I'm just grateful to have the opportunity and play and play well and give myself a chance and came out with a W."
"Daddy won! Daddy won!" Celebrating with a call to the kids ❤️#BMWPGA | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/BFbvNyspdWSeptember 20, 2026
Despite also winning the Valero Texas Open earlier in the season, Spaun didn't make the US Presidents Cup team, and he admitted that had given him motivation.
He added: "But yeah, I played with a huge chip on my shoulder. I definitely had something to prove this week. But everything happens for a reason. I'm so delighted to be here and just to even play this event."
BMW PGA Championship Leaderboard
- 1st (-17) JJ Spaun (67)
- T2 (-15) Aaron Rai (66)
- T2 (-15) Adam Scott (68)
- T2 (-15) Rory McIlroy (68)
- T2 (-15) Manuel Elvira (70)
- T6 (-14) Joost Luiten (64)
- T6 (-14) Matt Fitzpatrick (67)
- T6 (-14) Ryan Fox (68)
- T6 (-14) Filippo Celli (71)
Key Links
Live updates From...
WELCOME!
Welcome to Golf Monthly's coverage of the final few hours of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
Joost Luiten is back in the clubhouse leader on -14, but there are a host of players looking to chase him down over the closing holes, including Rory McIlroy, Ryan Fox, Joaquin Niemann and JJ Spaun.
Follow along for live updates in what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the DP World Tour's flagship event.
BUNCHED LEADERBOARD
Joost Luiten, who set the clubhouse target of -14, is now joined at the top of the leaderboard by Aaron Rai and Joaquin Niemann.
But they're not the only ones in the hunt, with Rory McIlroy and JJ Spaun among five just one back of the leaders.
66 FOR LAGERGREN
At 18, Joakim Lagergren makes a birdie for a 66 to get him to -13. It won't be enough to win, but it's his best BMW PGA Championship finish.
AARON RAI SEIZES LEAD!
What a run Aaron Rai is on! His third consecutive birdie at the 14th gets him to -15 and into the solo lead.
12th: birdie13th: biride14th: birdieThe 2026 PGA Champion leads at Wentworth 👌#BMWPGA | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/XjZK50khwCSeptember 20, 2026
CLOSE!
JJ Spaun attempts to replicate his sensational winning putt at the US Open. But at the 8th, rather than finding the cup from distance, it strays left and he remains on -13.
NEAR-MISS FOR MATT
Matt Fitzpatrick is a whisker away from a fourth consecutive birdie at the 13th, but he remains on -12, three back of Rai.
NOREN ON TRACK
You can't write off the chances of defending champion Alex Noren just yet either. He drains a birdie putt at the 14th to get within two of the lead.
NOT QUITE, MATT
Another close call for Fitzpatrick at the 14th results in another par to keep him at -12. But with just four to play and three back of Rai, it seems he's running out of chances in his homeland.
McILROY IN TROUBLE
McIlroy is scrambling at the par-4 11th, but with his third, which he needs to pop over a greenside bunker and into position on the green, it all goes badly wrong.
It fails to clear the sand and rolls back into it, leaving him in some bother.
He does about as well as he can from the bunker, getting within four feet or so, which he'll have to convert for bogey.
BOGEY
It's damage limitation for McIlroy at the 11th, and he gets away with a bogey to remain in touch. He's on -12, three behind Rai.
PAR FOR RAI AT 15TH
Aaron Rai has a lengthy birdie putt at the 15th to extend the lead to two, but it's not to be, drifting right, and he remains on -15.
MCILROY BRILLIANCE
After an errant tee shot at the par-5 12th, Rory McIlroy finids himself among some trees. But what a response! His hook leaves it just short of the green.
MCILROY ON THE CHARGE!
At 14, McIlroy confidently makes a birdie putt to move to -14 and just one back of the leaders! He's on a charge!
BITTERSWEET FOR RAI
Aaron Rai co-leads but he'll be disappointed with his finish, with four consecutive pars to close out his round and leave him on -15.
CLOSE!
Rory McIlroy senses blood, but his long birdie putt at the 15th leads to groans from the gallery as it strays left. He's on -14, one back of Rai and Elvira.
GREAT EFFORT
Matt Fitzpatrick gives himself a chance right at the last. It's a long putt for eagle, but if it drops, he'll share the clubhouse lead.
A long shot, maybe. Let's see how he does. It's a narrow miss high and that means he finishes on -14.
MCILROY STILL IN IT
Rory McIlroy is on the 17th fairway with a 5-iron. It's a par-5 so he'll be looking to make inroads.
He has 253 yards to the pin... and he runs off the back of the green. That's OK, though. It leaves an outside chance of an eagle, or a birdie at worst, you'd think...
WHAT A PUTT, JJ!
What a putt from JJ Spain. At the 15th, his right-to-left is in all the way and that gets him to -15!
FOUR-WAY TIE FOR LEAD!
A bogey at an inopportune moment for Manuel Elvira at the 14th gives a group of players more hope. One is McIlroy, who completes a birdie at 17 to move into a four-way tie for the lead!
FRUSTRATION!
McIlroy finds a bunker off his tee shot at the par-5 18th. That forces a lay-up - frustrating when he knows a birdie would likely get his nose in front.
WHAT A FINISH!
Matt Wallace couldn't quite get himself in contention in the final round, but what a way to finish!
The perfect pace 😮💨@mattsjwallace finishes his week with an eagle at his home course.#BMWPGA | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/VSC3HAAnwRSeptember 20, 2026
SPAUN HITS FRONT!
JJ Spaun makes his third birdie in a row at 16 to hit the front! He's on -16 with two to play!
BRILLIANT, RORY!
Soon after Spaun hits the front, McIlroy gives himself a great chance for birdie with his approach at the 18th - he's few feet from the pin.
PAR AT 18 FOR MCILROY
McIlroy's birdie putt from the fringe of the green narrowly misses! He's all smiles as he heads off the green though, and why not? He's -15 and still in this. JJ Spaun leads by one.
MANUEL CLOSE!
Manuel Elvira has a look for birdie at 16. This to join JJ Spaun a the top of the leaderboard! Is it in? It looks it, until it doesn't - falling inches short to leave him on -15.
SPAUN ON COURSE FOR VICTORY
Leader JJ Spaun is poised for his tee shot at the par-5 18th. A birdie or better here would take him close to the title, with Manuel Elvira his nearest challenger on the course one back.
He finds the fairway.
SPAUN MARCHES ON
Spaun's second isn't half bad either. He's on the green in two and looking at a 28-footer for eagle.
SPAUN LEADS BY TWO SHOTS
JJ Spaun's eagle chance is on the perfect line, but comes up a few revolutions short. He takes his birdie and moves to -17.
ELVIRA ROARS BACK!
Spaun's two-shot lead doesn't last long. Manuel Elvira He makes an eagle at 17 to draw level with the American, meaning he just needs a birdie at the par-5 18th to win it!
ELVIRA EYES FIRST PROFESSIONAL WIN
Manuel Elvira has yet to get a pro win. He's now potentially one hole from getting there at the DP World Tour's flagship event.
He's tied with JJ Spaun at -17, but crucially, Spaun is back in the clubhouse.
At the par-5 18th, Elvira has a long iron, and misses the fairway left. Not ideal, but a birdie will do it.
BUNKER!
Perhaps the nerves are kicking in for Manuel Elvira, but his second shot finds a bunker...
Meanwhile, JJ Spaun keeps himself going on the range.
ELVIRA STUMBLES
More trouble for Elvira, whose third flies over the green, and after a free drop, is 22 yards from the pin.
He needs to hole this to win in regulation. It's a disaster! He finds a greenside bunker and now needs to hole it from the bunker to reach a playoff.
JJ SPAUN WINS BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP!
Manuel Elvira's fifth from the bunker needs to go in. It misses and that hands JJ Spaun the BMW PGA Championship title!
ELVIRA FINISHES WITH DOUBLE-BOGEY
To compound Elvira's misery, he misses a short putt for bogey, eventually finishing T2 after a double-bogey.