Often considered the flagship event of the European Tour, the BMW PGA Championship returns to its Wentworth home this Thursday, 24th May. Across three days, the world’s most prestigious and skilled golfers, including reigning champion Luke Donald and rival Rory McIlroy, will compete on the par 73 West Course at the renowned Surrey golf club.
The BMW PGA Championship has attracted an abundance of golf pros and fans since its inauguration in 1955 and the Wentworth West Course has hosted the event for over twenty years. Celebrated architect Harry Colt designed the course, using the large areas of pine, oak and birch woodland to create well-defined hole routings which have stood the test of time. In 2005 however, the course went under an impressive renovation project which included extensive re-bunkering and lengthening of certain holes. 18 new greens were also constructed to USGA standards, further enhancing play on the West Course.
The championship traditionally had the highest prize money of any event organised by the European Tour, but this changed in 2009 with the introduction of the Race to Dubai and the $10 million awarded at the end of the season. This year, the purse is €4,500,000, and given the hype and anticipation surrounding the event, it is not surprising that the BMW PGA Championship remains high on every golfer’s victory wish list.
