Europe’s finest golfers are gathering at the Wentworth Club in England this week for one of the biggest tournaments of the season, the 2026 BMW PGA Championship. This is the DP World Tour’s flagship event, serving up some marquee fall golf, and the storylines heading into it are absolutely wild, especially if you’re watching the top dogs. Last season, Alex Noren took home his second BMW PGA Championship title, and he even went on to be an assistant captain for a victorious European Ryder Cup team. Remember Shane Lowry delivering that crucial half point on the 18th green to sink the red, white, and blue in the Ryder Cup? Yeah, that guy. He’s coming into this tournament absolutely ON FIRE after winning his home country’s open last week by a whopping 11 strokes. That’s a historic win, and he’s already a past champion of this event, so the momentum is real.
The Top Dogs Are Chasing Their Game
Now, let’s talk about the big names that *aren’t* exactly cruising into Wentworth. Rory McIlroy, a champion here in 2014 and agonizingly close countless times since, is in a bit of a funk. After lighting up the PGA Tour season, he hit the Irish Open and completely sputtered, with his putter being the main culprit. He finished T41. Yikes. That’s a tough look when you’re standing at No. 2 in the Race to Dubai. Still, he’s got six straight top-20 finishes at Wentworth, including three runner-up spots. The guy clearly loves this course. Then there’s Jon Rahm, who also struggled big time on the putting surfaces at the Irish Open, landing a middling T23. The three-time LIV Golf individual season winner has his sights set on the DP World Tour playoffs, and he’s got to get his act together. He’s got three top-five finishes at this tournament since 2019, so he knows how to play here, too.
Can Anyone Catch a Streak This Week?
Beyond the main contenders, a few other former champions are in the field, including Francesco Molinari, Danny Willett, Tyrrell Hatton, and the Champion Golfer of the Year, Ryan Fox. It’s mostly European players teeing it up, but a couple of Americans are trying to make some noise, like Ryan Gerard and the Race to Dubai leader himself, Patrick Reed. Don’t sleep on Tommy Fleetwood either, even though he’s had what the pros are calling “one of the more underwhelming seasons” compared to last year when he literally “could do no wrong.” He’s got a chance to turn it around, too. This 7,267-yard, Par 72 course is ready for some serious golf.
The 2026 BMW PGA Championship kicks off from September 17-20, and it’s going to be a must-watch. Will Rory find his stroke on the greens and tap into that Wentworth magic? Can Rahm get his putting sorted to make a push for the DP World Tour playoffs? Or will Shane Lowry ride his unbelievable hot streak to another title? This isn’t just another tournament, folks. This is about pride, momentum, and setting the tone for the rest of the season for Europe’s elite. You know I’ll be glued to every shot.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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