Golfer JJ Spaun won the BMW PGA Championship by 2 shots at Wentworth on September 20.
Spain’s Manuel Elvira missed his chance to win his first DP World Tour title after a double bogey on the final hole.
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy finished in a tie for second after bouncing back on the second day.
3-Line Summary
1. JJ Spaun wins by 2 shots at Wentworth
2. Elvira makes a double bogey on the final hole
3. Four players, including McIlroy, tie for second
Elvira’s First Tour Win Slips Away on the Final Hole
According to Sky Sports, JJ Spaun claimed a 2-shot victory in the final round of the BMW PGA Championship. Manuel Elvira, Rory McIlroy, Aaron Rai, and Adam Scott finished the tournament tied for second.
The tournament’s final scene was especially significant for Elvira. He made a double bogey on the final hole, and as a result missed his first attempt to win a DP World Tour title. The result sheet will show Spaun’s 2-shot victory, but for Elvira, it was a tournament in which his chance at a first win ended on one final hole.
Spaun remained in contention near the top of the leaderboard on the second day. Starting on the 10th hole, he shot a 66 that included an eagle on the 18th hole, and at the time stood at 8 under alongside McIlroy, Rai, Ryan Fox, Nacho Elvira, and Ross Fisher. On the final day, he turned that contention into a victory.
McIlroy’s 67 Creates a Tie for Second
McIlroy shot a 5-under 67 on the second day, closing to within 4 shots of the leader, American Ryan Gerard. After making three bogeys over the final 6 holes on the opening day, his change in momentum was even more pronounced as he made three birdies over the first 5 holes.
On the 11th hole, he holed a 16-foot birdie putt, then made a bogey on the 16th hole after a birdie on the 14th. His eagle chance on the 17th hole missed, but after making par, he completed his 67 with a birdie on the final hole. The round returned McIlroy to the group in contention for the title, and he ultimately joined the group tied for second.
At the time, McIlroy said he wanted to reduce the points gap with Patrick Reed in the Race to Dubai. Reed withdrew due to injury while 9 over par on the second day. However, this was a goal McIlroy stated during the tournament, while the confirmed result of the BMW PGA Championship was Spaun’s victory and a four-way tie for second.
The Tournament Picture Left by the Four-Way Tie for Second
McIlroy was joined in the tie for second by Aaron Rai, Adam Scott, and Elvira. Rai and Scott each shot 69 and 67 on the second day, respectively, maintaining their positions near the top, while Elvira remained in a position to hope for his first win until the final hole.
The clearest number from this tournament is Spaun’s 2-shot victory. However, when reading that margin, the trajectories of Elvira, who lost his first title after a double bogey on the final hole, and McIlroy, who overcame his early struggles to rise into a tie for second, should also be considered.
References
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