BMW PGA Championship 2026 preview picks analysis

A who's who of European golf will it up at Wentworth this week for the DP World Tour’s showpiece event, the BMW PGA Championship.

They will be led by 2014 champion Rory McIlroy, the reigning Race to Dubai champion who will be looking to win it for a record-equalling eighth time in 2026.

McIlroy will be aiming to continue his impressive record over the West Course, which includes six further top tens in addition to his 2014 victory, including three runner-up finishes.

"I’ve had some great results at Wentworth in the past, and I always enjoy returning to the BMW PGA Championship," said the Northern Irishman. "No doubt the crowds will be out in force once again, and I’m looking forward to the week."

Rory McIlroy

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

Defending champion Alex Noren and Open champion Ryan Fox are also in the field.

12 months ago, Noren secured his second BMW PGA Championship title after making a birdie on the first play-off hole to pip Frenchman Adrien Saddier to victory following an enthralling final round.

The win was the Swedish Ryder Cup player’s 12th DP World Tour victory and second on the 2025 Race to Dubai and came eight years after his maiden Rolex Series triumph at Wentworth.

Noren, who has the most DP World Tour wins of any player from Sweden, said: "I think this is one of the best tournaments in the world, and it just gets better every year. I can’t wait to come back as the defending champion and hopefully have a chance to add a third BMW PGA Championship trophy."

Like Noren, Fox claimed his first win on the Rolex Series at the BMW PGA Championship. The New Zealander was three shots off the lead going into the final round in 2023 and recovered from an early triple-bogey to post an impressive Sunday 67, finishing one shot ahead of English pair Tyrrell Hatton and Aaron Rai.

Fox, who has gone on to add two PGA Tour wins to his four on the DP World Tour, said: "I’m immensely proud to call myself a BMW PGA Championship winner. It’s such an iconic tournament and I love coming back here every year. I look forward to challenging again this year."

Sadly, we will not be seeing two-time winner Billy Horschel, who became the first American since Arnold Palmer to claim the title in 2021, and followed that up with his 2024 play-off victory over McIlroy and Thriston Lawrence.

The eight-time PGA Tour winner, who is always full of praise for the event, had originally entered the tournament, has had to withdraw after his bitterly disappointing campaign on the PGA Tour. He is currently 100th in the FedEx Cup standings and has decided to focus his efforts on the Fall Series in a desperate bid to retain his playing rights. A hugely popular figure, he will be sadly missed this week.

He said: "To all the supporters and fans of the DP World Tour and the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, unfortunately, due to my not so stellar play on the PGA Tour this year, I'm gonna have to skip the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

"I'm devastated, I'm upset. It's a decision that was really tough to make. I think everyone understands how much I love this event and how much I've appreciated the support I received since 2019.

"I'm truly proud and to call myself a two-time champion and I'm going to miss everyone over there this year."

But there is plenty of other star-power at Wentworth, including European Ryder Cup stars Tommy Fleetwood, Ludvig Aberg and Sepp Straka.

Fleetwood returns to home soil after a stellar end to the 2025 season in which he recorded his fourth consecutive Ryder Cup appearance - lifting the trophy for the third time - sealed his eighth DP World Tour victory at the DP World India Championship, and secured his breakthrough win on the PGA Tour.

The former Race to Dubai champion and Olympic Silver Medal winner, said: "It’s always such a pleasure to play in front of your home fans, the reception is so warm at Wentworth and you can feel the support throughout the week. The BMW PGA Championship has always been an incredible event, and it’s a privilege to be preparing to tee it up for the 15th time."

Aberg will return for his third appearance at Wentworth. The Swede made a serious impact after being selected as a Ryder Cup captain’s pick by Luke Donald after his maiden DP World Tour victory in 2023, teaming up with Viktor Hovland to win both of their foursomes matches, including a record 9&7 defeat of world number one Scottie Scheffler and five-time major winner Brooks Koepka.

The 26-year-old, who has now made consecutive Ryder Cup appearances and gone on to win twice on the PGA Tour, said: "I’m looking forward to getting back to the BMW PGA Championship this year. I always enjoy playing in Rolex Series events, and Wentworth has been a great experience for me, so I’m sure we’ll have a lot of fun again this year."

Four-time PGA Tour winner Straka will also return for a third appearance at the event, after finishing tied 10th alongside Aberg ahead of his 2023 Ryder Cup debut, where he formed a memorable partnership with Shane Lowry, before contributing to more European success in 2025. Straka, who was the first player from Austria to win on the PGA Tour, said: "I wasn’t able to play in the BMW PGA Championship last year, so I’m looking forward to returning this season. It’s an event I’ve enjoyed adding to my schedule in recent years, and it’s always great to have another opportunity to tee it up with the Team Europe guys."

English stars Justin Rose and Tyrrell Hatton are also in the field, along with Jon Rahm. The former world number one boasts an impressive record at Wentworth, finishing runner-up in 2019 and 2022, fourth in 2023 and tied 13th last season.

The Spaniard, who is a former Race to Dubai winner and counts five Rolex Series victories amongst his ten DP World Tour titles, said: "I’ve come close a couple of times at the BMW PGA Championship, so It’s definitely a tournament and a venue that I enjoy coming back to. Everything about it, from the fans to the history of the event, makes it a special week and I would love to go one better and lift the trophy this year."

Remarkably, Rose will return for his 21st appearance at the historic event, after claiming his 13th PGA Tour win at the Farmers Insurance Open earlier in the year, adding to a glittering CV that includes the 2013 US Open and 2016 Olympic Gold Medal.

Rose, who made his seventh Ryder Cup appearance in Europe’s victory at Bethpage Black last September, said: "I always enjoy coming back to the BMW PGA Championship and especially playing in front of my home crowd. I’ve played this event a lot over the years and it continues to be a genuine highlight of my season."

Fellow Ryder Cup star Hatton is aiming for further glory at Wentworth Club, after lifting the trophy in 2020. The eight-time DP World Tour winner, who claimed his fifth Rolex Series title in Dubai last January, said: "Winning the BMW PGA Championship was very special for me. It’s a tournament that I grew up watching, and being able to lift that trophy in front of English fans was a truly memorable moment. I always look forward to getting back to Wentworth and would love to have more success there."

Tournament Winners:

It was won in 2015 by Ben An, in 2016 by Chris Wood, in 2017 and 2025 by Alex Noren, in 2018 by Francesco Molinari, in 2019 by Danny Willett, in 2020 by Tyrrell Hatton, in 2021 and 2024 by Billy Horschel, in 2022 by Shane Lowry and in 2023 by Ryan Fox.

The Course:

The West Course at Wentworth is a par 72 measuring 7,282 yards. It was originally designed by Harry Colt and radically remodelled by Ernie Els. It is a true parkland course with huge trees lining every hole. There are also some well-placed water hazards, none more so than the area guarding the 18th green.

Form Guide:

Justin Rose remains at the peak of his powers and is a ferocious competitor who would love to add this title to his CV.

Prize Money:

Total prize money is $9m, with 8,000 Race to Dubai points going to the winner.

How to Watch:

Thursday, September 17, Sky Sports Golf, 8.30am; Friday, September 18, Sky Sports Golf, 8.30am; Saturday, September 19, Sky Sports Golf, 9am; Sunday, September 20, Sky Sports Golf, 8.30am.