Rory McIlroy is set to kick off the prestigious BMW PGA Championship alongside his Ryder Cup teammates Shane Lowry and Jon Rahm at the iconic Wentworth Club. As the current Race to Dubai leader and ranked No. 2 in the world, McIlroy arrives with momentum after clinching his fourth global victory this year at the Irish Open. Both McIlroy and Lowry have previously triumphed at this event, with Lowry winning in 2022 and McIlroy in 2014. Their group is scheduled to tee off at 12:45 local time on Thursday, marking the beginning of the fourth Rolex Series tournament of the DP World Tour season.
Notable Pairings and Exciting Matchups
In a field boasting 11 members of Luke Donald’s European Ryder Cup squad, several intriguing pairings have emerged. The English duo of Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose will be playing alongside defending champion Billy Horschel, who is making his comeback after a five-month hiatus due to hip surgery. Horschel will start his round at 08:35, aiming to secure his third title, a feat not accomplished since Colin Montgomerie in 2000.
Adam Scott, the 2013 Masters champion, is set to play at 08:25, paired with Brooks Koepka and Laurie Canter. Also in the morning session, Hideki Matsuyama will join Ludvig Åberg and Matt Fitzpatrick at 08:45, promising an exciting start to the tournament.
Viktor Hovland, one of the seven top-20 players in the competition, is grouped with Rasmus Højgaard, a promising Ryder Cup rookie, and Marco Penge, a two-time DP World Tour winner this season. They will tee off at 12:25, followed by 2020 champion Tyrrell Hatton, who will play alongside Robert MacIntyre and 2023 winner Ryan Fox at 12:35.
In a notable moment for the tournament, Luke Donald will take to the course at 13:10, accompanied by Vice Captain Alex Noren and Matteo Manassero, who made history as the youngest champion in the tournament’s history when he won at just 20 years old in 2013. The BMW PGA Championship promises to be a thrilling event filled with high-stakes competition and spectacular golf.