J.J. Spaun wins Europe's flagship
event after being left off US Presidents Cup team
[September 21, 2026]
VIRGINIA WATER, England (AP) — J.J. Spaun responded to his
disappointment of being left off the U.S. Presidents Cup team by
winning the BMW PGA Championship on Sunday, making four birdies on
the last five holes for a 5-under 67 and a two-shot victory in his
debut at the European tour's flagship event.
Spaun, last year's U.S. Open champion at Oakmont, made it three
Americans winning at Wentworth in the last six years. It was his
second victory of the year, having won the Texas Open in April.
“I played with a huge chip on my shoulder,” Spaun said of being
overlooked as a captain's pick for the Presidents Cup next week
outside Chicago. “I definitely had something to prove this week, but
everything happens for a reason.”
As well as he finished, Spaun needed plenty of help from Manuel
Elvira.
The 30-year-old Spaniard made a 9-foot eagle on the par-5 17th to
tie Spaun for the lead and head to the par-5 closing hole needing
birdie to win. Elvira chose iron off the tee, leaving him 254 yards
from the green. He decided to lay up, but hit that into a bunker. He
hit his next shot over the green, dumped a chip into a bunker and
finished with a double bogey for a 70.
“Devastating that I hit the wrong shot at the right time on the lay
up and left myself the toughest shot in the fairway bunker, and
wasn’t able to pull it off,” Elvira said.
Elvira wound up in a four-way tie for second with Rory McIlroy (68),
Adam Scott (68) and PGA champion Aaron Rai (66).
The final hour
All of them were in the mix in the final hour at Wentworth until
Spaun raced to the top. It started with a tee shot to 3 feet on the
par-3 14th. He holed a pair of 15-foot birdie putts on the 15th and
16th, and then two-putted for birdie on the 18th to post a 17-under
271.
Spaun loves bringing his family to London, though the 36-year-old
Californian wasn't planning on coming to the BMW PGA Championship
this year because of travel getting to the Presidents Cup.
U.S. captain Brandt Snedeker used the final two picks on Jacob
Bridgeman, who won at Riviera earlier in the year, and 21-year-old
Jackson Koivun, who won in his third start as a pro in July.
Later Sunday, Bridgeman closed with a 61 at the Biltmore
Championship Asheville on the PGA Tour to win for the second time
this year.
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J. J. Spaun of United States lifts the trophy after winning the PGA
Championship at Wentworth Golf Club in Virginia Water, England,
Sunday Sept. 20, 2026. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)
It was surprising to Spaun, particularly since he was one of the
rare bright spots for the Americans in his Ryder Cup debut the
previous September, going 2-1-0. Spaun had to withdraw from the Tour
Championship last month because of a shoulder injury.
He looked healthy as can be against a strong field with so many top
contenders.
Taking care of business
“Extra motivation, I think that's the will power you have,” Spaun
said. “Being left off the Presidents Cup team was very
disappointing. I wanted to prove that I deserve to be on the team. I
took care of my business.”
McIlroy couldn't quite get over the hump. He was in a four-way tie
for the lead at 15 under going to the 18th, but he drove into a
bunker, had to lay up and missed an 8-foot birdie chance from the
fringe that effectively ended his chances.
“I had my chances out there,” McIlroy said. “Wish I had some of
those putts back, but I have to be encouraged with where my game is
at.”
Race to Dubai
His runner-up finish — his best result since winning the Masters —
allowed McIlroy to cut into Patrick Reed's lead in the Race to Dubai
as he chases an eighth season title in a bid to tie Colin
Montgomerie's record.
Spaun now has four career victories, three of them in the last 15
months that will move him just outside the top 10 in the world.
“I blossomed into this player I never thought I could be,” he said.
“I've always wanted to be a global player. I'm really happy my
schedule worked out the way it did.”
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