Golf Business News – Horschel commits to defending BMW PGA title
Billy Horschel will return to defend his BMW PGA Championship title when the American is joined by fellow former champions Tyrrell Hatton and Danny Willett at Wentworth Club from September 8-11.
Horschel soared to a maiden Rolex Collection title last calendar year when he birdied the famed 18th hole at Wentworth’s West Program to clinch a just one-stroke victory.
Horschel, who experienced formerly spoken of watching the BMW PGA Championship on tv as a boy or girl when escalating up in Florida, was a well-known winner amid the British enthusiasts and the 35-yr-aged is confident to receive a hero’s welcome when he returns to protect his crown.
Having become just the 2nd American winner of the prestigious party, after Arnold Palmer in 1975, Horschel would be the to start with non-British participant to effectively defend the title should he arise victorious this September. The only players to have finished so are Luke Donald (2011-2012), Colin Montgomerie (1998-1999-2000) and Sir Nick Faldo (1980-1981).
“I can’t wait around to return to defend my BMW PGA Championship title at Wentworth,” mentioned Horschel, who ultimately completed next to fellow American Collin Morikawa in the 2021 Rankings. “It is a tournament which has constantly been shut to my coronary heart, so to gain the way that I did, in front of the supportive crowds, was remarkable.
“It will be so much enjoyable stepping on to that initially tee and being declared as the defending winner, and I have a definitely powerful record at Wentworth so with any luck , I can provide my A-match once once again and place up a robust title defence.”
Horschel will be joined in the field by Hatton and Willett, which means all of the final a few champions will tee it up at Wentworth, Hatton getting claimed the 2020 title though Willett received in 2019.
Two a long time ago, Hatton realised a boyhood dream when he sealed a 4-stroke victory above Frenchman Victor Perez – his third of four Rolex Collection victories to date – and the Englishman is seeking forward to returning to the Surrey venue, which is fewer than 30 miles from exactly where he grew up.
“The BMW PGA Championship is constantly a single of my favorite months of the 12 months,” said the two-time Ryder Cup player. “It’s an party I often attended as a kid and a single of those people types I always dreamed of just actively playing in, under no circumstances thoughts profitable. The party would seem to just get even larger and larger each and every calendar year and the crowds are constantly really supportive. I also get to engage in in front of loved ones and mates which is pretty specific. It must be a different terrific event.”
Willett, in the meantime, claimed his second Rolex Collection title at the 2019 BMW PGA Championship, finishing 3 pictures clear of Jon Rahm immediately after a titanic weekend struggle. It marked a return to variety for the previous Masters Match winner, who claimed his eighth DP Earth Tour title at the 2021 Alfred Dunhill Back links Championship.
“My win in 2019 at the BMW PGA Championship was a genuinely distinctive minute in my job,” claimed the Englishman. “To gain such a massive title in front of my entire loved ones was rather interesting, and it’s usually just one of the initial tournaments on my timetable when I’m preparing out my year. The admirers generally make it an extraordinary environment at Wentworth and give me a wonderful reception so I’m hunting forward to a further entertaining 7 days in September.”
Each individual yr, the BMW PGA Championship draws in extra than 100,000 spectators for what is one particular of the highlights of the British sporting summer months, with its mix of globe-course golfing, stay amusement from internationally-renowned tunes acts and an unrivalled atmosphere in the vibrant Spectator Village.
The action starts with the Tuesday Observe Day, ahead of the star-studded Movie star Professional-Am brings with each other international celeb superstars and some of golf’s most well known players in a fun-filled curtain raiser to the primary function, the BMW PGA Championship, which tees off on Thursday September 8 and operates by way of to Sunday September 11.
Complimentary tickets for those aged 12 yrs and below are available on acquire of an Grownup ticket. Tickets can be purchased in this article.