BMW PGA Championship: Field, format and prize money as McIlroy returns

Which players could impress at the BMW PGA Championship? Will LIV Golf players feature? Who is playing in the Celebrity Pro-Am? We get you up to speed ahead of this week's DP World Tour event at Wentworth, live on Sky Sports.

What is the BMW PGA Championship?

The BMW PGA Championship is one of the flagship events on the DP World Tour calendar, with the tournament first being held in 1955.

It should not be confused with the BMW Championship, the second of the PGA Tour's two FedExCup Playoffs, with the BMW PGA Championship hosted annually in Surrey, England, each September.

Alex Noren returns as the defending champion after he defeated Adrien Saddier in a play-off at last year's tournament.

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Where is the BMW PGA Championship played?

The tournament is hosted annually at Wentworth Club, one of England's most prestigious golf courses.

Wentworth was first opened as a golf club in 1922 and has since hosted some prestigious events, including the 1953 Ryder Cup and the AIG Women's Open in 1980.

Who can impress?

Some big names are set to tee up at Wentworth including two-time Masters champion Rory McIlroy.

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The world No 2 won the BMW PGA Championship in 2014 and returns to Wentworth hoping to improve on a tied-41st place finish at the Amgen Irish Open. Despite dropping down the leaderboard, McIlroy said he was "encouraged" by certain aspects of his game coming into this week.

Patrick Reed has enjoyed a fine season on the DP World Tour since he left LIV Golf at the beginning of the year. The 2018 Masters champion currently leads the Race to Dubai Rankings and comes into the week off the back of an impressive tied-second finish at the Amgen Irish Open.

Prior to last weekend, Shane Lowry's last victory on the DP World Tour came at the BMW PGA Championship in 2022. But on Sunday, he carded a seven-under 63 to secure a staggering 11-shot victory at the Amgen Irish Open.

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Englishmen Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose are two other players who can impress this week. Fleetwood has four top-five finishes on the PGA Tour this season, notably placing tied-fourth at The Open at Royal Birkdale.

Rose has also enjoyed a great season on the PGA Tour, which included a victory at the Farmers Insurance Open and a tied-third finish at The Masters.

What LIV Golf players will feature at the BMW PGA Championship?

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Jon Rahm is one of multiple LIV Golf players in the field this week. This year the Spaniard clinched his third successive LIV Golf Individual Championship in August, and also finished tied for second at the PGA Championship in May.

His Legion XIII team-mate Tyrrell Hatton is also in the field this week. Hatton has enjoyed a great year at the majors, placing tied-third at The Masters and tied for seventh at the US Open, but arrives at Wentworth after missing the cut at the Amgen Irish Open.

What's at stake?

A £6.6m ($9m) prize purse is up for grabs this week at Wentworth. Last year's winner, Noren, took home a cash prize of £1.13m ($1.53m).

With this being a Rolex Series Event, a total of 8,000 Race to Dubai Rankings points are also up for grabs.

What is the Celebrity Pro-Am at the BMW PGA Championship?

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Each year, Wentworth hosts a celebrity Pro-Am event featuring star-studded fields packed with big names from the sporting world and the entertainment industry.

This year is no different, with the DP World Tour having already announced that former Chelsea stars John Terry and Eden Hazard will both play in the event, alongside ex-Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler.

The BMW PGA Championship Celebrity Pro-Am is set to take place on Wednesday, the day before the tournament, with one professional player leading a team of amateurs in the competition.

How can I watch the BMW PGA Championship live on Sky Sports?

All four tournament days of the BMW PGA Championship will be shown live on Sky Sports Golf.

Coverage of the first and second rounds commences on Thursday September 17 and Friday September 18 from 8.30am on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event.

The third round will be shown live on Sky Sports Golf from 9am on Saturday September 19.

Coverage of the final round begins on Sky Sports Golf at 8.30am on Sunday September 20.

Who will win the BMW PGA Championship? Watch the DP World Tour's Rolex Series event at Wentworth throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Not got Sky? Latest Sky Sports deals or stream with no contract on NOW