J.J. Spaun Claims BMW PGA Championship Following Presidents Cup Snub
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The Californian surged to a two-shot victory at Wentworth, proving his form after being overlooked for a captain's pick by Brandt Snedeker.
As Sportsnet first reported, J.J. Spaun won the BMW PGA Championship on Sunday, September 20, 2026, claiming a two-shot victory in his first appearance at the European tour's flagship event at Wentworth Golf Club. The 36-year-old Californian shot a 5-under 67, featuring four birdies on the final five holes, to finish at 17-under 271.
Spaun entered the tournament with a "huge chip on [his] shoulder" after U.S. Presidents Cup captain Brandt Snedeker passed him over for the final two captain's picks in favor of Jackson Koivun and Jacob Bridgeman. Spaun, who won the U.S. Open at Oakmont last year and the Texas Open in April, expressed disappointment at the snub, noting he wanted to prove he deserved a spot on the team. He previously performed well in his Ryder Cup debut the prior September, recording a 2-1-0 record, as reported by Sportsnet.
While Spaun surged with a series of birdies on holes 14 through 18, Manuel Elvira of Spain missed a chance to win. Elvira tied for the lead after an eagle on the 17th but suffered a double bogey on the closing hole, resulting in a four-way tie for second place alongside Aaron Rai, Adam Scott, and Rory McIlroy.
With this win, Spaun has earned four career victories, three of which occurred within the last 15 months. Sportsnet reports that the victory will move Spaun just outside the top 10 in the world rankings. The win comes shortly after Spaun was forced to withdraw from last month's Tour Championship due to a shoulder injury.