The tee times and groups for the opening two rounds of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth are out… but there’s one big change for the star-studded field.
The DP World Tour’s flagship event gets underway on Thursday morning in Surrey with Rory McIlroy headlining a packed field as Alex Noren seeks to defend his title and win the famous trophy for a third time.
11 of Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup team from 12 months ago are in action, along with captain Luke Donald, while home favorite and PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai, Open champion Ryan Fox, and American stars Brooks Koepka, JJ Spaun and Patrick Reed are all teeing it up.
Before the tournament itself gets underway, a host of the big name pros will tee it up alongside celebrities for the famous Wednesday pro-am in Virginia Water, with the likes of Gareth Bale, Stuart Broad, Brian Lara and Eden Hazard showing off their golf skills to the huge crowds.
Come Thursday morning, there’s a big change in store for the opening two rounds of the championship, with the Tour introducing a two-tee start for the opening two rounds at Wentworth for the first time in the event’s history.
Play has only ever been split across those two tees at the BMW PGA in the third and final rounds when play has been interrupted or threatened by bad weather.
But why the change from previous years?
In a bid to increase playing opportunities for DP World Tour members, there are six extra players in the field this week, meaning a lack of daylight could prove an issue if all 144 players go off the 1st tee. Since the event moved from May to September in 2019 it has always proved tight getting the opening two rounds complete with the smaller field. It could also help the viewing experience with fans able to view golf on the back nine throughout the early stages.
While other tournaments that use two-tee starts tend to opt for the 1st and 10th holes, Wentworth uses the par-4 9th tee instead of the par-3 10th tee for two reasons. Firstly, the 10th is arguably the furthest point from the clubhouse and practice ground, so the 9th makes more logistical sense. Secondly, starting from the 9th ensures all players begin with a par 4 opening hole, rather than half of the field beginning with a par 3.
Play will get underway at 7.10am on Thursday.
Rory McIlroy headlines the field at the BMW PGA as he looks for his first win here since 2014.BMW PGA Championship tee times: 1st round
Hole 1
All times local (BST)
7.10am: Ross Fisher (England), Brandon Stone (South Africa), Sam Bairstow (England)
7.20am: JC Ritchie (South Africa), Jack Senior (England), Jens Dantorp (Sweden)
7.30am: Victor Perez (France), Marcel Siem (Germany), Richard Mansell (England)
7.40am: Calum Hill (Scotland), Dan Bradbury (England), Richard Sterne (South Africa)
7.50am: Renato Paratore (Italy), Pablo Larrazábal (Spain), Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thailand)
8.00am: Martin Couvra (France), Stefano Mazzoli (Italy), Jordan Gumberg (United States)
8.10am: Junghwan Lee (South Korea), Jacques Kruyswijk (South Africa), Angel Hidalgo (Spain)
8.20am: Davis Bryant (United States), Joakim Lagergren (Sweden), Joost Luiten (Netherlands)
8.30am: Michael Hollick (South Africa), Mikael Lindberg (Sweden), Yurav Premlall (South Africa)
8.40am: Niklas Lemke (Sweden), Dylan Naidoo (South Africa), Sebastian Söderberg (Sweden)
8.50am: Ash Mansell (England), Marcus Kinhult (Sweden), Ivan Cantero (Spain)
9.00am: Thomas Rosenmueller (Germany), Ryggs Johnston (United States), Maximilian Steinlechner (Austria)
12.10pm: Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen (Denmark), Romain Langasque (France), Todd Clements (England)
12.20pm: Casey Jarvis (South Africa), Nicolai Højgaard (Denmark), Jordan Smith (England)
12.30pm: Danny Willett (England), Andy Sullivan (England), JJ Spaun (United States)
12.40pm: Brooks Koepka (United States), Adam Scott (Australia), Sepp Straka (Austria)
12.50pm: Justin Rose (England), Jon Rahm (Spain), Tommy Fleetwood (England)
1.00pm: Alex Noren (Sweden), Robert MacIntyre (Scotland), Ludvig Åberg (Sweden)
1.10pm: Eugenio Chacarra (Spain), Bud Cauley (United States), Joaquin Niemann (Chile)
1.20pm: Francesco Molinari (Italy), Daniel Hillier (New Zealand), Nacho Elvira (Spain)
1.30pm: Joe Dean (England), Thriston Lawrence (South Africa), Scott Jamieson (Scotland)
1.40pm: Hennie du Plessis (South Africa), Matt Wallace (England), Tom Vaillant (France)
1.50pm: Francesco Laporta (Italy), Elvis Smylie (Australia), Marcel Schneider (Germany)
2.00pm: Jason Scrivener (Australia), Ugo Coussaud (France), Oihan Guillamoundeguy (France)
Hole 9
All times local (BST)
7.00am: Ockie Strydom (South Africa), Darius van Driel (Netherlands), Adrian Meronk (Poland)
7.10am: Laurie Canter (England), Paul Waring (England), Rikuya Hoshino (Japan)
7.20am: Kristoffer Reitan (Norway), Luke Donald (England), Jacob Skov Olesen (Denmark)
7.30am: Viktor Hovland (Norway), Ryan Gerard (United States), Patrick Reed (United States)
7.40am: Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), Aaron Rai (England), Ryan Fox (New Zealand)
7.50am: Tyrrell Hatton (England), Shane Lowry (Ireland), Matt Fitzpatrick (England)
8.00am: Angel Ayora (Spain), Jayden Schaper (South Africa), Alex Fitzpatrick (England)
8.10am: Oliver Lindell (Finland), Tom McKibbin (Northern Ireland), Padraig Harrington (Ireland)
8.20am: Bernd Wiesberger (Austria), David Puig (Spain), Shaun Norris (South Africa)
8.30am: Rafa Cabrera Bello (Spain), Wenyi Ding (China), Thomas Detry (Belgium)
8.40am: Joel Girrbach (Switzerland), Brandon Robinson Thompson (England), Daniel Gavins (England)
8.50am: Sean Crocker (United States), Jeong weon Ko (France), Ben Schmidt (England)
12.00pm: Ricardo Gouveia (Portugal), Manuel Elvira (Spain), David Law (Scotland)
12.10pm: Julien Guerrier (France), Grant Forrest (Scotland), Freddy Schott (Germany)
12.20pm: Kota Kaneko (Japan), Yuto Katsuragawa (Japan), Charley Hoffman (United States)
12.30pm: Dylan Frittelli (South Africa), Johannes Veerman (United States), Nicolai von Dellingshausen (Germany)
12.40pm: Alex Smalley (United States), Jeff Winther (Denmark), Thorbjørn Olesen (Denmark)
12.50pm: Marcus Armitage (England), Matthew Jordan (England), Connor Syme (Scotland)
1.00pm: Daniel Brown (England), Adrien Saddier (France), Ewen Ferguson (Scotland)
1.10pm: Kazuma Kobori (New Zealand), Niklas Nørgaard (Denmark), Ashun Wu (China)
1.20pm: Guido Migliozzi (Italy), David Ravetto (France), Antoine Rozner (France)
1.30pm: Adrian Otaegui (United Arab Emirates), Jorge Campillo (Spain), Matteo Manassero (Italy)
1.40pm: Filippo Celli (Italy), Frederic Lacroix (France), Alejandro del Rey (Spain)
1.50pm: Frankie Capan III (United States), Marcus Helligkilde (Denmark), David Micheluzzi (Australia)
BMW PGA Championship tee times: 2nd round
Hole 1
All times local (BST)
7.10am: Ricardo Gouveia (Portugal), Manuel Elvira (Spain), David Law (Scotland)
7.20am: Julien Guerrier (France), Grant Forrest (Scotland), Freddy Schott (Germany)
7.30am: Kota Kaneko (Japan), Yuto Katsuragawa (Japan), Charley Hoffman (United States)
7.40am: Dylan Frittelli (South Africa), Johannes Veerman (United States), Nicolai von Dellingshausen (Germany)
7.50am: Alex Smalley (United States), Jeff Winther (Denmark), Thorbjørn Olesen (Denmark)
8.00am: Marcus Armitage (England), Matthew Jordan (England), Connor Syme (Scotland)
8.10am: Daniel Brown (England), Adrien Saddier (France), Ewen Ferguson (Scotland)
8.20am: Kazuma Kobori (New Zealand), Niklas Nørgaard (Denmark), Ashun Wu (China)
8.30am: Guido Migliozzi (Italy), David Ravetto (France), Antoine Rozner (France)
8.40am: Adrian Otaegui (United Arab Emirates), Jorge Campillo (Spain), Matteo Manassero (Italy)
8.50am: Filippo Celli (Italy), Frederic Lacroix (France), Alejandro del Rey (Spain)
9.00am: Frankie Capan III (United States), Marcus Helligkilde (Denmark), David Micheluzzi (Australia)
12.10pm: Ockie Strydom (South Africa), Darius van Driel (Netherlands), Adrian Meronk (Poland)
12.20pm: Laurie Canter (England), Paul Waring (England), Rikuya Hoshino (Japan)
12.30pm: Kristoffer Reitan (Norway), Luke Donald (England), Jacob Skov Olesen (Denmark)
12.40pm: Viktor Hovland (Norway), Ryan Gerard (United States), Patrick Reed (United States)
12.50pm: Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), Aaron Rai (England), Ryan Fox (New Zealand)
1.00pm: Tyrrell Hatton (England), Shane Lowry (Ireland), Matt Fitzpatrick (England)
1.10pm: Angel Ayora (Spain), Jayden Schaper (South Africa), Alex Fitzpatrick (England)
1.20pm: Oliver Lindell (Finland), Tom McKibbin (Northern Ireland), Padraig Harrington (Ireland)
1.30pm: Bernd Wiesberger (Austria), David Puig (Spain), Shaun Norris (South Africa)
1.40pm: Rafa Cabrera Bello (Spain), Wenyi Ding (China), Thomas Detry (Belgium)
1.50pm: Joel Girrbach (Switzerland), Brandon Robinson Thompson (England), Daniel Gavins (England)
2.00pm: Sean Crocker (United States), Jeong weon Ko (France), Ben Schmidt (England)
Hole 9
All times local (BST)
7.00am: Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen (Denmark), Romain Langasque (France), Todd Clements (England)
7.10am: Casey Jarvis (South Africa), Nicolai Højgaard (Denmark), Jordan Smith (England)
7.20am: Danny Willett (England), Andy Sullivan (England), JJ Spaun (United States)
7.30am: Brooks Koepka (United States), Adam Scott (Australia), Sepp Straka (Austria)
7.40am: Justin Rose (England), Jon Rahm (Spain), Tommy Fleetwood (England)
7.50am: Alex Noren (Sweden), Robert MacIntyre (Scotland), Ludvig Åberg (Sweden)
8.00am: Eugenio Chacarra (Spain), Bud Cauley (United States), Joaquin Niemann (Chile)
8.10am: Francesco Molinari (Italy), Daniel Hillier (New Zealand), Nacho Elvira (Spain)
8.20am: Joe Dean (England), Thriston Lawrence (South Africa), Scott Jamieson (Scotland)
8.30am: Hennie du Plessis (South Africa), Matt Wallace (England), Tom Vaillant (France)
8.40am: Francesco Laporta (Italy), Elvis Smylie (Australia), Marcel Schneider (Germany)
8.50am: Jason Scrivener (Australia), Ugo Coussaud (France), Oihan Guillamoundeguy (France)
12.00pm: Ross Fisher (England), Brandon Stone (South Africa), Sam Bairstow (England)
12.10pm: JC Ritchie (South Africa), Jack Senior (England), Jens Dantorp (Sweden)
12.20pm: Victor Perez (France), Marcel Siem (Germany), Richard Mansell (England)
12.30pm: Calum Hill (Scotland), Dan Bradbury (England), Richard Sterne (South Africa)
12.40pm: Renato Paratore (Italy), Pablo Larrazábal (Spain), Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thailand)
12.50pm: Martin Couvra (France), Stefano Mazzoli (Italy), Jordan Gumberg (United States)
1.00pm: Junghwan Lee (South Korea), Jacques Kruyswijk (South Africa), Angel Hidalgo (Spain)
1.10pm: Davis Bryant (United States), Joakim Lagergren (Sweden), Joost Luiten (Netherlands)
1.20pm: Michael Hollick (South Africa), Mikael Lindberg (Sweden), Yurav Premlall (South Africa)
1.30pm: Niklas Lemke (Sweden), Dylan Naidoo (South Africa), Sebastian Söderberg (Sweden)
1.40pm: Ash Mansell (England), Marcus Kinhult (Sweden), Ivan Cantero (Spain)
1.50pm: Thomas Rosenmueller (Germany), Ryggs Johnston (United States), Maximilian Steinlechner (Austria)