sevendayweekender – Golf once again demonstrated its unforgiving nature as JJ Spaun claimed victory at the BMW PGA Championship.
The American secured the prestigious title at Wentworth after Manuel Elvira suffered a dramatic collapse on the final hole.
Spaun, who won the 2025 US Open, became only the third American player to lift the BMW PGA Championship trophy.
He now joins an illustrious group that includes Billy Horschel and the legendary Arnold Palmer.
The list of previous champions also features several major winners, including Tony Jacklin, Sir Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros, Jose Maria Olazabal and Rory McIlroy.
Spaun had already completed his final round before Elvira reached the closing hole.
The American finished at 17 under par and could only watch as the Spaniard attempted to force a play-off.
Elvira entered the final hole with an opportunity to complete a remarkable breakthrough victory.
The 30-year-old from Santander had risen to the occasion throughout the tournament despite being ranked 294th in the world.
His performance had put him within touching distance of the biggest victory of his career.
Elvira’s Hopes Collapse on the Final Hole
Elvira appeared to have given himself a genuine chance after producing an outstanding eagle on the 17th hole.
He then stepped onto the final tee knowing that a birdie could potentially secure the championship outright.
A par would also have been enough to force a play-off against Spaun, who had already completed his round at 17 under.
The 18th hole offered another opportunity because it is a par five.
Elvira had already made birdies there twice during the tournament, making another strong finish seem entirely possible.
However, his decision to use an iron from the tee ultimately created problems.
The conservative approach sent his ball into a fairway bunker, leaving him with a difficult second shot.
His problems continued when his approach failed to find the green and came close to reaching the grandstand.
Elvira was subsequently given a free drop, but his next shot only compounded the damage.
He struck his fourth shot poorly and sent it back into the sand.
After eventually escaping the bunker, Elvira required two more putts to complete the hole.
The resulting double-bogey seven ended his hopes of winning and also cost him outright second place.
Spaun Benefits From Dramatic Finish
Elvira’s collapse meant Spaun was able to celebrate his second significant victory in relatively unusual circumstances.
The American had already posted his 17-under total and was forced to wait while his closest challenger attempted to match it.
Instead, Elvira’s seven on the final hole left him several shots behind Spaun’s winning score.
The result was particularly painful because Elvira had played some of the best golf of his career during the tournament.
His performance had also placed him on the verge of a breakthrough moment on one of Europe’s most prestigious stages.
Speaking after the round, Elvira admitted that the final hole was extremely difficult to process.
He said it was devastating to make the wrong decision on the lay-up when the shot left him facing the most difficult position in the bunker.
Despite the disappointment, Elvira remained proud of the golf he produced throughout the week.
He described his overall performance as some of the best golf he had probably ever played.
For Spaun, meanwhile, the dramatic conclusion delivered another major achievement.
His BMW PGA Championship victory adds another prestigious title to his career following his US Open triumph in 2025.
The American therefore becomes part of a select group of US winners at Wentworth.
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A Painful Ending for Elvira
The scale of Elvira’s disappointment was clear as he struggled to hold back tears following the final-hole collapse.
His challenge had appeared to be heading toward a potential play-off only moments earlier.
Instead, a series of mistakes transformed his final hole into a double bogey.
The sequence was painful to watch because Elvira had positioned himself for a potentially life-changing victory.
His situation inevitably drew comparisons with other famous collapses in golf history.
However, his finish did not reach the scale of Jean Van de Velde’s infamous 1999 Open Championship collapse.
It also differed from Jordan Spieth’s troubles at the 2016 Masters, another dramatic example of a player losing control during a major tournament.
Nevertheless, Elvira’s experience highlighted how quickly fortunes can change in professional golf.
One strong shot can create an opportunity, while one poor decision can completely alter the outcome.
For Spaun, the final moments ultimately produced another memorable championship victory.
For Elvira, they provided a painful lesson after an otherwise outstanding week at Wentworth.
