BMW PGA Championship Tournament on the European Tour

Europe's own PGA Championship - often called the European PGA Championship or simply European PGA (to distinguish it from the US PGA Championship, one of golf's four majors) - is the most important tournament in Europe outside of the British Open. Most Euro Tour golfers think of this event as their tour's own major.

The tournament was founded in 1955 by the British PGA, and was known as the British PGA Championship through 1966. It has had title sponsors in all years since.

2019 BMW PGA Championship

• When: Sept. 19-22
• Where: Wentworth Club in Virginia Water, Surrey, England

2018 Tournament
Francesco Molinari fired a 68 in the final round to claim a two-stroke victory. Molinari finished at 17-under 271. In the final round, he birdied four of the six holes from No. 12 through No. 17. Rory McIlroy was runner-up. It was Molinari's fifth career win on the European Tour.

2017 BMW Championship
Alex Noren picked the perfect time to tie the tournament's 18-hole scoring record - the final round - and it propelled him to the championship. Noren closed with a 62, and finished with a 2-stroke victory. It was his ninth career win on the European Tour. Francesco Molinari was runner-up.

Official Web site
European Tour tournament site

• 18 holes: 62 - Robert Karlsson, 2010; Thomas Bjorn, 2014; Alex Noren, 2017
• 72 holes: Overall tourney record - 266, Brian Bamford at Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club in 1961. Tourney record at Wentworth - 269, Anders Hansen (2002) and Scott Drummond (2004)

The European PGA Championship is based at Wentworth Club in England, where it has been played annually since 1984.

Prior to that the tournament rotated to courses around Britain, including St. Andrews, Royal St. George's and Royal Birkdale.

• 2010 winner Simon Khan began the final round seven strokes off the lead. His victory set a tournament record for largest final-round comeback to win.
• Arnold Palmer won the 1975 Penfold PGA Championship after winning the Spanish Open earlier in the European Tour schedule. Palmer didn't win again until claiming the Canadian PGA Championship and Senior PGA Championship in 1980.
• Nick Faldo has won the Euro PGA Championship the most times, with four victories (1978, 1980, 1981, 1989).
• Three golfers have won the tournament three times each: Peter Alliss (1957, 1962, 1965); Bernhard Langer (1987, 1993, 1995); and Colin Montgomerie (1998, 1999, 2000).
• Montgomerie is the only golfer to win the title three straight years. Faldo and Luke Donald (2011-12) are the only others to win back-to-back.
• Tony Jacklin's last win (until he started playing senior golf) was at the Sun Alliance PGA Championship in 1982.
• Matteo Manassero was 20 years, 1 month old when he won in 2013, becoming the youngest-ever winner of this event.

(p-won playoff; w-weather shortened)

BMW PGA Championship
2018 - Francesco Molinari, 271
2017 - Alex Noren, 277
2016 - Chris Wood, 279
2015 - Byeong-Hun An, 267
2014 - Rory McIlroy, 274
2013 - Matteo Manassero-p, 278
2012 - Luke Donald, 273
2011 - Luke Donald-p, 278
2010 - Simon Khan, 278
2009 - Paul Casey-p, 271
2008 - Miguel Angel Jimenez, 277
2007 - Anders Hansen-p, 280

BMW Championship
2006 - David Howell, 271
2005 - Angel Cabrera, 273

Volvo PGA Championship
2004 - Scott Drummond, 269
2003 - Ignacio Garrido-p, 270
2002 - Anders Hansen, 269
2001 - Andrew Oldcorn, 272
2000 - Colin Montgomerie, 271
1999 - Colin Montgomerie, 270
1998 - Colin Montgomerie, 274
1997 - Ian Woosnam, 275
1996 - Costantino Rocca, 274
1995 - Bernhard Langer, 279
1994 - Jose Maria Olazabal, 271
1993 - Bernhard Langer, 274
1992 - Tony Johnstone, 272
1991 - Seve Ballesteros-p, 271
1990 - Mike Harwood, 271
1989 - Nick Faldo, 272
1988 - Ian Woosnam, 274

Whyte & Mackay PGA Championship
1987 - Bernhard Langer, 270
1986 - Rodger Davis-p, 281
1985 - Paul Way-p, 282
1984 - Howard Clark, w-204

Sun Alliance PGA Championship
1983 - Seve Ballesteros, 278
1982 - Tony Jacklin-p, 284
1981 - Nick Faldo, 274
1980 - Nick Faldo, 283

Colgate PGA Championship
1979 - Vicente Fernandez, 288
1978 - Nick Faldo, 278

Penfold PGA Championship
1977 - Manuel Pinero, 283
1976 - Neil Coles-p, 280
1975 - Arnold Palmer, 285

Viyella PGA Championship
1974 - Maurice Bembridge, 278
1973 - Peter Oosterhuis, 280
1972 - Tony Jacklin, 279

Schweppes Open
1970–71 - Not played
1969 - Bernard Gallacher, 293
1968 - David Talbot, 276
1967 - Peter Townsend, 275

British PGA Championship
1966 - Brian Huggett, 271
1965 - Peter Alliss-p, 286
1964 - Tony Grubb, 287
1963 - Peter Butler, 306
1962 - Peter Alliss, 287
1961 - Brian Bamford, 266
1960 - Arnold Stickley, w-247
1959 - Dai Rees, 283
1958 - Harry Bradshaw, 287
1957 - Peter Alliss, 286
1956 - Charlie Ward-p, 282
1955 - Ken Bousfield, 277