01마지막 5개 홀서 버디 4개… 스폰, 웨트워스서 극적 역전 드라마 완성
J.J. 스폰(미국)이 DP월드투어 최고 권위의 롤렉스 시리즈 대회인 BMW PGA 챔피언십(총상금 900만 달러)에서 짜릿한 막판 뒤집기로 정상에 올랐다. 스폰은 잉글랜드 서리의 웨트워스 클럽에서 열린 대회 최종 라운드에서 맹타를 휘두르며 최종합계 17언더파 271타로 우승 트로피를 들어 올려 개인 통산 첫 롤렉스 시리즈 왕좌에 올랐다.
선두에 1타 뒤진 채 최종 라운드를 출발한 스폰은 후반 14번 홀 전까지 타수를 크게 줄이지 못하며 우승권에서 멀어지는 듯했다. 그러나 14번 홀부터 16번 홀까지 3홀 연속 버디를 낚으며 단숨에 선두로 치고 나갔고, 마지막 18번 홀(파5)에서도 버디를 추가해 5언더파 67타를 기록하며 17언더파로 먼저 경기를 마쳤다.
챔피언조의 마누엘 엘비라(스페인)가 17번 홀 이글로 스폰과 동타를 만들며 연장전 가능성을 높였으나, 마지막 18번 홀에서 치명적인 더블보기를 범하면서 스폰의 우승이 최종 확정됐다. 이로써 스폰은 아놀드 파머, 빌리 호셸에 이어 이 대회를 제패한 역대 세 번째 미국 선수가 됐으며, 2015년 안병훈 이후 처음으로 대회 첫 출전에 우승을 차지하는 대기록을 작성했다.
한편, 로리 매킬로이(북아일랜드)와 아담 스콧(호주), 애런 라이(잉글랜드), 마누엘 엘비라는 최종합계 15언더파로 공동 2위에 머물렀다. 프레지던츠컵 대표팀 탈락의 아쉬움을 우승으로 털어낸 스폰은 2025년 US 오픈 우승에 이어 통산 두 번째 DP월드투어 타이틀을 획득했다.
02Original (English) — DP World Tour
JJ Spaun birdied four of his last five holes to claim a dramatic maiden Rolex Series victory at the BMW PGA Championship.
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
End of dialog window.
This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.
This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.
The American entered the final day at Wentworth Club one shot off the lead but had slipped further behind and did not look to be in contention stood on the 14th tee as a host of fellow Major champions battled for the title.
A hat-trick of birdies changed all that, however, and when he also made a gain on the last, he had set the target at 17 under with a 67.
It was not all over as Manuel Elvira eagled the 17th to join him at the summit but when the Spaniard double-bogeyed the last, Spaun had a second DP World Tour title following his victory at the 2025 U.S. Open.
Elvira signed for a 70 to finish in a share of second two shots back alongside Masters champions Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott and US PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai.
Spaun's victory makes him just the third American to win this title after Arnold Palmer and Billy Horschel and the first player to win it on debut since Byeong hun An in 2015.
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
End of dialog window.
This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.
This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.
"It means so much," he said. "You know, I've kind of blossomed into this player I never thought I could b, and to take my game across the world and more specifically here in England, a place that's dear to my family's heart, we vacation here quite a bit.
"The stars kind of aligned this week for me to come out on top and I'm just grateful to have the opportunity and play and play well and give myself a chance and came out with a W.
"I knew the whole day I had to stay patient because of the closing stretch at Wentworth because you could go eagle, eagle and you could also go bogey, bogey."
Spaun, who revealed he had used his omission from the Presidents Cup team as an inspiration this week, celebrated with wife Melody after the victory, and she had brought a surpise visitor in the form of a mask of UK broadcaster Jeremy Clarkson.
"We've grown fond of him, along with the English culture, we actually take holidays in December in the Cotswolds and we really enjoy his show," said Spaun. "I went to his pub, the Farmer's Dog, with the hopes to catch a glimpse of him but he wasn't around.
"She (Melody) said we would have a surprise guest following this week if I competed in the tournament and sure enough it was Thursday morning, I see the face of Jeremy Clarkson and her holding it. Jeremy was there in spirit and I think he brought me good fortune."
Elvira started with a bogey after missing the first green and failing to get up and down but he kept himself in touch as he took advantage of the par-five fourth and played a beautiful pitch to tap-in range at the eighth to turn in 32.
A 25-footer on the tenth had the 30-year-old in a share of the lead and he was briefly ahead on his own with two putts on the par-five 12th before a missed short putt on the 14th dropped him back.
Spaun had also started his round with a bogey and while he hit back on the fourth and played a beautiful tee shot into the fifth, a run of eight pars did not suggest he was going to contend.
But he then put his tee shot close at the 14th and holed from 14 and 16 feet to complete a hat-trick of birdies that catapulted him into the lead.
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
End of dialog window.
This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.
This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.
He missed a birdie chance on the next but a two-putt gain on the last had him in the driving seat, although his two-shot advantage would be short-lived.
Two groups behind, overnight leader Elvira put his second at the 17th to nine feet and rolled in the eagle putt to join the lead and give Spaun an anxious wait.
But in search of a first professional win, Elvira found sand with his second and flew the green with his third before finding sand again and seeing his dreams dashed.
McIlroy carded a closing 68 to boost his chances of catching Patrick Reed at the top of the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World, with Scott also carding a 68 and Rai signing for a 66.
Major winners Matt Fitzpatrick and Ryan Fox finished three shots off the lead alongside Joost Luiten and Filippo Celli.
Report
Filippo Celli and Manuel Elvira will share the lead heading into the final round of the BMW PGA Championship but the duo have a high-class leaderboard breathing down their necks at Wentworth Club.