Disappointment for Spaniard Elvira

Winning a Major championship in golf is truly a great honour.  It is perhaps a wonder then to win the BMW Championship at Wentworth, England (17-20 September) in your debut appearance with a nail-biting finish.  Well, this is precisely what happened to American J.J. Spaun, winner of the 2025 US Open.  The 36-year old from Los Angeles waited nervously for a possible play-off with Spanish golfer, Manuel Elvira who was tie-leader with Italy’s Filippo Celli after 54 holes on 13-under par.  Spaun triumphed after making a birdie at the final hole to score 17-under par.  Elvira had a disappointing finish and had to settle for a share of second place on 15-under.  Indeed, the BMW Championship was an absolute delight to watch.

 

 

The 30-year old Manuel Elvira made a tremendous 9-foot putt at the par-5 17th to tie J.J. Spaun for the lead in the BMW Championship.  All Elvira needed was a birdie at the par-5 closing hole to seize the title.

 

So he took an iron off the tee for safety and then took another iron to lay-up short of the green but, alas, his ball finished in the sandbunker.  His next shot flew over the green where he took a free drop next to the grandstand.   J.J. Spaun was watching Elvira from the practice ground.  The Spaniard then fluffed his chip into the rear bunker. He splashed out and then needed two putts for a double-bogey and a score of 15-under.

 

Elvira’s final round of 70 saw him finish in a tie for second place along with some of the world’s leading players: the 2026 PGA Champion, Aaron Rai (England), Major winners Adam Scott (Australia) and Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland).

 

 

With 120,000 golf fans expected during the tournament at Wentworth, they were treated to a tremendous day of good weather on Sunday.

 

Although American J.J. Spaun began his final round with a bogey, he came alive on the back nine with four birdies in the last five holes for a final tally of 17-under par: 70, 66, 68 and 67.

 

Magical moments

 

A delighted Frenchman Frederic Lacroix holed his tee-shot at the 14th hole on the final day to win a BMW car.

 

England’s Tyrrell Hatton was the only player to birdie the 420-yard 11th hole every day which saw him shoot-up the leaderboard with a 67 where he finished in a tie for 27th on 10-under par.

 

Holland’s Joost Luiten had a great week at Wentworth too where he played rounds of 70, 71, 69 and 64 with a chance for eagle at the 18th but had to settle for a birdie for a 14-under par to share sixth spot with US Open Champion 2022, Matt Fitzpatrick (England), Open Champion Ryan Fox (New Zealand) and Filippo Celli (Italy).

 

J.J. Spaun was absolutely delighted with his victory in the BMW Championship.  His golf was simply magical to watch.  May his good form continue well into the new golf season!

 

 

Wendy Hoad

Editor

 

 

MAIN PHOTOGRAPH:  American J.J. Spaun wins the BMW Championship at Wentworth, England. MINIS (l-r): J.J. Spaun, Manuel Elvira, Rory McIlroy and Aaron Rai.  Justin Rose, Filippo Celli and Adam Scott.