JJ Spaun captured his maiden Rolex Series title at the BMW PGA Championship, delivering a stunning performance that ended in a dramatic final-day win. The American entered the final day one shot behind the lead but quickly moved into contention with a hat-trick of birdies on his last five holes. Spaun posted a 67 for the day and finished at 17 under par, setting the clubhouse lead after his final hole. His run of birdies shifted momentum in the tournament, as he moved ahead of several major champions including Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott.
Spaun finished with a four-round total of 271 and won by two shots. He made four birdies over his final five holes, including three in a row from the 14th through the 16th.
Spaun’s victory was especially meaningful as it came after his exclusion from the Presidents Cup team, which he said left him disappointed, according to CBS Sports. He described the week as one where he played with a strong chip on his shoulder and felt he had something to prove. Spaun’s win marked his second of the year, with all victories coming in his last 16 worldwide starts.
Spaun finished 10th in the U.S. Presidents Cup standings but was not selected as one of captain Brandt Snedeker’s six picks. He said after the victory that he wanted to show that he deserved a place on the team.
He celebrated with his wife Melody Spaun and caddie Mark Carens, who stood by his side throughout the tournament, according to a report from Reuters. Melody brought a surprise gift to the celebration—a mask, irishgolfer.ie reported. The mask showed the face of British broadcaster Jeremy Clarkson. Spaun said he and his wife enjoy English culture and often vacation in the Cotswolds, where they visited a pub called The Farmer’s Dog.
The final round saw Spaun start with a bogey but he quickly recovered and made a series of key plays to stay in the hunt. His performance on the back nine included birdies on holes 14, 15, and 16, which helped him surge into the lead. The final hole saw Spaun make a two-putt gain that secured his position in front of the field.
However, 54-hole co-leader Manuel Elvira had a chance to tie the tournament but ended with a double-bogey on the 18th after a series of poor shots. Elvira had eagled the par-five 17th and briefly tied Spaun before finishing with a double-bogey on the final hole.
The Spaniard reached the 18th needing a birdie to win or a par to force a playoff. His layup found a fairway bunker and his next shot went over the green. He eventually made a seven to fall two strokes behind Spaun.
McIlroy carded a closing 68 to remain in contention for the Race to Dubai title, which is currently led by Patrick Reed. Spaun’s win makes him just the third American to claim this title, following in the footsteps of Arnold Palmer and Billy Horschel. He also became the first player since Byeong-hun An in 2015 to win the BMW PGA Championship on his debut appearance.
The tournament concluded with a shared second place for McIlroy, Scott, Aaron Rai and Elvira, who all finished at 15 under par. Spaun expressed gratitude for the opportunity to compete in England, a place close to his family’s heart. He said that he felt the stars aligned during the week and credited his determination and motivation for the result.
The Presidents Cup begins Thursday, with the U.S. team facing the International Team. The event is scheduled to be held at Medinah Country Club’s Course No. 3 in 2026. Spaun said he will watch the competition from home and wished his U.S. teammates well. Meanwhile, McIlroy is preparing for a series of upcoming tournaments including events in India and the UAE.
IMAGE: Picture of JJ. Photo: Sdsuaztecfan / Wikimedia, taken 2015-05-30, CC BY-SA 4.0