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Rory McIlroy Confirms Appearance at BMW PGA Championship

Rory McIlroy Confirms BMW PGA Championship Appearance
Rory McIlroy Confirms BMW PGA Championship Appearance

Four-time major winner and 2014 BMW PGA Champion Rory McIlroy has been added to the field at Wentworth.

This year, the BMW PGA Championship will take place from 24-27 May.

The world No 7 missed last year’s event through injury but has committed to taking part in the first of eight tournaments of the European Tour’s Race to Dubai Series.

McIlroy will play the first of eight Rolex Series events at European Tour headquarters.

He will join the likes of European No 1 Tommy Fleetwood and Paul Casey at the new and improved West Course.

A strong start to 2018

The 28-year-old enjoyed top-three finishes in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in his first two outings of 2018 before he began his PGA TOUR campaign.

McIlroy told Sky News:  “I’m looking forward to going back to Wentworth. I haven’t played there in a couple of years but from what I’ve seen, with the new grass that they’ve put in, it looks a much better golf course, a much more playable golf course.

“It was always a great golf course but sometimes it could get very tricky with some of the lies you could get. For them to re-grass the place and for it to look as good as it does is great, and I’m looking forward to playing it.

“It’s always a good week. If Wentworth gets good weather, and hopefully we do, the crowds are awesome, the golf course is great, and the area is beautiful, so I’m looking forward to going back.

McIlroy’s history at Wentworth

“I’ve had a weird relationship with Wentworth. I had the win there back in 2014 but I haven’t really done much else. I think I had a top five back in 2009 but it’s been a place of high frustration for me so I’m looking forward to going back and trying to solve the puzzle again. At least I do have good memories there.”

McIlroy was fixated by golf form a young age, learning the game from his father at the unassuming Hollywood Golf Club outside Belfast.

His idol was Woods, who clinched his breakthrough 1997 Master win when Rory was not quite eight.

A resurgent Woods will be one of McIlroy’s chief rivals, adding significant spice to the narrative.

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