JJ Spaun birdied four of his last five holes to claim a dramatic maiden Rolex Series victory at the BMW PGA Championship.
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.
“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.
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.
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