“Spider-Man” Tom Holland and many more stars from sports and entertainment to open a unique week of golf with the Celebrity Pro-Am.

• The flagship event of the European Tour at the Wentworth Club (London) is one of the highlights of the golf season and the third event of the Rolex Series.
• Celebrity Pro-Am, live concerts and spectators as knowledgeable as they are enthusiastic: the BMW PGA Championship is a “Festival of Golf”.
• It represents the final chance for European players to claim qualification points for the Ryder Cup in Whistling Straits.
• Hole-in-One Award for a good cause: for the first hole-in-hole at the 14th, BMW will donate around £80,000 pounds (the equivalent value of a BMW iX) to the Alzheimer’s Society. The player will keep the fully-electric vehicle for one year.

A Hollywood star had the honour of opening the BMW PGA Championship tournament week. British actor Tom Holland, well known for playing Spider-Man in numerous Marvel productions, teed off in the Celebrity-Pro Am on Wednesday morning in front of the iconic Wentworth clubhouse. A host of celebrities took the opportunity to enjoy the West Course and the return of tens of thousands of spectators at the opening of “The Players’ Flagship”. Tomorrow will see a world-class field of players join battle for the title, second only to the Open in European golf. Some of the pros will also be looking to secure a spot at the Ryder Cup.

Holland went round the course with his twin brother Harry and Europe’s Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington. It is the first time that the 25-year-old has competed in the BMW PGA Championship Pro-Am. The same applied to English pro footballer Adam Lallana and former tennis pro Daniela Hantuchová (CZE). More top-level sportspeople were also swinging their clubs: Olympic gold medalists James Guy (ENG, swimming), Samantha Quek (ENG, hockey) and Denise Lewis (ENG, heptathlon), as well as former world football stars Robbie Fowler, Paul Ince and Andrij Schewtschenko. Pop music also enjoyed renowned representation from chart-toppers like Ronan Keating, Niall Horan, Brain McFadden and Keith Duffy.

Facts about the BMW PGA Championship 2021.

Venue.

Wentworth Club, London. Home of the European Tour

West Course (7,267 yards/6,646 metres, par 72).

Course record: Alex Noren (SWE, 62 strokes, 2017).

Defending champion.

Tyrrell Hatton (ENG).

Ryder Cup Qualification.

The BMW PGA Championship represents the final chance for European golfers to score points for the Ryder Cup or to get themselves noticed. Eight players will qualify for the squad led by captain Padraig Harrington (IRL), and four more will qualify as wild cards. This quartet will be announced by Harrington on Sunday evening at the Wentworth Club.

Playing field.

The field battling for the prestigious BMW PGA Championship title includes:

• Major winners Adam Scott (AUS), Shane Lowry (IRL), Justin Rose (ENG), Francesco Molinari (ITA), Henrik Stenson (SWE), Martin Kaymer (GER), Danny Willett (ENG), Graeme McDowell (NIR).
• 2014 FedExCup champion Billy Horschel (USA).
• 2011 and 2012 BMW PGA Championship winner Luke Donald (ENG).
• Reigning BMW International Open winner Viktor Hovland (NOR).
• Ryder Cup stars Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Fitzpatrick (all ENG), Alex Noren (SWE).

Charity.

The Alzheimer’s Society is the largest British charitable organisation that supporting people with dementia and their carers. If a player scores a hole-in-one at the 14th, BMW will donate £78,370, the value of this year’s Hole-in One Car – a fully-electric BMW iX xDrive40 Sport – to the Alzheimer’s Society. The player will also be able to use the car for a term of one year. The European Tour will donate 10 Euro for each birdie recorded in the tournament, and 100 Euro for each eagle.

Prize money.

8 million US dollars.

Festival of Golf.

Celebrity Pro-Am, the Championship Village, the delightful yet challenging West Course, the spectators: the BMW PGA Championship is an atmospheric festival of golf. The live concerts at the weekend in the Championship Village will also contribute to the unique flair of the BMW PGA Championship. Saturday evening will feature an appearance by chart-toppers “Clean Bandit”, followed by rock trio “Feeder” on Sunday.

Previous BMW PGA Championship winners.

2020     Tyrrell Hatton (ENG)

2019      Danny Willett (ENG)

2018      Francesco Molinari (ITA)

2017      Alex Noren (SWE)

2016      Chris Wood (ENG)

2015      Byeong-hun An (KOR)

2014      Rory McIlroy (NIR)

2013      Matteo Manassero (ITA)

2012      Luke Donald (ENG)

2011       Luke Donald (ENG)

2010      Simon Khan (ENG)

2009     Paul Casey (ENG)

2008     Miguel Ángel Jiménez (ESP)

2007     Anders Hansen (DEN)

2006     David Howell (ENG)

2005     Angel Cabrera (ARG)