The 2025 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club in Surrey, England, delivered all the drama, star power, and emotional backstories that golf fans could hope for. Running from September 9 to 14, this flagship DP World Tour event marked the fourth stop on the Back 9 and boasted a hefty $9 million Rolex Series purse. The historic course played host to a stellar cast: defending champion Billy Horschel, Grand Slam winner Rory McIlroy, and, making his debut at this event, 11-time PGA TOUR winner Hideki Matsuyama. The anticipation was palpable as the world’s top golfers converged for one of the most prestigious titles on the circuit.
Among the headline acts was Tommy Fleetwood, the Englishman riding high after his breakthrough victory at the PGA TOUR’s Tour Championship at East Lake in August. That win, worth a staggering $10 million, finally put to rest the whispers about his inability to close out big moments. But as Fleetwood teed off at Wentworth, there was more on his mind than just golf. In a candid press conference before the tournament, Fleetwood revealed why his wife, Clare Craig, was absent from his emotional win in Atlanta. "Our middle boy, Mo (Murray), had a spinal operation just over a month ago now. So they were unable to travel," Fleetwood shared, explaining that Murray spent three and a half weeks in the hospital and was still recovering during the week of the Memphis tournament. "Actually, the week of Memphis, they were in the hospital and he was recovering, and then eventually got home just before we got home. He had three and a half weeks in the hospital, so that’s why they weren’t there, but Oscar came out to be with me."
That heartfelt admission added a new dimension to Fleetwood’s journey. While his stepson Oscar joined him for the celebrations at East Lake, the family’s resilience was on full display. Reports confirmed that Murray would be able to attend the BMW PGA Championship, bringing a sense of closure and joy to the Fleetwood camp. The absence of Clare, Fleetwood’s wife of eight years, had sparked online chatter, partly due to her openness about their 23-year age gap. In a 2023 interview, Clare, 57, addressed the attention their relationship received: "It kind of is and isn’t. I mean, it was way more at the beginning. It was kind of not actually for us, but it was just again thinking what other people are thinking about all the time and within the industry. It was kind of big news in our circle, so I was a little bit paranoid about all that, really. But not for any reason of our relationship and I had full faith once we fell in love."
Fleetwood and Clare’s story began in 2015, when they met through his brother. Clare, then serving as his agent, initially rebuffed his advances due to their age difference. "We’ve got a 23-year age difference," she said. "Of course, I turned him down. I was like, ‘Don’t be stupid.’" But love prevailed, and the couple married in 2017. They share a son, Frankie, born that same year, and Clare’s sons Oscar and Murray from a previous marriage have become an integral part of Fleetwood’s life—illustrating just how much family means to the English star.
On the course, the competition was fierce. Twelve Major Champions teed it up, including Pádraig Harrington, Brooks Koepka, Adam Scott, and Green Jacket winners Jon Rahm, Patrick Reed, and Danny Willett. The field was rounded out by rising stars and proven winners: Min Woo Lee (fresh off his Texas Children’s Houston Open triumph), Thomas Detry (WM Phoenix Open winner), and other PGA TOUR regulars like Michael Kim, Si Woo Kim, Jhonattan Vegas, and Kevin Yu. The stakes were high, not just for the lucrative prize money but also for Ryder Cup momentum and Race to Dubai points.
Fleetwood’s recent FedEx Cup victory had already secured his spot on Europe’s 2025 Ryder Cup team, alongside McIlroy, Justin Rose, Tyrrell Hatton, Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, and Denmark’s Rasmus Højgaard. The European side’s lineup for the upcoming showdown at Bethpage Black in New York was further bolstered by captain’s picks Matt Fitzpatrick, Viktor Hovland, Shane Lowry, Sepp Straka, Ludvig Åberg, and Jon Rahm. With the Americans eager to reclaim the Cup after Europe’s 2023 triumph in Lazio, Italy, the intensity at Wentworth served as a preview of the transatlantic rivalry to come.
As the final round unfolded, it was Sweden’s Alex Noren who seized the moment. Noren, who previously won this event in 2017, showcased nerves of steel as he faced off against France’s Adrien Saddier in a playoff. Both men had battled through a tense Sunday, but it was Noren’s birdie at the first extra hole that clinched his second BMW PGA Championship title. The victory was worth a cool €1,304,227.08, while Saddier, the valiant runner-up, pocketed €843,911.64. Aaron Rai and Patrick Reed shared third place, each earning €433,463.71—a testament to the depth and competitiveness of the field.
The prize money breakdown revealed just how lucrative the week was for the game’s elite. From Noren’s seven-figure payday down to the €11,462.89 collected by the lower finishers, the BMW PGA Championship delivered financial rewards commensurate with its prestige. Notable performances came from Ewen Ferguson, Darren Fichardt, Matt Fitzpatrick, Hatton, Hovland, and Si Woo Kim, all of whom tied for fifth and took home €223,508.72 each. Home favorites like Fleetwood, who finished tied for 46th and earned €33,756.47, still relished the chance to compete in front of passionate British fans.
The drama wasn’t limited to the leaderboard. With the Ryder Cup just weeks away, every shot was scrutinized for hints about form and confidence. McIlroy, Åberg, and Højgaard all finished inside the top 25, showing that Europe’s core is in fine fettle. Meanwhile, rookies and veterans alike jostled for position in the Race to Dubai standings, with the season set to conclude in November on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai.
For Fleetwood, the week at Wentworth was about more than just golf. It was a chance to compete at home, with family reunited and Ryder Cup ambitions burning bright. His journey—from heartbreak at previous tournaments to the elation of his first PGA TOUR win and the trials of his family’s recent health scare—captured the hearts of fans and added a deeply human element to the spectacle.
As the sun set on another memorable BMW PGA Championship, Alex Noren’s triumph, Fleetwood’s resilience, and the gathering of golf’s greats set the stage for an electrifying finish to the DP World Tour season and a Ryder Cup showdown that promises fireworks. The action in Surrey proved once again that golf, at its best, is about far more than numbers on a scorecard—it’s about perseverance, passion, and the stories that unfold both inside and outside the ropes.
