The BMW PGA Championship Pro-Am at Wentworth’s West Course in Surrey, England, unfolded on September 10, 2025, with a dazzling blend of sportsmanship, celebrity, and pure entertainment. The exclusive event, long regarded as the flagship of the DP World Tour, transformed the storied fairways into a vibrant festival of golf, drawing fans and stars from across the sporting world. If you wandered the course that Wednesday, you might’ve thought you’d stumbled onto the set of a blockbuster movie or a Formula One paddock—such was the sheer diversity of sports jerseys, celebrity faces, and electric atmosphere.
The pro-am, a much-coveted staple of major golf tournaments, was no ordinary warm-up. This year’s roster read like a who’s-who of international sports and entertainment. Formula One sensation Lando Norris, who’s been with McLaren since 2019, was a particular crowd magnet. His legion of fans, decked out in McLaren orange, followed his every swing, bringing a new flavor to the traditional golf gallery. According to The Athletic, “Caps, bags, jackets and umbrellas in the colours and branding of Formula One team McLaren dotted around the privately owned and extremely exclusive golf course.”
But Norris wasn’t the only superstar making waves. Sir Andy Murray, three-time tennis Grand Slam champion, was in fine form, not only charming fans but also delivering a golfing masterstroke. In a moment that had the crowd buzzing, Murray eagled the famous 18th hole—no mean feat for any golfer, let alone a tennis legend. The DP World Tour’s social media exploded with the highlight: “Sir Andy Murray eagles the famous 18th… With a little help from Gareth Bale.” And yes, that’s the same Gareth Bale who once dazzled for Real Madrid and Wales, now turning heads with his smooth golf swing and infectious enthusiasm for the game.
Football wasn’t left out of the action. Former England and Manchester City captain Steph Houghton joined the celebrity lineup, as did ex-Manchester United and England striker Teddy Sheringham. Sheringham, never one to shy from the spotlight, entertained the crowd with a no-look putting technique that sparked laughter and applause. Meanwhile, Bale’s golf prowess, once the subject of controversy among Madrid fans, was now celebrated in retirement as he played alongside friends and fellow athletes.
Wentworth’s reputation as a magnet for the rich and famous was further burnished by the presence of Bayern Munich and England forward Harry Kane, a property owner on the estate, even though football commitments kept him from teeing up this year. The event’s inclusivity extended beyond football and tennis—England rugby union stars Finn Russell, Owen Farrell, Henry Pollock, Marcus Smith, and Jamie George all took part, drawing chants of “Europe” from the lively crowd. The pro-am’s unique blend of amateur and professional golfers, celebrities, and sports enthusiasts created a truly festival-like vibe, living up to its slogan, “the festival of golf.”
If the atmosphere felt more like Glastonbury than Augusta, that was by design. Oasis’s “Supersonic” blared from speakers as fans in bucket hats and branded gear mingled with their heroes. Saturday night promised live music from British band Razorlight, sharing the stage with 11 of Europe’s 12-man Ryder Cup team. The only absentee? Sepp Straka, who remained at home with his wife and newborn child. Rory McIlroy, fresh off an Irish Open win, skipped the pro-am but was set to join the weekend’s main event.
For many fans, the chance to rub shoulders with sporting icons was well worth the £40 ticket price. Penny Davies, attending her first golf event, told The Athletic, “It’s much more intimate than tennis, and I can’t believe how close you’re allowed to get to them.” She and her sister Debbie Downes, both from the Midlands, marveled at the accessibility and star power on display. Autograph hunters were out in force, with one man boasting that he’d secured 15 signatures from Norris alone last year—enough, he joked, to “pay for the day.”
The event was a showcase not just of golf skills but also of camaraderie and cross-sport admiration. Jamie Murray, a seven-time major doubles tennis champion, accompanied his younger brother Andy around the course. When asked about golf’s appeal to athletes from other sports, Jamie offered a candid insight: “The thing with golf is you can play rubbish, but then you hit one or two good shots and think, why can’t you do that more, and it drags you back in because there’s nothing better than seeing the ball go up into the blue sky.” Even if the sky over Wentworth was “indefinitely grey and definitely not blue,” as The Athletic wryly noted, the spirits of players and fans remained undampened.
Among the most memorable moments was the playful camaraderie on the first tee. Billy Horschel, the reigning champion and a West Ham United supporter, made his return to competition after a five-month hiatus due to a hip injury. He posed for photos with fellow stars before stepping up to the tee box. The master of ceremonies did his best to rouse the crowd, promising prizes if amateurs could find the fairway. Singer Tom Grennan, part of Tommy Fleetwood’s team, provided comic relief by shanking his opening shot—a “first tee to forget,” as the DP World Tour’s social media quipped.
Tommy Fleetwood, the 2025 FedEx Cup winner, was joined by actor Harrison Osterfield, singer Tom Grennan, and golf content creator Anna Halliday. The playful banter and lighthearted competition were a hit with the crowd, but everyone knew the tone would shift as the tournament proper began on Thursday. The pro-am, after all, is about fun and fan engagement—a rare chance for sports enthusiasts to see their heroes in a relaxed, informal setting.
The diversity of fan attire underscored the event’s broad appeal. McLaren F1 caps mingled with Spurs, Madrid, Wales, Chelsea, and Liverpool shirts, as supporters vied for autographs from their favorite stars. Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler, Chelsea legend John Terry, American golfer Brooks Koepka, and Olympic hockey gold medallist Sam Quek all made appearances, further boosting the event’s celebrity quotient.
As the sun set over Wentworth, the anticipation for the main BMW PGA Championship grew. The pro-am had delivered everything fans could hope for: star power, sporting drama, and a festival atmosphere that blurred the lines between golf and the wider world of sport. With the Ryder Cup on the horizon and Europe’s best golfers assembling, the excitement is just getting started at Wentworth. For now, fans and players alike can savor the memories of a pro-am that truly lived up to its billing as the festival of golf.