Published July 17, 2008 on August 1, 2019

American Trio Set for BMW PGA Championship

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Americans Tony Finau, Billy Horschel and Patrick Reed will make their debuts in the BMW PGA Championship after confirming they will join the world class field for the fourth Rolex Series event of 2019 at Wentworth Club from September 19-22.

The trio will join Tommy Fleetwood, Rory McIlroy, defending champion Francesco Molinari and Olympic Champion Justin Rose in what is set to be one of the strongest fields in the history of the prestigious event following the change in date from its traditional May slot to September.

Finau, Horschel and Reed will each be bidding to become only the second American winner of the BMW PGA Championship following the legendary Arnold Palmer who triumphed in 1975 when the tournament was played at Royal St Georges.

Reed, the 2018 Masters Champion, is an Honorary Life Member of the European Tour and finished runner up to Molinari in last year’s Race to Dubai.

The three-time Ryder Cup player, who also won the 2014 WGC-Cadillac Championship, finished second in the 2018 DP World Tour Championship and was also a runner-up on the European Tour in the 2015 BMW Masters in China.

A popular figure among fans in Europe, Reed is relishing the opportunity to tee it up for the first time at Wentworth Club in September.

Reed said: “I always enjoy playing in Britain and the fans are always great, so it will be fun playing in the BMW PGA Championship for the first time. Wentworth is an iconic venue and its one of the best tournaments on the European Tour, so I’m looking forward to it.

“It’s final event of a run three week run on the European Tour for me, so I’m hoping to get my first victory on European soil.”

Reed will be joined in the field by his 2018 Ryder Cup teammate Tony Finau, who returns to Europe for the first time since finishing third in The Open Championship at Royal Portrush,  his best finish in a major to date just ahead of his tied fifth place in the Masters Tournament in April.

Finau, who joined the European Tour as an affiliate member earlier this year, has continued his strong form from 2018 when he secured a runner-up finish in the WGC-HSBC Champions alongside three top-ten Major Championship finishes. The World Number 13 also made an impressive Ryder Cup debut as a Captain’s pick at Le Golf National, winning two points from his three matches, including a 6&4 victory over Fleetwood in the Singles.

Finau said: “I’ve heard a lot of amazing things about the BMW PGA Championship and about Wentworth, so playing in the tournament for the first time is exciting for me.

“It looks like the field is going to be very strong and the crowds are always fun in Britain so it should be a great week.”

Reed and Finau will be joined in the field by compatriot Billy Horschel, who is also an affiliate member of the European Tour. The five-time PGA Tour winner, who won the 2014 BMW Championship on the US PGA Tour en route to winning the FedExCup, will be competing in Europe for the first time outside of the Major Championships and World Golf Championships.

Horschel, who finished tied ninth in last week’s WGC-Fed.Ex St Jude Invitational, said: “It’s great that the changes to the schedule this year mean we will have the chance to come over to Wentworth to play in the BMW PGA Championship for the first time. I won the BMW Championship on the PGA Tour a few years ago and BMW always help put on a great event, so it would be nice to try to win another of their tournaments and get the ‘double’.”