BMW PGA Championship suspends play through Friday following Queen Elizabeth II's death
The BMW PGA Championship has postponed play through at least Friday following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Buckingham Palace announced Elizabeth’s death Thursday afternoon as the first round of the tournament was wrapping up at the Wentworth Club in Surrey, England. Play was suspended upon the news of her death and the tournament said that it wouldn’t resume until Saturday at the earliest.
“Out of respect for Her Majesty and the Royal Family, play has been suspended at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club for the remainder of Thursday and flags at Wentworth Club will be lowered to half-mast.”
“Furthermore, no play will take place at the BMW PGA Championship on Friday and the golf course and practice facilities will be closed. Further updates on the resumption of play will be provided in due course.”
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) September 8, 2022
The statement didn’t specify if the tournament would be shortened, played as scheduled on an additional day or if golfers would end up playing 54 holes over two days. Tommy Fleetwood, Andy Sullivan and Viktor Hovland shared the lead at 8-under par when play was suspended.
The BMW PGA Championship is one of the biggest events annually on the DP World Tour and attracts some of the top golfers from around the world. Thirteen of the world’s top 50 golfers are in the tournament including world No. 3 Rory McIlroy, No. 6 Jon Rahm and U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick.
The tournament also features 18 players who had left the PGA and DP World Tours for Saudi-backed LIV Golf. Their presence at the BMW PGA was the biggest story in the days before the tournament as players like McIlroy and Billy Horschel said they didn’t believe LIV golfers should be playing in the event. Horschel called out players like Abraham Ancer and Talor Gooch by name and said they were only playing in the tournament in an attempt to gain Official World Golf Ranking points since LIV events weren’t eligible for ranking points.
