BMW PGA Championship vs PGA Championship: What’s the Difference?
The BMW PGA Championship and the PGA Championship sound almost identical, but they are completely different golf tournaments.
One is the flagship event of the DP World Tour, played at Wentworth in England.
The other is one of the four men’s major championships, run by the PGA of America and played in the United States.
That naming causes confusion every year, especially when the BMW PGA Championship comes around.
The simple version: BMW PGA Championship = DP World Tour at Wentworth. PGA Championship = one of golf’s four majors in the United States.
What Is the BMW PGA Championship?
The BMW PGA Championship is one of the biggest events on the DP World Tour.
It is played on the West Course at Wentworth Club in Surrey and has become one of the most recognisable tournaments in European golf.
The championship itself dates back to 1955, when it was originally known as the British PGA Championship. Wentworth has hosted the event continuously since 1984, although the West Course had also been used several times before then.
BMW became title partner in 2005, creating the name most golf fans recognise today.
The event is widely regarded as the DP World Tour’s flagship tournament and forms part of the Rolex Series.
What Is the PGA Championship?
The PGA Championship is one of the four men’s majors.
Those four majors are:
- The Masters
- PGA Championship
- U.S. Open
- The Open
The PGA Championship is organised by the PGA of America.
Unlike the BMW PGA Championship, it does not have one permanent venue. It moves around different courses in the United States each year.
It is normally played in May and attracts one of the strongest fields in world golf.
The winner receives the Wanamaker Trophy.
Are They the Same Tournament?
No.
They are completely separate competitions.
The similar names come from the fact that both have connections to professional golf organisations using the PGA name.
But in practical terms:
- The BMW PGA Championship belongs to the DP World Tour
- The PGA Championship is run by the PGA of America
- The BMW PGA is played in England
- The PGA Championship is played in the United States
- The PGA Championship is a major
- The BMW PGA Championship is not
That final point is probably the biggest distinction.
Is the BMW PGA Championship a Major?
No.
The BMW PGA Championship is not a major championship.
It is one of the biggest events on the DP World Tour and carries considerable prestige, but winning at Wentworth does not count towards a player’s major championship total.
That means if Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm or another major winner wins the BMW PGA Championship, it goes down as another professional tour victory rather than another major.
The PGA Championship is different.
Winning the PGA Championship makes you a major champion.
Why Is the BMW PGA Championship So Important Then?
Not being a major does not mean the BMW PGA Championship is just another tournament.
It is the flagship event of the DP World Tour and has one of the strongest identities on the European schedule.
There are several reasons it matters.
Wentworth
Wentworth has become almost inseparable from the tournament.
The West Course has hosted the championship every year since 1984 and has seen some of European golf’s biggest names win there.
That consistency gives the event something many regular tour tournaments do not have.
Players and fans know the course.
They know the closing holes.
They know where tournaments have been won and lost before.
The Field
Wentworth regularly attracts major champions, Ryder Cup players and some of the best golfers from Europe and beyond.
That gives it a stronger field than many normal DP World Tour events.
Rolex Series Status
The BMW PGA Championship is part of the DP World Tour’s Rolex Series.
These are some of the biggest tournaments on the schedule, with increased prize money and Race to Dubai points.
For 2026, the BMW PGA Championship carries a $9 million prize fund and 8,000 Race to Dubai points, making it one of the most valuable weeks of the DP World Tour season.
History
The tournament dates back to 1955 and has produced an impressive list of winners.
Previous champions include:
- Seve Ballesteros
- Sir Nick Faldo
- Bernhard Langer
- Ian Woosnam
- Colin Montgomerie
- Rory McIlroy
- Luke Donald
- Shane Lowry
- Tyrrell Hatton
- Ryan Fox
- Alex Noren
Wentworth has hosted the championship continuously since 1984.
Why Is the PGA Championship a Major?
The PGA Championship has a completely different status.
It is one of the four tournaments used to measure a golfer’s major championship record.
That puts it alongside The Masters, U.S. Open and The Open.
Winning the PGA Championship can define a career.
When people talk about how many majors Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Rory McIlroy or Brooks Koepka have won, victories in the PGA Championship are included.
Victories at the BMW PGA Championship are not.
That does not necessarily mean every PGA Championship has a better atmosphere or more history than Wentworth. It simply means the PGA Championship has official major status.
Who Runs Each Tournament?
This is another major difference.
BMW PGA Championship
The BMW PGA Championship is part of the DP World Tour.
The DP World Tour was previously known as the European Tour and runs tournaments around the world.
The BMW PGA Championship is effectively its flagship tournament.
PGA Championship
The PGA Championship is run by the PGA of America.
The PGA of America is separate from the PGA Tour.
That distinction is worth remembering because the names can get confusing.
The PGA Tour does not run the PGA Championship.
The PGA of America does.
Is the PGA Championship Part of the PGA Tour?
Technically, the PGA Championship is not owned or operated by the PGA Tour.
It is organised by the PGA of America.
However, the tournament counts as an official event on the PGA Tour schedule and PGA Tour players make up much of the field.
This is similar to the other majors.
- The Masters is run by Augusta National
- The U.S. Open is run by the USGA
- The Open is run by The R&A
- The PGA Championship is run by the PGA of America
The PGA Tour does not own any of the four men’s majors.
Where Is the BMW PGA Championship Played?
The BMW PGA Championship is played at:
Wentworth Club
West Course
Virginia Water
Surrey
England
The tournament and Wentworth have been closely connected for decades.
Although the championship was originally played at different venues, Wentworth became its permanent home in 1984.
That gives it a similar sense of identity to a tournament like The Masters, although the status of the competitions is obviously very different.
When people say “Wentworth” during DP World Tour season, they are usually talking about the BMW PGA Championship.
Where Is the PGA Championship Played?
The PGA Championship moves venue.
Different American courses are selected to host the championship each year.
For example, the 2026 PGA Championship was held at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania.
Future editions move to different venues, rather than returning to the same course every season.
That makes the challenge different every year.
One PGA Championship might be played on a long, soft parkland course, while another could be played somewhere much firmer or more strategic.
When Are They Played?
The PGA Championship is normally played in May.
The BMW PGA Championship is normally played later in the season, currently in September.
For example, the 2026 BMW PGA Championship runs from 17 to 20 September at Wentworth.
That separation also makes them easier to distinguish once you know the calendar.
If you see “PGA Championship” in May, it is almost certainly the major.
If you see “BMW PGA Championship” at Wentworth in September, it is the DP World Tour event.
What Trophy Does the Winner Receive?
The PGA Championship winner receives the Wanamaker Trophy.
It has been awarded to PGA Championship winners since the tournament began in 1916.
The BMW PGA Championship has its own trophy and its own separate list of champions.
Winning either is a major achievement.
But only one puts the words “major champion” beside your name.
Who Can Play in the PGA Championship?
The PGA Championship has one of the strongest fields in golf.
It includes top-ranked professionals, major champions and leading players from across world golf.
One unusual feature is the presence of 20 PGA of America club professionals, who qualify through the PGA Professional Championship.
That means teaching professionals and club professionals can earn the chance to compete alongside some of the best players in the world.
That is a distinctive part of the PGA Championship.
Who Can Play in the BMW PGA Championship?
The BMW PGA Championship field is largely built around DP World Tour eligibility and tournament exemptions.
It typically attracts:
- Leading DP World Tour players
- Major champions
- Ryder Cup players
- Leading European golfers
- International stars
- Former champions
- Sponsor invitations
Because Wentworth is one of the most prestigious weeks on the DP World Tour, the field is usually stronger than a standard event.
Which Tournament Has the Better Field?
On pure depth, the PGA Championship generally has the stronger field.
That is what you would expect from a major.
The BMW PGA Championship can still attract an excellent field, particularly when European stars return to play at Wentworth.
But it does not automatically contain virtually every eligible top player in the world in the way a major does.
What About the BMW Championship?
This is where golf tournament names become even more confusing.
There is also a tournament called the BMW Championship.
That is another completely different event.
The BMW Championship is part of the PGA Tour's FedExCup Playoffs in the United States.
So there are effectively three names you need to keep apart:
- BMW PGA Championship – DP World Tour, Wentworth
- PGA Championship – men's major, PGA of America
- BMW Championship – PGA Tour FedExCup Playoffs
They are three separate tournaments.
BMW PGA Championship vs PGA Championship
The easiest way to remember the difference is:
BMW PGA Championship
- DP World Tour
- Played at Wentworth
- England
- Usually September
- Rolex Series event
- DP World Tour flagship event
- Not a major
- Dates back to 1955
PGA Championship
- Run by PGA of America
- Played at different US venues
- Usually May
- One of four men's majors
- Winner receives the Wanamaker Trophy
- Dates back to 1916
- Contains one of the strongest fields in golf
Has Anyone Won Both?
Yes.
A number of great players have won both the BMW PGA Championship and the PGA Championship during their careers.
That is not surprising when you look at the quality of the Wentworth roll of honour.
Players who have won the BMW PGA Championship include several major champions, including Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer and Rory McIlroy.
Winning both says something about a player's ability because the tournaments are very different.
One is a prestigious European tour event with a familiar permanent venue.
The other is a major championship played on changing American courses.
Why Do They Have Such Similar Names?
The simple answer is history.
The BMW PGA Championship began in 1955 as the British PGA Championship.
As the tournament developed and became more international, its identity changed.
BMW became title sponsor in 2005, resulting in the modern BMW PGA Championship name.
Meanwhile, the American PGA Championship has existed since 1916.
Both developed from professional golf organisations, which is why the PGA name appears in both.
They were never the same championship.
Which One Is More Prestigious?
The PGA Championship is more prestigious in terms of global professional golf because it is a major.
Major championships sit at the top of individual golf.
But the BMW PGA Championship has enormous significance within European golf.
Winning at Wentworth carries more prestige than winning a typical DP World Tour event.
That is why players talk about the BMW PGA Championship differently.
It has history.
It has a permanent home.
It has a strong field.
And many of Europe's greatest players have won it.
The fairest way to describe it is:
PGA Championship = global major prestige.
BMW PGA Championship = one of European golf's most prestigious non-major titles.
Is the BMW PGA Championship Worth Watching?
Definitely.
If you only watch majors, Ryder Cups and a handful of other tournaments, Wentworth is one of the events worth adding.
The permanent venue helps because you get to know the holes over time.
The crowd is usually strong.
The field tends to contain plenty of familiar names.
And because it is one of the most valuable tournaments in the Race to Dubai, the result can have a genuine impact on the rest of the DP World Tour season.
It is not a major.
It does not need to be.
The Bottom Line
The BMW PGA Championship and PGA Championship are not the same event.
The BMW PGA Championship is the DP World Tour's flagship tournament at Wentworth in England.
The PGA Championship is one of the four men's majors, run by the PGA of America and played at different venues in the United States.
If you remember one thing, make it this:
BMW PGA Championship = Wentworth. PGA Championship = major.
That distinction clears up most of the confusion.
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