A double bogey on the final hole is the ultimate heartbreak, but J.J. Spaun knows the pain of a late collapse and understands how valuable Rory McIlroy's words can be in such moments. What a finish at the 2026 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth!
Manuel Elvira, who was on the verge of a playoff, carded a disastrous double bogey on the final hole, paving the way for Spaun's triumph. Spaun ultimately secured the win at 17-under, while Elvira, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, and Aaron Rai had to settle for a tie for second place at 15-under. A bitter end for Elvira, who himself spoke of a “devastating” situation and regretted his poor choice on the lay-up.
Lessons from the Northern Irishman
Spaun knows this feeling all too well. He himself experienced a similar knockout at The Players in 2025. Back then, it was Rory McIlroy's words that got him back on track. McIlroy, a master at handling pressure and disappointment, had shown Spaun how to process such setbacks and build mental strength. Spaun himself is entering the 2026 Presidents Cup after not being selected for the team with a huge "chip on my shoulder" – clear evidence that setbacks only make him stronger.
ELVIRA WILL LEARN, AS SPAUN LEARNT FROM RORY ... With new @BMW_PGA 🏆 @JJSpaun revealing how he learnt from @McIlroyRory @RMTracker words post losing 2025 @ThePlayers 👍 Though unsure if the champion American spoke to the clearly crestfallen Manuel Elvira as Rors had acted so
Spaun's Advice for Elvira
The "Rory McIlroy advice" story is more than just a nice anecdote. It shows how golf professionals grapple with their emotions in crunch time. It's not that Spaun gave Elvira a detailed "Here's how Rory does it" guide, but rather that Spaun himself learned from his own bitter defeat with Rory's help, and this test of maturity can now serve as a blueprint for Elvira's mental recovery. Elvira's assertion that he will learn from it fits perfectly into this narrative.
Despite the painful ending, Manuel Elvira showed what he's capable of with his best result on the DP World Tour – securing over $590,000 and a spot in the top 35 of the Race to Dubai Rankings. Respect for a fantastic round and a week that no one can take away from him.
