BMW PGA: how to tackle all 18 holes at Wentworth West Course

Every September, the eyes of the golf world turn to Wentworth’s West Course, where the towering pines, pristine fairways and iconic finishing stretch provide the stage for the BMW PGA Championship – the jewel in the crown of the DP World Tour.

This isn’t just another tournament venue. Wentworth West is Europe’s Augusta – a course steeped in tradition, where history and modern innovation collide. 

Wentworth West has tested champions for nearly a century, but since its 2018 renovation, it has become sharper, faster and more dramatic than ever before.

The 2025 edition pleasingly welcomes one of the strongest fields in BMW PGA history. 

Household names such as Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Tommy Fleetwood headline a line-up that blends Ryder Cup quality with emerging European talent. 

With the Ryder Cup just two weeks away in New York, every shot this week feels like it carries added weight with players eager to get their games on point. 

European captain Luke Donald has ensured 11 of his 12 players are in the field this week, along with himself, with the only exception being Sepp Straka who unfortunately is dealing with some "personal issues". 

Elsewhere, defending champion Billy Horschel returns to defend his title as the American makes his first competitive start in five months following hip surgery at the end of April. 

Scoring trends show Wentworth West Course is no pushover, but it rewards bold play. 

Recent winners have all gone deep into double digits under par, but those victories have come from a balance of precision off the tee, control into the greens, and nerve over the slickest putting surfaces in Europe.

And it’s those greens that make the West such a fascinating canvas. Since its 2018 overhaul led by golf legend Ernie Els and his design team, they’ve matured into some of the purest, most consistent surfaces on Tour – so good that even the most demanding players sing their praises.

In this guide, we break down the chess match of Wentworth West. 

With the help of Tour pro and GolfMagic friend Gary Boyd, twice a runner-up on the European Tour and a frequent visitor to Wentworth, we’ll take you through the course hole by hole, revealing where the world’s best will feast and where their scorecards could be torn to shreds.

Let's dive in...

Course Evolution and Recent Scoring Trends

As we say, over the past decade Wentworth has undergone a significant transformation. 

The multi-million-pound refurbishment in 2018 saw all 18 greens completely re-seeded and nine remodelled. 

Since then, they’ve matured into some of the finest putting surfaces in the world – and that’s not just our opinion, it’s a sentiment echoed by the players themselves.

Scoring has also shifted dramatically. Gone are the days of grinding single-digit under-par winning totals. 

Instead, the West has become a birdie-friendly test if you’re sharp off the tee and dialled in with your irons.

Here’s a look at the recent winning scores at the BMW PGA: 

Expect more of the same in 2025 – mid-to-high teens under par will likely be needed to lift the famous trophy.

We are expecting scattered showers throughout all four days in Virginia Water this week, but temperatures are not expected to dip into single figures. 

Before Boyd takes us through each of the holes at Wentworth West, here's a look at the scorecard.

Hole-by-Hole Guide to Wentworth West Course

Here’s Gary Boyd’s expert take on each hole, and how the contenders for the 2025 BMW PGA Championship will look to navigate Wentworth West:

Hole 1 – Par 4 (473 yards)

A brute of an opener. Accuracy is essential off the tee, with bunkers left and right. The brave will pull driver to get down the hill for a short iron in, but the approach remains semi-blind. For members, it’s a par-5 – which tells you everything about the challenge. Par is always a good score. 

Hole 2 – Par 3 (154 yards)

The shortest par-3 on the course, played across a ravine. Precision is key – miss right and you’re left with a near-impossible bunker shot. A good birdie chance if you’re dialled in early with your wedges.

Hole 3 – Par 4 (459 yards)

One of Wentworth’s toughest holes, no question about it. A long, uphill slog with a severely contoured green that slopes through the middle. There's trouble left off the tee with overhanging trees and several bunkers waiting to gobble up errant drives down the right. If you miss the fairway off the tee, it's tough to make the green in two. Even the world's best will take four here and move on to a huge scoring chance at the next. 

Hole 4 – Par 5 (552 yards)

You've quite simply got to make birdie here. It's reachable in two for most of the field, but the green is once again heavily contoured and protected by bunkers. Expect a flurry of birdies – and a handful of eagles this week. You might even see a rare albatross like Tommy produced back in the day...

Hole 5 – Par 3 (203 yards)

A long iron test with a green that can feel two clubs deep. Positioning is everything. Par is perfectly acceptable.

Hole 6 – Par 4 (418 yards)

After a steep walk uphill to a tee that has been pushed back through the years, players face a short par-4 with another tricky sloping green. Expect the pros to attack with wedges if they find the fairway from the tee. I'd like to think this hole should yield more red numbers than pars.

Hole 7 – Par 4 (396 yards)

Players face a blind tee shot with a ditch lurking at 260 yards. It feels like a simply shot but it needs taking care of at the same time. The green is two-tiered and spin can be hard to control here especially coming in with a short iron or wedge. Birdies are certainly possible, especially when the pin as the front as you can use the slope beyond the pin, but a back pin here is very tough as there's trouble long. Putting nerves will be tested.

Hole 8 – Par 4 (400 yards)

Accuracy is everything here. The narrow green is guarded by water left and bunkers right. A short iron in hand makes this a birdie chance, but double bogeys also lurk for the careless. By no means the longest par-4 in the world, but you'll be more than happy with a par. 

Hole 9 – Par 4 (449 yards)

One of the hardest drives on the course and maybe on the DP World Tour. Miss the fairway and you’re staring at bogey or worse. Even with a fairway hit, the green slopes away on the right. This is very much a survival hole and easily one of the hardest three holes on the course.

Hole 10 – Par 3 (184 yards)

A mid-iron par-3 framed by tall trees. The sloping green punishes misses either side. Par is never a disappointment here.

Hole 11 – Par 4 (408 yards)

Short, uphill, and wedge-friendly. Players will be licking their lips at this one. Just don't drive left into the gorse, it's nasty over there. Expect birdies in bunches – and even the occasional eagle-two.

Hole 12 – Par 5 (520 yards)

Perhaps the most recognisable tee shot on the West. Thread it between the pines and you’re in business. But danger lurks with water, trees and out of bounds. Birdies and eagles are common, but so are big numbers.

Hole 13 – Par 4 (470 yards)

Placement is crucial. Too far left and trees block the approach. If you bail out right then you're in the bunkers or deep rough, or even worse down by the ice cream vans in amongst the trees. An extremeley tough par-4 where accuracy is rewarded. I know I'm always happy with a par here. 

Hole 14 – Par 3 (174 yards)

The final par-3 is all about club selection. The elevation makes distance control tricky, and the green runs severely from back to front. A great test under pressure. BMW are usually pretty safe when handing out a car for an ace here, but several players have achieved the feat through the years. 

Hole 15 – Par 4 (491 yards)

Always the hardest hole on the course. Some 490 yards with a ditch down the right, OB left, and a narrow entrance to the green. If you play this in level par across four days, you’re gaining strokes on the field.

Hole 16 – Par 4 (383 yards)

A short hole where aggression must be measured. Four fairway bunkers wait to catch the over-confident. Birdies are there, but mistakes can be punished.

Hole 17 – Par 5 (610 yards)

Over 600 yards, with OB left and trees right. The sloping fairway makes even good drives tricky. Many will lay up, but those who take it on can set up eagle looks. A high-risk, high-reward hole.

Hole 18 – Par 5 (523 yards)

One of the most dramatic finishing holes in world golf. Hug the dogleg and you’ve got a chance to reach in two, but the lake fronting the green makes the second shot one of the most intimidating on Tour. Birdies and eagles will flow – but we’ve seen plenty of late collapses here too.

The Verdict on Wentworth West

The West Course at Wentworth continues to stand as one of the most complete tests on the DP World Tour.

It demands accuracy, strategy, and nerve, rewarding those who attack at the right moments while punishing the reckless.

It’s a course where the BMW PGA Championship is always decided late – with the back-nine stretch of 15 through 18 serving up drama year after year. 

From Hatton’s precision to Horschel’s composure, to Lowry’s poise and Fox's brilliance, champions here have all had to navigate that gauntlet.

As Wentworth enters its second century as one of golf’s true cathedrals, there’s no doubt this week’s action will again provide fireworks.

Over to You

Have you ever played the famous West Course at Wentworth? 

Which hole do you think is the best – and the hardest? And who’s your pick to win the 2025 BMW PGA?

Here's who GolfMagic Editor Andy Roberts thinks will win - check out his latest golf betting tips for the BMW PGA. 

Share your thoughts with us on GolfMagic’s social media channels.