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Simon Khan wins BMW PGA Championship

Simon Khan wins BMW PGA Championship

Congratulations to England’s Simon Khan, the World Number 471 and not even in the event until Monday, who was in dreamland at Wentworth Club when he came from seven behind to win the BMW PGA Championship.

The 37 year old from Essex, who faced an uncertain future when he had to go back to The European Tour Qualifying School last November, produced the biggest final-day comeback in the history of The European Tour's flagship event.

A 20 foot birdie putt on the last, which curled round the back of the cup before toppling in, gave Khan the first prize of €750,000 by a stroke from Ryder Cup star Luke Donald and Swede Fredrik Andersson Hed.

The money is likely to come in useful – the biggest win of Khan’s career coincided with his wife’s birthday and he had only got her a card before his epic round.

"I don't know what she wants," he admitted. "But I said we're going to go stay up in London for a night and go to Harvey Nichols or something like that and just let her loose."

His stunning five under par 66, the round of his life, also brings him a five-year European Tour exemption and a place in July's Open Championship at St Andrews.

"This is what I've always dreamed of doing," said Khan, whose career had fallen away since he won the 2004 Celtic Manor Wales Open and then two years later was a distant runner-up in this tournament behind David Howell.

"It's as much for the family as it is for me - it's unbelievable to be standing here right now.

"This means everything. This tournament is the reason I started playing golf and just being here is special this year.

"I love The Tour so much. Your dream is even to start to be out here, and then to win, and then you sort of - after I won in Wales, it sort of got a little bit hazy. 

"I think The European Tour is still fantastic. I know it's a difficult time, but to lose your card, and to realise that moment, it's gone; that was the worst I've ever felt. This has got to be the best, without a doubt, the best to win this tournament."

With a six under par total of 278 on the far tougher West Course, he becomes the first player to win the trophy after needing a sponsor's invitation.

As a youngster Khan remembers travelling to Wentworth from his home - it involved bus, tube and train - to watch stars like Seve Ballesteros and Nick Faldo compete at the Surrey venue.

He turned professional in 1991, but like Ian Poulter worked as an assistant at a club first before finally getting a European Tour card at the eighth attempt ten years later.

Last season he had only one top-ten finish, yet when he went to The Qualifying School he won it. Even that, though, gave no hint of what was to come six months later.