Exclusive: 'Wentworth Club Is Not For Sale' - BMW PGA Championship Host Denies Saudi PIF Sale Report
The iconic British club says it is not for sale and has categorically denied a report that it is in talks with the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund
Wentworth Club has categorically denied a report that it is being sold to the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) and confirmed to Golf Monthly that the club is not for sale.
Reports emerged last week of a potential sale to the LIV Golf backers after DP World Tour player Eddie Pepperell said on his BBC podcast 'The Chipping Forecast' that he was told that the PIF was buying the BMW PGA Championship host venue.
The club, which which was bought in 2014 by Thai-Chinese investment company, the Reignwood Group, made it clear in an exclusive interview with Golf Monthly that there are no plans for the iconic British club to change hands.
"Wentworth Club can today confirm that these rumours are unfounded," the Wentworth Board said.
"Wentworth Club is not for sale. There have been numerous expressions of interests in buying Wentworth post COVID, but Reignwood is committed to its position of long-term investment in the asset."
And asked whether the club is looking for any extra investment or has been in discussions with the PIF, the Wentworth Board gave a categorical 'no'.
"No. The Club is in good financial status, there is no interest in bringing in additional investment," they said.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
"There has always been global interest coming directly or through agencies with expressions of interest in purchasing the Club. There has not been any direct dialogue between Wentworth Club and PIF on this topic.
"Wentworth Club is not for sale, the Reignwood Group is committed to the Club’s future and is excited about the imminent launch of the reimagined and restored East Course as well as the new state-of-the-art Golf Academy.
"Wentworth Club is also an important asset in Reignwood’s global golf club portfolio, including Reignwood Pine Valley in Beijing and Reignwood Park in Thailand, which is currently under construction with total investment over 1 billion USD. Wentworth Club is in good financial status, there is no interest in bringing in additional investment."
Reignwood invested over £20m in the club after purchasing it in 2014, which saw extensive upgrades to both the West course and clubhouse. The Harry Colt-designed East Course is currently going under renovation while the club is also building a new par 3 course and state-of-the-art academy. There are further plans in 2025 to improve Wentworth's tennis facilities.
Wentworth has been home to the DP World Tour's flagship BMW PGA Championship for 40 years, and less than two months ago witnessed a playoff eagle from Billy Horschel to take down Rory McIlroy for his second win in the event.
The club described it as one of the "incredible moments" seen on the West course.
"We are honoured and proud to host the flagship event on the DP World Tour schedule, working closely with our fantastic partners and welcoming more than 100,000 spectators to our private estate," the Wentworth board said.
"Watching Billy Horschel lift the BMW PGA Championship for a second time after seeing off Thriston Lawrence and Rory McIlroy in a thrilling play-off and becoming the first American to win the BMW PGA Championship twice, was one of the incredible moments on the West Course."
Reignwood also has the goal of Wentworth becoming "the world's premier private golf and country club". It maintains that the exclusive membership model is working, which is a debenture system launched in 2016, and is delivering an experience for its members "like no other."
The six-figure debentures help fund the club's investment projects, with Wentworth now approaching 800 members.
"Since the acquisition of Wentworth Club, Reignwood Group has strived to continually fine-tune the overall brand positioning and structure of Wentworth Club, continually investing and enhancing in the short-term to ensure we achieve our long-term vision, that an asset with such a distinguished heritage in golf should be well preserved and long-lasting," the club told Golf Monthly.
"Wentworth Club cares for the environment in which it operates within, with a conscious focus on sustainability throughout the operation and at the same time creating the next generation of sports men and women with the Wentworth Foundation.
"The membership model is working, the Club is enjoying a schedule of continued investment and importantly we are delivering a membership experience like no other."
Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: Srixon Z Star XV
-
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship Prize Money Payout 2024
The DP World Tour Play-Offs section of the season begins with the first of two elevated events to decide the Race to Dubai champion
By Mike Hall Published
-
Nelly Korda To Appear In Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue
The World No.1 will be featured in the iconic magazine issue after taking part in a recent photoshoot on Florida's east coast
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship Prize Money Payout 2024
The DP World Tour Play-Offs section of the season begins with the first of two elevated events to decide the Race to Dubai champion
By Mike Hall Published
-
Which Players Secured A DP World Tour Card At The 2024 Challenge Tour Grand Final?
The Challenge Tour Grand Final threw up drama yet again, as 22 players secured their playing rights and cards to the DP World Tour next season
By Matt Cradock Published
-
How Much Money Rory McIlroy Has Made Every Year On The PGA And DP World Tours
Rory McIlroy is one of the highest paid golfers in the history of the sport - but how much has he won each year on the PGA and DP World Tours?
By Joel Kulasingham Published
-
Grant Thornton Invitational Full Field And Teams Confirmed Ahead Of 2024 Tournament
All 16 pairings have been unveiled ahead of the second-ever Grant Thornton Invitational at Tiburon Golf Club in December
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
The 4 LIV Golfers Currently Qualified For The DP World Tour Championship
Jon Rahm is one of four LIV Golf players in with a chance of qualifying for the DP World Tour Championship
By Paul Higham Published
-
Jon Rahm And Ludvig Aberg Among Big Names Missing Abu Dhabi Championship As Rory McIlroy Headlines Field
The entry list for the first DP World Tour Play-Offs event is in, with the top 70 teeing it up at Yas Links next week
By Elliott Heath Published
-
How All 20 Challenge Tour Graduates Fared In 2024
Three Challenge Tour grads won on the DP World Tour this season, while 15 of the 20 kept their cards for 2025
By Elliott Heath Published
-
Tom Kim Issues Statement On Broken Locker Incident After Genesis Championship Near-Miss
The PGA Tour golfer said that he had no intent of breaking the locker door following defeat to Byeong Hun An at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea
By Jonny Leighfield Last updated