Howarth can’t wait to defend his English PGA title

24/06/2025

The Davenport man describes his decisive final-hole chip-in at Bowood last year as ‘the most dramatic shot that I’ve hit’ – no wonder he is so excited to be returning to Wiltshire.

Twelve months ago, Davenport's Jamie Howarth landed the English PGA Championship at Bowood in sensational style.

Howarth tied for fifth in this event in 2021, when Adam Keogh ran away with the title, and was third in 2019. Since then, though, he had not threatened the top of the leaderboard.

That would all change in 2024 when he came through qualifying at Preston before continuing his excellent season with another victory.  

"I went into Bowood having just won the Brough Classic, which is one of the biggest two-day pro-ams, so I knew that I was in some good form,” said Howarth.

“I came off the course on the first day thinking my score didn’t reflect my play. I hit some good shots but didn't capitalise so, after an opening 74, I was still positive I had some good scores in me.

“In the second round I played similar but was more clinical and shot a three-under 69. I didn't pay too much attention to the leaderboard on the final round, went one better with a 68," Howarth said.

Andrew Willey (Oakmere Park) would birdie the last two holes to join Howarth on five under, the same mark at Ben Amor (Ogbourne Downs) and one clear of a trio of players on minus four.

The 18th at Bowood is a par 4 that measures 420 yards. It gets tighter the further you got from the tee and it features a water hazard up the left-hand side. 

I hit the chip shot perfectly, exactly as I had envisioned it, where it landed, how it flew, how it checked up, how it went down the slope and then probably about 12 feet from the hole, I thought – that's in

- Jamie Howarth

"I’ve been in a few play-offs over the years, one was at Southport & Ainsdale in 2008 for a spot in The Open. At 18 I hit my 3-iron off the tee which left me a little bit further in than I would have liked. I think I had 180 yards to the flag and it was a bit into the wind and I absolutely flushed a 7-iron. I don't know whether it was a bit of adrenaline or that the wind just didn't hurt it but it just went over the back of the green."

From there the former Challenge Tour player would face a tricky chip, with the pin on lower tier of the closing green. He pulled off a spectacular recovery to all but secure the title.

"I hit the chip shot perfectly, exactly as had envisioned it, where it landed, how it flew, how it checked up, how it went down the slope and then probably about 12 feet from the hole, I thought that's in. And I think I might have said something like, 'go on then, do it' and it went in. It was incredible. Ben had played three shots already and Andy had a 35-foot putt to tie but he missed and that was that. Under the circumstances and in that moment, that was the most dramatic shot that I've hit.  

"Obviously the PGA Professional Championship is the biggest event for us and then it's the English PGA for me. There are a lot of good players there so to win that was fantastic," he said.

The English PGA Championship takes place at Bowood on July 15-17 and is part of the inaugural Callaway National Schedule