OLYMPIC champion Justin Rose will make his first appearance on home soil since claiming the gold medal in Rio when he competes in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club on May 25-28.

Rose became the first Englishman to win the US Open for 43 years when he triumphed at Merion in 2013 and he made history again last August when he marked golf’s return to the Olympic Games after a 112-year absence with a two-shot victory over Open cChampion and Ryder Cup team-mate Henrik Stenson.

A back injury caused the Team GB star to miss the chance to play in front of his home fans as an Olympic Cchampion in the British Masters last October, but he will now get that opportunity at Wentworth, having also been forced to miss last year’s BMW PGA Championship because of the same back problem.

The current world number 13 will join four-time Major champion and Ryder Cup team-mate Rory McIlroy in headlining the field at the prestigious Surrey venue.

“It’s one of my favourite events,” said Rose, who has twice finished in second place.

“It is the one event I grew up watching as a kid and it’s a tournament I would dearly love to win, and with all the changes I think there is going to be a lot of excitement about the tournament.”

This year’s BMW PGA Championship launches the European Tour’s Rolex Series – an alliance of eight events all with prize funds of a minimum of $7 million – and Rose is looking forward to being part of the inaugural event.

“I think it is a great initiative the tour has put in place. Keith Pelley and his team have worked very hard to create some excitement about the European Tour and to create a series of events that are as competitive as any other in the world of golf.

“They are played on great venues, obviously the prize funds are incredibly attractive and hopefully it gains the support of the European Tour players.”