PHOTOS: "It's Tee Time" from Hyde Park

Paul McGinley, the European Ryder Cup captain, Justin Rose, the reigning US Open Champion and Matteo Manassero, the reigning BMW PGA Champion, took part in a nearest-the-pin challenge on three specially created greens in Hyde Park. following the announcement that BMW and The European Tour have a four-year extension to their current partnership through to the end of the 2018 season.

The three star players were joined by Dr Ian Robertson, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Sales and Marketing, and George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, with Manassero taking the honours, before being driven back to Wentworth to begin their preparations for this week’s BMW PGA Championship in a range of classic BMW cars, the cars spanning each decade from the 1950s to the present day in recognition of the fact that this year represents the 60th playing of the PGA Championship.

This year’s championship, from May 22-25, is also the tenth time that BMW will have assumed the role of title sponsor of the flagship event on The European Tour, having taken up the mantle in 2005.

Here follows a selection of photos from today's event.