Billy Horschel shows class as Rory McIlroy suffers more heartbreak at BMW PGA Championship

Billy Horschel admitted he was “disappointed” for his close friend Rory McIlroy after denying the Northern Irishman glory at the BMW PGA Championship on Sunday. Horschel prevailed in a second play-off hole at Wentworth. The American sank a superb 30-foot eagle putt on the 18th to secure the £1.1million prize despite McIlroy’s birdie on the final hole.

And while he was elated to win, Horschel was sad for McIlroy, for whom this is the latest in a string of disappointments in recent months. “I am thrilled, excited for the way I played,” Horschel, who also won this tournament in 2021, told Sky Sports. “At the same time, I am a little disappointed. “Rory is a really good friend of mine. he is a generational talent, and he has been so close this year. I feel for him but I am am also excited.

“I had to have a little luck after the bogey at 15th. There was a lot of luck on my side to get this victory today. I will give my all on every shot and grind it out and that is what I did today. That is what you have to do when you are not firing on all cylinders.” Thriston Lawrence was also involved in the first play-off hole after all three players finished top of the leaderboard on 20-under.

But Lawrence was knocked out with a par after finding the bunker. That set up a two-way shootout between Horschel and McIlroy in a second play-off. Both got to the green in two shots but while the world No.3 managed a birdie, Horschel holed a long putt for eagle.

Since winning the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow in May, McIlroy has endured disappointment at the Canadian Open (T4), the US Open (2nd), the Scottish Open (T4), The Open (missed cut) and the Irish Open (2nd).
The Ulsterman also ended tied for fifth in the Paris Olympics at Le Golf National.

He had done well to get into the BMW PGA play-off with a near 50-foot eagle putt of his own on the 17th, but he then missed a chance to snatch victory on the final hole, settling for a par five. While he birdied both play-off holes, it was not enough for victory. Sky Sports pundit and 2022 PGA Championship winner Rich Beem said: “He made that eagle on the 17th that gave him the opportunity. I don’t look at it as much as losing.

“Coming off the heels of his lost last week and getting in the play-offs and giving himself a chance. He just came up a little bit shy. “This was Lawrence’s tournament to win so if you were to look at anyone losing this tournament it was him. Rory was actually fortunate to get in that play-off.

“This is just a runner-up finish for him. But that is four in five now, he has got to get better at finishing it. It will weigh on him.” Winner Horschel added after receiving the winner’s trophy: “I am in shock still a little bit the way that last round went, the last few holes, and to be in a play-off. To come out victorious, I am still speechless which doesn’t happy very often.

“I talked about watching this as a kid on TV growing up, then coming here at 19, it was everything I thought and more. The fans here are so supportive of me. “I feel like it is a second home for me. I feel very comfortable when I get off the plane and go through passport control.”