Billy Horschel couldn’t assist however really feel just a little responsible.
He was simply seconds faraway from canning a 35-footer for eagle to win the BMW PGA Championship in a playoff, his second time capturing the DP World Tour’s flagship occasion and on the expense of Rory McIlroy, who for the fourth time this 12 months was exiting with a runner-up end.
“I’m thrilled, excited for the way in which I performed,” Horschel stated. “I battled on the market immediately. However on the similar time, I’m just a little disillusioned. Rory is a extremely good buddy of mine, and I feel the world of him. I feel he’s a generational expertise, and I understand how shut he’s been this 12 months, so I can really feel for him.”
McIlroy owns two victories this 12 months, on the Hero Dubai Desert Basic in January and the Wells Fargo Championship in Might. But, they’ve been overshadowed by shut calls on the U.S. Open, final week’s Irish Open and now, Sunday at Wentworth, the place McIlroy sank a prolonged eagle bomb on the par-5 seventeenth gap to tie Thriston Lawrence for the lead at 20 beneath.
Whereas Lawrence couldn’t birdie both of the back-to-back closing par-5s and McIlroy, after practically avoiding the water along with his second shot, may solely end with par, Horschel birdie each holes – on the behest of his caddie, he laid up at No. 18 regardless of flirting with the choice to go for it from a fairway bunker – to cap a 4-under efficiency on his closing seven holes. His closing 67 allowed him to hitch Lawrence (65) and McIlroy (67) in further holes.
“My coronary heart was pounding on the final couple photographs, the final couple holes, and particularly within the playoff,” Horschel stated, “however it’s all the time enjoyable being in these conditions.”
When Lawrence bogeyed the second spin by way of the par-5 18th, McIlroy and Horschel every birdied to advance to a second playoff gap, additionally No. 18. McIlroy hit the inexperienced in two with a 4-iron, however so did Horschel, and when McIlroy didn’t convert his eagle strive, Horschel didn’t disappoint – although the gang’s positive-yet-tempered response confirmed many had been rooting for McIlroy, even in opposition to Horschel, additionally the 2021 BMW PGA champ, an ardent West Ham supporter and as well-liked within the U.Okay. as U.S.-born golfers get today.
“It’s all the time considered one of my most particular weeks of the 12 months,” Horschel stated. “I take pleasure in coming right here. I really feel a way of ease. I really feel a way of calm. I do know I’m not from the U.Okay. or London or England, however I really feel virtually at house once I come right here.”
In the meantime, McIlroy, who will take a pair weeks off earlier than teeing it up within the Alfred Dunhill Hyperlinks, was heading house having positioned but once more.
“Final week was a troublesome one, however I left there with my head held excessive with the way in which I performed the final gap making an attempt to make 3,” McIlroy stated, “after which yeah, I imply, performed the playoff holes completely, actually, a few birdies. However it simply reveals the usual out right here. If you happen to slip up just a bit bit or don’t make a birdie on an important gap, somebody is all the time ready to make the most of that. … Two weeks in a row, I’ve performed effectively. Simply not fairly effectively sufficient. However you realize, pleased with the place my sport is and joyful the place it’s trending.”
Matteo Manassero, who held the 54-hole lead, shot 73 and ended up tied for fourth at 17 beneath together with Matthew Baldwin and Aaron Rai.
