American Billy Horschel spoiled residence followers’ hopes for a Rory McIlroy-inspired get together after beating the four-time main champion on the second gap of a play-off on the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
The 37-year-old Floridian, who practically holed out his third shot on the final in regulation play, ended with a birdie-birdie end to climb alongside South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence and McIlroy at 20 underneath earlier than the trio returned to the 18th tee for the play-off.
Lawrence blinked first after a wayward tee-shot after which discovered the green bunker and water to be the primary eradicated as McIlroy and Horschel calmly rolled in birdies to pressure a second additional gap.
They each discovered the inexperienced in two earlier than McIlroy narrowly slid by his eagle effort, earlier than Horschel holed a surprising eagle putt of his personal to win the occasion for the second time in 4 years.
The 2021 champion had been an image of consistency on the well-known Surrey venue, carding 4 rounds within the 60s, together with a career-best seven straight birdies through the third spherical on Saturday.
After being introduced with the coveted trophy, Horschel stated: “My coronary heart was pounding on the final couple photographs, and the final couple holes, and particularly within the play-off, however it’s at all times enjoyable being in these conditions. That’s what I’ve labored so exhausting for, and that’s the place I’ve at all times needed to be, in conditions like that, going in opposition to the perfect gamers on the planet and hopefully be capable of come out on prime on the day. Fortunately I used to be in a position to nip Rory and Thriston and are available away with the victory.”
Horschel, who sports activities a West Ham emblem on his golf bag, added: “I recognize the followers and all of the help that I get wherever I play within the UK, whether or not it’s at The Open or this event. It’s at all times one in every of my most particular weeks of the yr. I take pleasure in coming right here. I really feel a way of ease. I do know I’m not from the UK or England, however I really feel virtually at residence after I come right here.”
For McIlroy, this newest loss is available in a yr of close to misses, most notably on the US Open, and in addition ultimately week’s Irish Open, the place he got here up one shot shy of a play-off.
“The sport is testing me somewhat greater than it has achieved up to now”
Regardless of the heartbreak, the Irishman remains to be decided to search out the positives. “Two weeks in a row, I’ve performed properly. Simply not fairly properly sufficient. Look, it’s golf and I’m taking part in properly,” the 35-year-old stated.
“These items occur. It’s simply the sport is testing me somewhat greater than it has achieved up to now however that’s positive. All I can do is maintain displaying up and attempting to play the golf that I’ve been taking part in and in the end it’s going to finish up in a win.”
He added: “The good factor is there’s subsequent yr and the yr after and the yr after and the yr after. Hopefully the opposite years will probably be little extra productive or somewhat bit higher. I’ve actually had years the place I’ve felt worse. While you get your self in competition a lot, inevitably you’re going to have disappointments. Sadly, I’m simply getting somewhat too used to feeling what it’s like once you do, however hopefully the tide will flip.”
English pair Matthew Baldwin and Aaron Rai completed in a tie for third at 17 underneath par with third spherical chief Matteo Manassero, who continued his comeback on the DP World Tour with a powerful week at Wentworth.
To see all of the scores from the BMW PGA Championship, click on right here.
