Billy Horschel beats Rory McIlroy in playoff, wins BMW PGA Championship

There may not have been a PGA Tour event this weekend, but it set the stage for the DP World Tour Main Event and the final round of 2024 BMW PGA Championship gave a conclusion that was worthy of the name.

By the end of 72 holes, it was down to just Rory McIlroy, Billy Horschel and Thriston Lawrence.

The excitement ignited on No. 17, when Rory McIlroy drained a 47-foot eagle putt to even Lawrence’s lead at 20 under. Four-time major winner, who brutally finished runner-up last week at the Irish Openanother in a string of disappointing finishes this year, then misplayed his second shot on the par-5 18th short of water and couldn’t get up and down to win outright.

Not to be outdone, Horschel (McIroy’s playing partner) showed his flair for the dramatic, nearly spinning his approach for eagle, settling for a birdie to join the playoff. of sudden death along with McIlroy and Lawrence.

Each player found themselves in tough situations on the first playoff hole, but it was McIlroy and Horschel who got up and down on both the birdie 18, with Lawrence weaving a bogey after his putt the third found the penalty area.

The playoff was narrowed from three to two – and the tension was high.

After each bombed their drive down the middle of the fairway, McIlroy began his approach toward the middle of the green. Horschel didn’t back down and matched it with an equally impressive iron shot – leaving both players with eagle opportunities.

After McIlroy missed his eagle attempt, barely holding the high lead, Horschel holed a 20-footer for the win – his second of the event, having won in 2021 also at Wentworth, becoming the first American to win two times the title. .

“I’m excited and excited about how I played — I just put myself out there today,” Horschel said.

The winning eagle putt capped an impressive final round for Horschel, who finished birdie-birdie just to get into the playoff, then went birdie-eagle to win the tournament.

“Look, I had to get a little lucky,” Horschel said. “After the bogey on No. 15, I knew I was a little behind the 8 ball.”

But Horschel stayed on the course and trusted his game to play outstanding golf.

“I was thinking about going from bunker to regulation, but my caddie Mike said, ‘I just don’t know, man, there’s a little sand,’ so I laid back and trusted (his advice).” he said. “There was a lot of luck on my part to get this win today.”

The win didn’t come easy for Horschel, who said he had to really hit his stride all week.

“I haven’t felt good with my movement all week, but yesterday I felt pretty good and this morning was a good warm-up,” he said. “I wasn’t feeling well today, but, look, I bust my butt and I always will – I did today. I hit some really good shots out there, hit some really good shots and that’s what you have to do when you’re not firing on all cylinders

Of course, the elephant in the room is the heartbreaking finish for McIlroy, whose season has been plagued by “almosts.” This second place finish follows his runner-up finish at last week’s Amgen Irish Open. While none sting as badly as the one from Pinehurst at the US Openit still gives critics extra fodder to work with.

“I had my chance in regulation and I had a tough layup on my second (shot),” McIlroy said. “I tried to swing a 4-iron and was lucky it didn’t go into the water.

“But two weeks in a row, I’ve played well, just not well enough.”

Horschel also talked about the frustration that comes with beating a friend.

“Rory is a very good friend of mine, and I think the world is his,” added Horschel. “He’s a generational talent and I know how close he’s been this year, so I can feel for him. But at the same time, I’m really excited to be able to do it today.”

Nick Dimengo

Editor of Golf.com