Billy Horschel couldn’t assist however really feel a little bit 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 yr was exiting with a runner-up end.
“I’m thrilled, excited for the best way I performed,” Horschel mentioned. “I battled on the market in the present day. However on the identical time, I’m a little bit dissatisfied. 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 yr, so I can really feel for him.”
McIlroy owns two victories this yr, on the Hero Dubai Desert Basic in January and the Wells Fargo Championship in Could. 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 underneath.
Whereas Lawrence couldn’t birdie both of the back-to-back closing par-5s and McIlroy, after almost avoiding the water together with his second shot, might 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 last seven holes. His closing 67 allowed him to hitch Lawrence (65) and McIlroy (67) in additional holes.
“My coronary heart was pounding on the final couple pictures, the final couple holes, and particularly within the playoff,” Horschel mentioned, “nevertheless it’s all the time enjoyable being in these conditions.”
When Lawrence bogeyed the second spin by 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 have been rooting for McIlroy, even towards Horschel, additionally the 2021 BMW PGA champ, an ardent West Ham supporter and as widespread within the U.Okay. as U.S.-born golfers get lately.
“It’s all the time one among my most particular weeks of the yr,” Horschel mentioned. “I get pleasure from 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 nearly 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 best way I performed the final gap attempting to make 3,” McIlroy mentioned, “after which yeah, I imply, performed the playoff holes completely, actually, a few birdies. However it simply exhibits the usual out right here. If you happen to slip up just a bit bit or don’t make a birdie on a vital gap, somebody is all the time ready to reap the benefits of that. … Two weeks in a row, I’ve performed nicely. Simply not fairly nicely sufficient. However , pleased with the place my recreation is and completely satisfied the place it’s trending.”
Matteo Manassero, who held the 54-hole lead, shot 73 and ended up tied for fourth at 17 underneath together with Matthew Baldwin and Aaron Rai.
