American Billy Horschel spoiled residence followers’ hopes for a Rory McIlroy-inspired social gathering 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 beneath 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 power 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 shocking 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 in the course of the third spherical on Saturday.
After being offered with the coveted trophy, Horschel mentioned: “My coronary heart was pounding on the final couple photographs, and the final couple holes, and particularly within the play-off, nevertheless it’s all the time enjoyable being in these conditions. That’s what I’ve labored so laborious for, and that’s the place I’ve all the time wished to be, in conditions like that, going in opposition to the most effective gamers on this planet and hopefully be capable to 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 brand 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 all the time certainly one 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 nearly 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 just a little greater than it has carried out up to now”
Regardless of the heartbreak, the Irishman continues to be decided to seek 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 mentioned.
“These items occur. It’s simply the sport is testing me just a little greater than it has carried out up to now however that’s nice. All I can do is preserve 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 great factor is there’s subsequent yr and the yr after and the yr after and the yr after. Hopefully the opposite years might be little extra productive or just a little bit higher. I’ve actually had years the place I’ve felt worse. If you get your self in competition a lot, inevitably you’re going to have disappointments. Sadly, I’m simply getting just a little too used to feeling what it’s like while you do, however hopefully the tide will flip.”
English pair Matthew Baldwin and Aaron Rai completed in a tie for third at 17 beneath 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.
