Billy Horschel beats Rory McIlroy in tense play-off to win BMW PGA Championship

WENTWORTH – Billy Horschel felt bad for his pal Rory McIlroy but ultimately there are no “friends” on the golf course.

On Sept 22, the American won the BMW PGA Championship after beating McIlroy and Thriston Lawrence in a thrilling three-man play-off at Wentworth to take home the winner’s cheque of US$1.53 million (S$1.98 million).

The trio finished at 20-under overall and in the first play-off at the event in 11 years, Lawrence fell first when he bogeyed the 18th after finding the water, leaving Horschel, 37, and McIlroy, 35, to fight it out for the title.

McIlroy was looking to win it for a second time after lifting the trophy in 2014 and he birdied the 18th once again, but Horschel kept his nerve and sank a stunning eagle putt to become the first American to win the event twice.

“I am thrilled, excited for the way I played. At the same time, I am a little disappointed. Rory is a really good friend of mine, he is a generational talent and he has been so close this year,” said Horschel, who also won the event in 2021.

“I feel for him but I am also excited... There was a lot of luck on my side to get this victory today. I will give my all on every shot and grind it out and that is what I did today.”

McIlroy had been playing catch-up all day having finished the third round three strokes behind and he made it count on the 17th when he holed a superb eagle putt from over 46 feet to share the lead.

The Northern Irishman did nothing wrong in the play-off but eventually it was not enough.

It was a second event in as many weeks where he narrowly missed out on the title after losing the Irish Open to Rasmus Hojgaard by one stroke.

“I think if I keep working on the things I am working on on the range, that only bodes well for the future,” McIlroy said.

“I’m excited for the future. I’m playing well, I keep giving myself chances... I just have to dust myself off and get myself ready for the last three events of the year.”

In women’s golf, Lydia Ko continued her late-season surge, firing a sensational nine-under 63 to win the LPGA Queen City Championship in Ohio by five strokes on the heels of her Olympic and British Open triumphs.

The New Zealander started the day two shots behind Thailand’s Atthaya “Jeeno” Thitikul (70), but she seized control with an eagle at the 11th and powered to victory with a 23-under total of 265.

“It has been pretty surreal,” Ko said of the last two months, which saw her complete her collection of Olympic medals – and secure her place in the LPGA Hall of Fame – with her triumph at the Paris Games.

The 27-year-old followed that with her first Major title in eight years at the Women’s British Open at St Andrews.

“After having three weeks off (I was) not entirely sure what it was going to be like,” she added. “To have a round like this to cap off a win is pretty special.” REUTERS, AFP