Billy Horschel hit an eagle on the second gap of a play-off to win his second PGA Championship title at Wentworth on Sunday, with “almost man” Rory McIlroy once more falling agonisingly quick.
America’s Horschel, McIlroy and South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence all completed the ultimate spherical on 20-under par on the course close to London.
Lawrence exited the play-off with a bogey on the first further gap, which Horschel and McIlroy each birdied.
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The gamers returned to the par-five 18th for the second further gap and each discovered the inexperienced in two, McIlroy narrowly lacking his eagle try earlier than Horschel holed from marginally nearer.
“I’m thrilled, excited for the best way I performed,” mentioned Horschel, the world quantity 24. “Simply battled on the market immediately.
“On the identical time slightly disillusioned — Rory is a very good good friend of mine and I believe the world of him. I believe he’s a generational expertise.
“I understand how shut he’s been this yr so I can really feel for him however on the identical time I’m fairly excited for simply having the ability to get it accomplished immediately.”
Northern Eire’s McIlroy, ranked third on the earth, has been pipped on the publish on numerous events this yr, together with ultimately week’s Irish Open, the place he completed one shot behind winner Rasmus Hojgaard.
He additionally misplaced his approach within the last spherical of the US Open as he chased a primary main triumph for 10 years and slipped up late on the Paris Olympics, labelling himself golf’s “almost man” as he completed fifth.
“It simply exhibits the usual out right here,” mentioned the four-time main winner after his newest near-miss. “For those who slip up just a bit bit or don’t make a birdie on a vital gap, somebody is all the time ready to make the most of that.”
”…Two weeks in a row I’ve performed effectively. Simply not fairly effectively sufficient. The sport is testing me slightly greater than it has accomplished previously, however that’s fantastic.”
“If somebody had of mentioned you’re going to show up at Wentworth this week and shoot 20 below par, I’d take that. All I can do is maintain displaying up and attempting to play the golf that I’ve been enjoying and in the end it’s going to finish up in a win.
“It may have been a special yr however the good factor is there’s subsequent yr and the yr after and the yr after and the yr after. For those who consider my profession as a 30-career journey, it’s just one yr in a 30-year journey, and hopefully the opposite 29 are slightly extra productive or slightly bit higher.”
Lawrence had set the clubhouse goal following an excellent closing 65, though the South African would finally be left to rue failing to birdie both of the 2 closing par fives.
That left the door open for the chasing pack and McIlroy seemed set to take full benefit when he holed from distance for an eagle on the seventeenth and noticed his strategy to the 18th narrowly keep away from the water to the left of the inexperienced.
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Nonetheless, after a poor chip McIlroy’s birdie try from 15 toes by no means threatened the outlet and Horschel holed out for a birdie to make it a three-way play-off.
Adam Scott was the best-placed Australian within the area, tuning up for this week’s Presidents Cup by ending tied 57th at three below for the event.