Billy Horschel eagled the 18th to beat Rory McIlroy in a thrilling play-off finish to the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
McIlroy, Horschel and Thriston Lawrence all finished tied at the top of the leaderboard on 20 under, with the latter knocked out of contention after finding the water during the first run down 18 in the resulting play-off.
As they replayed the par-five, McIlroy and Horschel this time both found the green in two, but it was the American and 2021 champion who clinched a second victory when holing his long putt for eagle.
It means that McIlroy is left to contemplate yet another agonising near miss, having been beaten in agonising fashion on numerous occasions this season – including at the Irish Open last week and, most notably, when faltering down the stretch in his pursuit of a fifth major at the US Open.
The Northern Irishman had tied Lawrence for the lead on 20 under when holing a stunning 40-footer for eagle at the 17th, but failed to find the birdie finish up 18 that would have seen him win outright and avoid the need for a play-off.
It was Horschel instead who birdied at the last, seeing him join McIlroy and Lawrence at the top of the leaderboard as the trio were forced to replay the final hole.
Lawrence sliced his drive wide right and would later find the water to take the South African out of contention, while McIlroy and Horschel both left themselves testing putts for birdie, which both would sink – the former’s slightly longer from around eight feet – to force them down 18 once more, where Horschel would ultimately come up clutch.
More to follow…
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