Billy Horschel defeats Rory McIlroy at Wentworth in dramatic playoff

Rory McIlroy endured his latest disappointment after Billy Horschel sank an eagle putt on the second playoff hole to claim the 2024 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

McIlroy started the day three shots behind Matteo Manaserro but the Italian faded with an error-strewn 1-over 73. 

South Africa's Thriston Lawrence grabbed the flagship event on the DP World Tour by the scruff of the neck with a superb 7-under 65 to set the clubhouse target of 20-under. 

McIlroy drew level with a 46-foot eagle putt on the par-5 17th and had the opportunity to win the tournament on the 72nd hole.

But the Northern Irishman watched in agony as his birdie putt slid by the edge of the cup. 

In truth, McIlroy was fortunate that he avoided the water with his approach, his 4-iron coming up well short of the green. 

Horschel looked as though his race was run after he made a sloppy bogey at the par-4 15th. 

But the American, who won here in 2021, finished with two birdies of his own to join a three-man playoff. 

Lawrence bowed out after the first playoff hole having almost sliced his tee shot out of bounds. 

His golf ball clattered off a spectator's leg and settled in an awful lie. 

From there, he could only advance his ball to the fairway bunker. 

Lawrence then found the water with his approach whilst McIlroy and Horschel sank nervy birdie putts to extend the contest.

McIlroy and Horschel found the putting surface in two strikes on the second playoff hole but it was the American who prevailed. 

"My heart was pounding"

McIlroy said: "It just shows the standard out here. 

"If you slip up just a little bit or don't make a birdie on a crucial hole, someone is always waiting to take advantage of that and look, I had my chance in regulation. 

"[I] had a really awkward yardage for my second. Tried to turn a 4-iron over. I mean, I was lucky that it didn't go in the water. 

"Still got up-and-down to win in regulation but I was pretty lucky the ball stayed up and I could make par and get into the playoff.

"Two weeks in a row, I've played well. Just not quite well enough. But you know, happy with where my game is and happy where it's trending. 

"I've got a week off here, and then get back at it in the Dunhill in a couple weeks."

Horschel said: "My heart was pounding on the last couple shots, the last couple holes, and especially in the playoff but it's always fun being in those situations. 

"That's what I've worked so hard for, and that's what I've always wanted to be, in situations like that, going against the best players in the world and hopefully be able to come out on top on the day. 

"I was able to nip Rory and Thriston and come away with the victory."

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