Rory McIlroy’s year of agonising near misses continued at Wentworth when he lost the BMW PGA Championship to Billy Horschel’s spectacular eagle three at the second extra hole.
The Holywood star looked set to put his Irish Open, US Open and Olympic Games heartache behind him when he eagled the 17th from nearly 50 feet to draw level with South African Thriston Lawrence on 20-under.
But needing a birdie at the last to win, he narrowly avoided disaster when his 253-yard four iron came up, well short, just yards left of the water that protects the green.
He needed to get up and down to win after Horschel narrowly failed to hole out from 90 yards for eagle.
But with Lawrence sitting in the clubhouse on 20-under after a closing par gave him a bogey-free 65, McIlroy pitched 16 feet past and missed the putt as Horschel converted a four-footer for birdie to match McIlroy’s 67 to make it a three-man playoff.
Returning to the 513-yard 18th in sudden-death, Lawrence found the spectator path on the right as McIlroy and Horschel found the fairway.
The big South African attempted a big slice around the trees off a muddy lie but thinned it into a bunker short and eventually picked up after spinning his third back into the water and leaving himself four feet for a six.
McIlroy had 227 yards to the green, but he wiped his four iron right of the green before Horschel also went right with his approach and found sand.
Horschel played an exquisite long bunker shot to six feet, heaping the pressure on McIlroy, who faced a slick, downhill pitch from the right rough.
It took a big bounce to the right, leaving him seven feet for birdie. But while he coolly rolled it in the middle, Horschel matched him, sending them back to the 18th tee.
Both men found the fairway and the green the second time around but after McIlroy’s 35-footer shaved the edge, Horschel rolled in a 30 footer for his second win in the event in three years.
It was a slow day for McIlroy, who bogeyed the second after a poor wedge but birdied the third and fourth to get within two of overnight leader Matteo Manassero, who would shoot a scrappy 73 to finish tied for fourth with Aaron Rai and halfway leader Matthew Baldwin on 17-under.
While he flew into the crowd at the back of the 216-yard fifth, McIlroy scrambled for par as Manassero rolled in a four-footer for birdie to extend his lead to two over Billy Horschel and three over the Ulsterman, Rai and Lawrence.
McIlroy’s wedge play is a frequent talking point and he hit two poor ones in a row at the sixth and especially the seventh, where he turned away in disgust as he spun his 147-yard approach down the green and off the front.
While Manassero bogeyed the ninth, the Italian still turned for home a shot lead of Rai on 18-under and two ahead of Lawrence and McIlroy.
Manassero bogeyed the 10th, however, as Rai went six under for the day at the 12th to lead by one from the Italian and Lawrence with McIlroy two behind on 16 under alongside Horschel.
McIlroy’s power didn’t help him at the 11th, but he matched Manassero’s birdie at the 12th as Horschel made an eagle from a few feet after a brilliant seven-iron.
Lawrence, who chipped in for birdies at the first two holes, drew level with Rai with a sand save birdie at the 12th, then birdied the 14th to head Rai, Horschel and Manassero by a shot on 19-under.
McIlroy needed fireworks coming home, but he remained two off the pace with five to play as Horschel made a 10-footer at the 13th for birdie to join Lawrence on 19-under, one head of Rai and Manassero and two ahead of McIlroy.
McIlroy needed to find inspiration from somewhere and made a 10-footer for a two at the 10th to close within a shot of the leaders and share second with Manassero and Rai on 18-under.
As Manassero drove into the lateral hazard at the 15th and made a bogey, Lawrience birdied the 16th from 25 feet to get to 20-under McIlroy needed at least two birdies in his last four holes but after he missed chances inside 20 feet at the 15th and 16th, he took advantage of Lawrence’s failure to birdie the 17th up ahead.
As Lawrence was in the process of laying up on the 18th, McIlroy hit a brilliant approach to 47 feet at the 17th and, after leaving the flag in, rapped in the eagle putt to tie for the lead.
Lawrence’s wedge to the 18th finished nearly 30 feet away and after he failed to make birdie, McIlroy was left needing a four at the last for his second win at Wentworth.
Meanwhile, Tom McKibbin claimed his eighth top-10 of an excellent season, closing with a six-under 66 to finish tied for 10th on 13-under par and remain in the hunt for one of 10 PGA Tour cards.
It was also a memorable day for veteran Pádraig Harrington (53), who closed with a bogey-free 68 to share 12th place with Shane Lowry, who shot 67, on 12-under.
Harrington had to birdie the 18th on Friday to make the cut on the mark, and after firing a bogey-free 66 in round three, he kept a clean card again in the final round to clinch his best finish on the DP World Tour since finishing fourth in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in 2023.
“I’m thrilled,” Horschel said. “Excited for the way I played and just battled out there today.
“At the same time a little disappointed. Rory’s a really good friend of mine, and I think the world of him, I think he’s a generational talent, and I know how close he’s been this yea.
“So I could feel for him, but at the same time, I’m pretty excited for just being able to get it done today.”
Billy Horschel has won the BMW PGA Championship, beating Rory McIlroy in a play-off It’s good! Horschel’s eagle putt has just enough legs and drops in. He raises his arms in celebration and sends a wry smile towards his opponent. Speaking after the winning putt, the American has kind words for McIlroy: “I’m thrilled, excited for the way I played. At the same time, a little disappointed. Rory’s a really good friend of mine. I think the world of him, he’s a generational talent and I know how close he has come.”
Rory McIlroy cards 20-under-par 67 to go into a three-way play-off with Thriston Lawrence and Billy Horschel The Holywood man putts for par and Horschel follows suits, meaning they finish on 20 under with Lawrence. Don’t go anywhere as we’re heading back to the 18th.
Thriston Lawrence is clubhouse leader on 20 under The South African goes agonisingly close with a big birdie putt but cards a fourth-round 65. Level with McIlroy on 20 under, Lawrence is seven under for the day and the performance would make him a worthy winner. Now all he can do is wait…
The eagle has landed! McIlroy takes a share of the lead with world-class putt That is undoubtedly the moment of the day so far. After a magnificent second shot, Rory is on the money with a huge eagle putt on 17. With one hole to go, he and Thriston Lawrence are co-leaders. Could this be his time?
One hole left for leader Lawrence The pressure is on for Thriston Lawrence, who puts too much on his third shot on 17 and sends the ball to the far side of the green. He rescues a par to keep two shots between him and the chasing trio, however. On the par-four 16th, McIlroy can’t convert the birdie putt and it’s another par for him, Horschel and Manassero.
Is this getting away from McIlroy? With former Real Madrid footballer Gareth Bale watching on, McIlroy gives his long birdie putt a good go but it isn’t to be and that’s a par on 15. He trails by two shots with three holes to play. One over for this round, Manassero is back to 17 under after a bogey, and Horschel (-18) has also dropped a shot.
Lawrence in the driving seat on 20 under Seven under for the day, Thriston Lawrence has gone ahead of the rest of the field with a superb birdie putt on 16. He leads Horschel by one, with three players – McIlroy, Manassero and Rai – a further shot back.
Horschel hits the front, McIlroy holes massive birdie The Florida native follows his eagle with a birdie to take a share of the lead on 19 under. On 14, he narrowly misses another birdie but taps in for par. In the same group, the crowd has just erupted as McIlroy sinks his birdie putt – leaving him one shot off the leaders. It’s a par for Manassero.
Harrington cards a final round 68 The 53-year-old Dubliner has just wrapped up, his latest 68 putting him on 12 under for the week – alongside fellow Irishman Shane Lowry.
Lawrence grabs hold of outright lead Now out on his own, Thriston Lawrence sinks a birdie putt on 14 to take control as the solo leader. There’s still a lot of golf to play though.
McIlroy closes gap to one shot, Horschel eagles to co-lead After another enormous drive on the par-five 12th, Rory has an eagle attempt but the chip doesn’t drop in. He putts to birdie, and with six holes to play, he is one shot off the leaders. Billy Horschel is successful with the eagle, and he has moved up alongside Manassero, who birdies, Rai and Lawrence on 18 under.
Lowry and McKibbin sign off Shane Lowry has headed for in the clubhouse after a 67, which currently leaves him on 12 under and tied for 11th. Tom McKibbin, meanwhile, putts for birdie on 18 to card a 66. The 21-year-old finishes on 13 under and is 10th overall as things stand.
Two-way tie at the top A very interesting development – Thriston Lawrence of South Africa has just made birdie on 12, his fifth today, to take a share of the lead with Aaron Rai.
Rozner joins the chasing pack McIlroy absolutely smashes his tee shot 333 yards down the fairway on the par-four 11th hole. With 66 yards to the pin, he lands his approach to the right of the hole. It’s a decent effort with the putter but he will be marking that as a par. Manassero has a slim opportunity to birdie from long range and leaves it short. Horschel reads the green well, but there isn’t nearly enough power in his putt for birdie. That will be a par. Leader Aaron Rai also pars on the 13th, while Antoine Rozner of France is up to 16 under.
We have ourselves a new leader… Aaron Rai There’s a bit of movement to update you on. Manassero has dropped a second shot in a row, with his bogey on 10, to fall back to 17 under alongside Thirston Lawrence. Aaron Rai has jumped to 18 under and is six for the day under through 12 holes, meaning he now occupies top spot. With their latest pars, McIlroy and Horschel stay on 16 under, with England’s Matthew Baldwin also joining them.
Manassero bogeys, McIlroy and Horschel trail by two at the turn The final group have reached the halfway point, and a second bogey of the afternoon on 9 for Matteo Manassero (-18) means his lead over Rai has been cut to one shot. McIlroy (-16) extends his run of pars to five to go out in 34. Horschel (-16) will have fancied holing for birdie and you can see his frustration after pulling it a little before he settles for par. They’re both very much in contention heading for the back nine.
Horschel drops a shot, Rai now second on his own Rory’s tee shot on 8 heads right and that’s into the rough. It’s onto the green in two, however, and a fourth successive par. Not for the first time today, Billy Horschel’s first shot does not end up where he intended it to. He attempts to scramble for par but has to make do with a bogey. Manassero is happy to take a par, his third on the trot. Meanwhile, Aaron Rai is five under for the day through 10 holes, trailing the Italian by two shots.
McIlroy made to work for par Next is the par-four seventh. Rory is in the middle of the fairway from the tee but gets his approach all wrong – with the wedge from 146 yards – and his ball rolls right down the hill on the right side of the green. He judges the long-distance putt really well, following up to save par. Manassero doesn’t find the fairway from the tee but then places himself on the edge of the green before also carding a par. Horschel isn’t far away with his birdie attempt and it will be a par for him too.
Pars all-round for the final group On the sixth hole, McIlroy overcooks his putt for birdie, but makes par. Horschel chips from the edge of the green and it looks good but stops on the lip of the hole. Although Manassero can take a read from Rory, he is unable to birdie. So it’s as you were.
Aaron Rai is making moves What a start from the Wolverhampton golfer, who sits five under for the day through seven holes. That puts this year’s Wyndham Championship winner two behind leader Matteo Manassero.
Manassero’s confidence boost, McIlroy and Horschel make pars On 5, the second par-three of the day, McIlroy pitches straight into the crowd but gets a lucky bounce before putting for par after a straightforward chip. Rory signs his ball and hands it to the fan who was struck by his shot. Manassero bounces back superbly with a terrific tee shot followed by a short birdie putt. Meanwhile, Horschel is on the green in one but leaves his putt just short and taps in for par.
That’s two birdies in a row for McIlroy Rory goes for the green with his second shot, but it has dropped into the bunker on the left. His chip from the sand is outstanding, and it’s an up and down for birdie. Horschel also lands in the bunker, although it’s the one on the opposite side of the green. He overshoots his next and watches his ball roll off the back of the green. A well-struck chip leaves him with a routine putt for par. Manassero struggles somewhat but manages to get on the green in four, giving himself a shot to par. He can’t find the line with the putt though, and that will be his fourth bogey this week. So it’s Manassero (-18) from Horschel (-17) with McIlroy, Lawrence and now Aaron Rai all on 16 under.
Birdie on 3 sees McIlroy instantly recover dropped shot Great response. McIlroy reads the green perfectly, putting left-to-right for a birdie on the par-four third hole. He’s back to 15 under. However, leader Manassero (-19) and Horshel (-17) have also birdied so Rory remains four shots back.
Rory back to 14 under after bogey Hole 2 is a par-three 152 yards. McIlroy’s tee shot lands to the right of the green, leaving him with plenty of work to do. He then misses his par putt and disappointingly cards a bogey, his fourth of the tournament. Manassero and Horschel both make pars.
Lawrence and Baldwin put themselves in the mix South Africa’s Thirston Lawrence has chipped in on the second to start with two consecutive birdies, while Englishman Matthew Baldwin gets underway with a par-birdie-par. The pair now sit alongside McIlroy on 15 under, with just Horschel (-16) and Manassero (-18) ahead of them.
Speaking after the winning putt, the American has kind words for McIlroy:
“I’m thrilled, excited for the way I played. At the same time, a little disappointed. Rory’s a really good friend of mine. I think the world of him, he’s a generational talent and I know how close he has come.”
Horschel has a chance to win this but it’s by no means a straightforward putt.
This is captivating to watch.
Horschel steps up to the tee box first and again it’s a really solid tee shot.
Sticking with the three wood, McIlroy also sends it down the fairway.
The three-man play-off has been reduced to two as McIlroy and Horschel get ready to do it all again.
All the pressure now shifts onto the shoulders of Billy Horschel.
McIlroy sees the bounce of his ball send it off to the left and he will be first to putt for birdie.
That’s advantage to McIlroy and Horschel.
Horschel, meanwhile, has found a bunker. All three golfers will be really tested here.
Lawrence pulls to the right and it appears to land on the foot of a spectator.
With the three wood, McIlroy fires his ball over the top of the trees to leave himself in a really promising position.
The Holywood man putts for par and Horschel follows suits, meaning they finish on 20 under with Lawrence.
Don’t go anywhere as we’re heading back to the 18th.
Horschel, meanwhile, reacts after nearly hitting the flag with his third shot.
After Manassero and Horschel take their shots, he will have to chip over the water.
The South African goes agonisingly close with a big birdie putt but cards a fourth-round 65. Level with McIlroy on 20 under, Lawrence is seven under for the day and the performance would make him a worthy winner.
Now all he can do is wait…
That is undoubtedly the moment of the day so far. After a magnificent second shot, Rory is on the money with a huge eagle putt on 17.
With one hole to go, he and Thriston Lawrence are co-leaders.
Could this be his time?