BMW PGA Championship: Rory McIlroy loses out to Billy Horschel in thrilling play-off finish at Wentworth

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 again 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 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 he 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 the last, seeing him join McIlroy and Lawrence in a three-way share of the lead, forcing a play-off.

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.

Starting the day three back from overnight leader Matteo Manassero, McIlroy’s final round failed to ignite for a large stretch that took in seven-straight pars after back-to-back birdies at the third and fourth had followed an early bogey at two.

The 2014 champion would finally spark into life with a second birdie in the space of three holes at the 14th to move to within one of new leader Lawrence, who had started his day in stunning fashion when chipping in for birdie on both the first two holes.

A fourth birdie in the space of six holes for the South African at the 16th pushed him two clear of McIlroy again, though it caused him to play cautiously down the stretch as he parred 17 and 18 to finish and found himself in a play-off.

Horschel, whose challenge appeared to have faded with a bogey at 15, joined McIlroy in carding a strong finish, birdieing the final two holes to make up the deficit on Lawrence.

Manassero, meanwhile, saw his bid for a second Wentworth title – and first for 11 years – fade with a disappointing 73 to finish in a tie for fourth at 17 under alongside Aaron Rai and Matthew Baldwin.

Earlier, Rai had surged up the leaderboard when making five birdies on the front nine, going out in 30, but the Englishman – who finished tied for second a year ago – failed to replicate that run when coming home in an even-par 37, including a bogey finish at 18.

Fellow home hopeful Baldwin, who led the tournament after days one and two, failed to truly threaten on the final day but ended his fine week on a high with a closing birdie at the 18th to finish.

One stroke further back on 16 under, Antoine Rozner, Ugo Coussaud and Niklas Norgaard secured top-10 placings, the latter having carded the joint-low round of the day with Matt Wallace (-12), an eight-under 64.

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