Billy Horschel faced a 30-footer for eagle in the second playoff hole at the BMW PGA Championship. If it fell, Horschel would emerge victorious. If it missed, a third extra hole against Rory McIlroy loomed.
So, after McIlroy narrowly missed his eagle attempt from a similar distance, Horschel stepped up, got into his unorthodox putting stance, and drained it for the win.
“My heart was pounding on the last couple of shots, the last couple of holes, and especially in the playoff, but it’s always fun being in those situations,” Horschel said.
“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 being able to come out on top on the day.”
Horschel and McIlroy each shot a 5-under 67 on Sunday, posting 20-under at the end of regulation. South African Thriston Lawrence soared up the leaderboard with a 7-under 65, also finishing at 20-under.
But on the first playoff hole, Lawrence made a bogey after hitting a poor tee shot. He then found the water that snakes in front of the 18th green. McIlroy and Horschel, meanwhile, made a birdie, getting up and down with ease to force a second playoff hole.
Both players then found the fairway. McIlroy hit a towering draw with his 3-wood, while Horschel hit a cut with his driver. Since he decided to hit 3-wood, McIlroy was away and therefore played first, a slight advantage as this turned into match-play. He then put all the pressure on Horschel, stripping a 4-iron into the middle of the green.
But the American was not fazed. He followed up with a stripe show of his own, finding the green and setting up a putting contest for glory.
“Still a little bit of shock, but listen, it was a fabulous week and a fabulous four days of golf,” Horschel said of his win.
“Playing against some of the best players in the world in Rory McIlroy and Matteo, who has come back from his struggles, so many top players up there, and to come out victorious, right now, I can’t describe it. I’m speechless. But I’m just over the moon.”
On the losing side lies McIlroy, who suffered an agonizing defeat for the second straight week. He came up just short at the Irish Open at Royal County Down last week.
“Last week was a tough one. This one—I left there with my head held high with the way I played the last hole trying to make three, and then yeah, I mean, played the playoff holes perfectly, really, a couple of birdies,” McIlroy said.
“But 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. 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.”
Indeed, McIlroy was lucky not to find the water at the end of regulation. Had he laid up, though, he may have had a better chance of making a birdie-four and winning the tournament in regulation at 21-under.
However, on the 17th hole, McIlroy made a miraculous eagle to give himself that opportunity.
“Two weeks in a row, I’ve played well. Just not quite well enough,” McIlroy added.
“But you know, happy with where my game is and happy where it’s trending.”
Horschel showed nothing but class in his victory, saying that he felt “sad” for his friend in his post-round interview on the course. He spoke at length about McIlroy in his press conference, too.
“I think the world of him. I think he’s the best player in our generation. He’s done so much for the game. You see the support he has here; you see the support he has around the world. He has the most crowds and supporters outside of Tiger Woods. He’s great for the game of golf. He does so many great things,” Horschel said.
“Listen, I’m a fan of golf at heart. I do play professionally on the PGA and DP World Tour, but I am a golf fan, and I want to see great golf. I want to see the top players play well and win, and I know he’s been close a lot this year. He has not been able to get it done and you feel for someone like that. I do feel for him a little bit that it was another opportunity that he wasn’t able to get it done, but at the same time, to battle him head-to-head on the last playoff hole. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.
