The BMW PGA Championship

The DP World Tour was a lot closer to home over the weekend thanks to the annual BMW PGA Championship held at Wentworth Golf Club just west of London in Surrey.

American Billy Horschel was this year’s winner having beaten both Rory McIlroy and South African Thriston Lawrence in an exciting playoff. The latter two were gearing off for extra play before Horschel finished birdie-birdie on his last two holes to join them on 20-under-par.

Each player took to the 18^th hole again to commence the playoff. Lawrence was the first knocked out having found the fairway bunker before hitting his third shot into the body of water short of the green. Both Horschel and McIlroy made birdies.

The pair replayed the same hole and while they were both on the green in two, Rory narrowly missed his eagle chance and finished with a birdie. Horschel then made an exceptional putt to card 3 on the par-5 and win the tournament.

There was a roar of approval from the grandstands surrounding the 18^th green as Horschel’s putt dropped into the hole. The American was over the moon at having won the BMW Championship for a second time following his 2021 success, and was even a little upset even at having denied Rory the trophy:

“I mean I’m thrilled, excited for the way I played, but at the same time a little disappointed. Rory’s a really good friend of mine and I think the world of him. A generational talent and I know how close he’s been this year so I can feel for him, but at the same time and I’m pretty excited for just being able to get it done today.”

Horschel was undoubtedly alluding to how Rory’s 2024 season has been ladened with multiple disappointments. He notoriously missed out on winning the US Open to Bryson DeChambeau, was left outside the medal ceremony at the Olympics having come 5^th in the Men’s stroke play, and lost the Irish Open by a single stroke to Rasmus Højgaard.

Rory was in good spirits however, praising Horschel’s performance while reflecting on his own:

“Last week was a tough one, this one, but I left there with my head held high with the way I played the last hole trying to make 3. And yeah, I played the playoff holes perfectly really, couple of birdies. But it just shows the standard out here, if you slip up a little but or don’t make a birdie on a crucial hole someone’s always waiting to take advantage of that.”

These world-class players are incredibly talented, and it must take a cool head to rise above the pressure and expectations. If you’re finding an aspect of your own game particularly troubling, we’d be more than happy to book you in some lessons in the pro shop.