Billy Horschel came, saw, and conquered—again! For the second time in his career, Horschel claimed victory at the BMW PGA Championship 2024, in a pulsating play-off against none other than Rory McIlroy and Thriston Lawrence.
And let me tell you, it was a finish that had everything you could hope for in elite golf—nerves, brilliance, and one stunning eagle.
Playing at the iconic Wentworth Club, Horschel showed why he’s no stranger to the winner’s circle here.
The American golfer displayed pure consistency, carding four rounds in the 60s.
And Saturday? Oh, he casually knocked out seven birdies in a row, as if he was playing pitch-and-putt at the local course.
But it was his birdie-birdie finish on Sunday that had everyone buzzing, clawing his way to 20 under par alongside Lawrence and McIlroy, setting up what would become a thrilling three-way playoff.
Lawrence, the South African sensation, was the first to falter in the play-off—an errant tee shot and a short visit to both a fairway bunker and the drink.
He was eliminated as Horschel and McIlroy calmly kept their cool, knocking in birdies to move on to a second playoff hole.
Then came the moment of magic. Both Horschel and McIlroy found the green in two shots. McIlroy, ever the class act, saw his eagle putt narrowly miss the hole.
Horschel, however, decided to steal the show with a jaw-dropping eagle putt that sealed his second BMW PGA Championship win. Cool as you like.
Horschel said after his victory: My heart was pounding on the last couple shots, the last couple holes, and especially in the play-off but it’s always fun being in those situations.
That’s what we work so hard for. 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.
Feels amazing. I’m excited. I’m thrilled. I’m speechless. I can’t put into words, you know, how this — what this moment means to me, and it still hasn’t actually sunk in, but yeah, I mean, it was a special, special tournament that I love to death, and to come out as a two-time champion, you know, I’m just over the moon.
The putter has been good. I feel I’m one of the best putters in the word. Once I start seeing one or two go in, it started fuelling my confidence even more and I had to rely on it.
Because like I said I didn’t stripe it or strike it as well as I would have wanted. I had to make a lot of 20-footers for birdies everything and. But it bailed me out when I needed it.
Yeah, he’s (Rory) a really good friend. We go back to the Walker Cup in 2007, our head-to-head days. 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 I think for the game of golf. He does so many great things.
I’m a fan of golf at heart. I do play professionally on the PGA TOUR and DP World Tour but I am a golf fan and I want to see great golf and 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, you know, to battle him head-to-head and with other guys on the last playoff hole, I wouldn’t want it any other way.
It’s heartwarming, it really is. I believe that I’ve shown the appreciation to come over here. I’ve made the effort and shown how much I love it over here.
I appreciate the fans and all the support, and in return they have given me tons of love, whether it’s here or at The Open Championship.
The support that I receive when I come over here is really second-to-none, close to compared to maybe the state of Florida when I play.
It’s always one of my most special weeks of the year. I enjoy coming here. I feel a sense of ease.
I feel a sense of calm. I know I’m not from the UK or London or England, but I feel almost at home when I come here.
Not to be overshadowed, English golfers Matthew Baldwin and Aaron Rai put up a strong showing, finishing tied for third at 17 under par.
And Matteo Manassero, the 2013 BMW PGA Champion, is having quite the comeback tour, finishing just behind them alongside Ugo Coussaud, Antoine Rozner, and Niklas Norgaard.
And if you’re keeping an eye on the bigger picture—Rory McIlroy still holds the top spot in the Race to Dubai Rankings, but with Horschel and Lawrence breathing down his neck, the road to season-long glory just got a lot bumpier.
