Rory McIlroy prize money after another agonising near miss at BMW PGA Championship

A picture of Rory McIlroy as he reacts on the 18th green
-Credit: (Image: Zac Goodwin/PA Wire)


Rory McIlroy's season of near misses continued on Sunday as he lost out to Billy Horschel after a play-off at the BMW PGA Championship.

The Northern Irishman has lost out in agonising fashion in numerous occasions this season including at the Irish Open last week at Royal County Down. The four-time major winner led by two shots on home soil with four holes remaining before being pipped at the death by Rasmus Hojgaard.

He carried his form into this week's tournament at Wentworth were he pushed for top spot over the four days. On Sunday he produced a superb eagle at 17 to take it to a play-off along with Billy Horschel and Thriston Lawrence.

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McIlroy and Horschel couldn't be separated after the first time down the 18th as Lawrence dropped out. Both men found the green to set up eagle opportunities with McIlroy going first and having to settle for a birdie.

Horschel kept his nerve and dropped a monster point to seal victory. The 2021 champion also walked away with a cheque for $1.5m.

Despite the disappointment of finish second again McIlroy completed a good week's work by lifting $990,000. That comes just a week after securing over £500,000 at the Irish Open.

Afterwards, American Horschel sympathised with McIlroy after condemning golf’s self-proclaimed “nearly man” to another heartbreaking defeat.

The world number three had also bogeyed three of the last four holes in June’s US Open to miss out on a first major title since 2014 and last week narrowly failed to eagle the 72nd hole to force a play-off in the Irish Open after three-putting the 17th.

“Last week was a tough one but I left there with my head held high with the way I played the last hole trying to make three,” McIlroy said after a closing 67.

“And today I played the play-off holes perfectly, really, a couple of birdies. 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.

“Two weeks in a row I’ve played well. Just not quite well enough. The game is testing me a little more than it has done in the past, but that’s fine.

“If someone had of said you’re going to turn up at Wentworth this week and shoot 20 under par, I’d take that. All I can do is keep showing up and trying to play the golf that I’ve been playing and sooner or later it’s going to end up in a win.

“It could have been a different year but the nice thing is there’s next year and the year after and the year after and the year after. If you think of my career as a 30-career journey, it’s only one year in a 30-year journey, and hopefully the other 29 are a little more productive or a little bit better.”

Horschel’s chance of victory looked to have disappeared when he bogeyed the 15th, but he birdied the 17th and 18th to complete a closing 67 and force his way into the play-off.

“My heart was pounding on the last couple of shots, the last couple of holes, and especially in the play-off 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. I was able to nip Rory and Thriston and come away with the victory.

“I’m thrilled, excited for the way I played and battled out there today but 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 year so I can feel for him, but at the same time I’m pretty excited to be able to get it done today.

“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.

“I have a lot of friends that I’ve made over the years and I will say the crowds here make me feel like I’m one of their own, and I’m very appreciative of that.”

Lawrence, who remarkably chipped in for birdie on the first and second, appeared to have the title in his grasp when he picked up his seventh shot of the day on the 16th, but played the last two holes conservatively and ultimately paid the price.

Italy’s Matteo Manassero took a three-shot lead into the final round but could only card a closing 73 to finish in a tie for fourth with England’s Matt Baldwin and Aaron Rai, with Rai’s chances disappearing when he hit his approach to the last into the water.

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