The highlight of Billy Horschel’s 2024 season came at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
Horschel became the first American to win the DP World Tour’s flagship event twice, beating Rory McIlroy in a playoff.
The 37-year-old birdied the 18th to sneak into the playoff alongside McIlroy and Thriston Lawrence. The latter was knocked out after finding the water during the first run back down the 18th.
Horschel and McIlroy would both find the green as they replayed the par-five before the Northern Irishman narrowly missed his eagle putt. Horschel went on to roll in his eagle and claim the historic DP World Tour title.
Horschel admitted he was disappointed for McIlroy, and the American has now shared what the four-time major winner did immediately after he sunk his winning putt.
Billy Horschel: Rory McIlroy shows his class at the BMW PGA Championship
Speaking during an interview with Golf Monthly, Horschel praised McIlroy’s class immediately after losing out at the BMW.
“Look, the first thing to remember is that Rory is the best player of my/our generation. Absolutely no question about that in my mind. Beating him means you’ve beaten the best of the best,” Horschel said.
“The other thing is that we are good friends. “We’ve been beating each other’s brains out since we were on opposite sides at the 2007 Walker Cup. And man, was that a hot event by the way! Anyway, over the years, we’ve built up a lasting friendship and a mutual respect.”
He added: “I knew how much getting edged at the US and the Irish this year hurt him. So I could appreciate how he must have felt when my eagle putt went in, just after his own eagle try burned the hole.
“But the way he looked at me, gave me a little smile and then congratulated me later meant so much to me. I think that just showed he is one of the classiest golfers of this generation, as well as the most talented.”
McIlroy handled his BMW PGA Championship loss very differently to the US Open at Pinehurst No.2. McIlroy was criticised for leaving the course immediately after Bryson DeChambeau’s winning putt.
The 35-year-old appeared to learn from his mistake and accepted defeat in a far better manner on Wentworth’s famous 18th green.
Rory McIlroy’s time will come after disappointing 2024 PGA Tour season
2024 was tough to stomach for McIlroy. After narrowly missing out at the US Open, the Northern Irishman also dealt with late heartache at the Irish Open.
At times, McIlroy’s decision-making has come under scrutiny, and rightly so; quite why he decided to hit driver on the 18th at Pinehurst remains a mystery.
Despite the near misses, however, the four-time major winner has consistently been in contention, and that can only be a good sign heading into the 2025 season.
If McIlroy can tidy up his decision-making during the latter stages of tournaments, he stands every chance of finally adding major number five to his resume.
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