Paul McGinley claims one part of Billy Horschel’s game was ‘out of this world’ at the BMW PGA Championship

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Billy Horschel is now a two-time winner of the BMW PGA Championship, with the American making a birdie on the second play-off hole to beat Rory McIlroy at Wentworth on Sunday.

Billy Horschel found himself in the mix throughout the week at the BMW PGA Championship, with the 37-year-old producing four rounds in the 60s in Surrey. And when he managed to birdie his final two holes, he managed to put himself in a play-off with Rory McIlroy and Thriston Lawrence.

Lawrence was eliminated on the first extra hole after finding the water on 18, while McIlroy made a four on both occasions. However, the title was Horschel’s when he rolled in his eagle putt, meaning that he played the 18th in four under par on Sunday alone.

Anyone who watched Horschel play from tee to green may have felt that the 2014 FedEx Cup champion was having a few issues, with his performance at times looking to be quite scratchy. And of course, his pre-shot routine on the greens would have anyone thinking that he is dealing with some serious nerves as he edges to the ball and almost opens his stance up to hit a putt.

Paul McGinley lauds Billy Horschel after his BMW PGA Championship win

However, the method clearly works for him. Horschel made seven successive birdies on Saturday, rolling in 130 feet of putts along the way. And he would go on to make crucial putts to make the play-off, stay in the play-off and then win the play-off.

So when he won, it was no surprise to hear Paul McGinley tell Sky Sports that it was the flat stick which had won Horschel the event.

“Absolutely sensational finish from Billy Horschel. His putting has been out of this world this week,” he said.

“25 putts today, we were saying he’s not nearly been on his game tee to green, but boy oh boy, has he made up with the good putting. There’s an example of it there, they weren’t the most complex putts, still had to be done. Well done Billy Horschel.”

An emphatic statement to Jim Furyk

There would have been a feeling before the week that Horschel should be gearing up to go to Montreal for the Presidents Cup given the form of some of those Jim Furyk did select. And what Horschel has achieved at Wentworth surely shows that Furyk made a mistake. 

Royal Montreal is tree-lined and tight – much like the Surrey course Horschel has just won on. And of course, no club in his West Ham bag was hotter over the week than the putter. Anyone in form on the greens is going to be incredibly useful in a matchplay event. 

Horschel missed out on making the 2014 Ryder Cup team and would go on and win the FedEx Cup that same year. It seems that history has somewhat repeated itself, as he secured another big victory having been overlooked.