While some of the focus following the conclusion of the BMW PGA Championship is on Rory McIlroy falling short, it should not go under the radar what Billy Horschel did on his final four holes of the day to win his second title at Wentworth.
Billy Horschel reached the 17th tee on 18 under par, probably knowing that getting to 20 under par may not be enough to win the BMW PGA Championship, with Thriston Lawrence already reaching that number with the two par fives to play. However, Lawrence would birdie neither, and Horschel would go on a remarkable run.
The 37-year-old made a birdie on 17 and 18 to force his way into the play-off alongside Lawrence and Rory McIlroy. Of course, he would then birdie 18 again before clinching victory with an eagle on the second play-off hole.
That was not even Horschel’s best run of the week, with the American making seven birdies in a row on Saturday. But it seems that those hot streaks did not appear to be on the cards ahead of the event.
How Billy Horschel played in the Pro-Am before the BMW PGA Championship
Speaking on The Rough Cut Golf Podcast, Peter Finch suggested that the world number 17 had not been playing fluently leading into the tournament at all.
“What was really interesting in the Pro-Am is that he wasn’t at his best. There is no doubt about it. He was working and grinding but around that golf course he was managing to plot and not make too many mistakes and when he did, the score was never that bad,” he said.
“He limited himself to bogeys. And then as soon as he got to the play off, as soon as the pressure is at its most extreme, he is one of those golfers who you think you know what, he gets better.”
Presidents Cup omission now looks even more questionable
It is hard not to look at Horschel’s performance in Wentworth and feel that he could have been a real asset for the USA team in the Presidents Cup, with Jim Furyk’s men now preparing for Royal Montreal.
Horschel was definitely in the mix to make the team, particularly after his form really picked up at The Open Championship, with the 2014 FedEx Cup champion leading heading into the final round at Royal Troon.
Royal Montreal is a tight, tree-lined golf course, so Horschel’s ability to make his way around Wentworth will not have escaped the attention of those who wanted him on the team. Horschel also went on to make 26 birdies and two eagles across the week, while McIlroy made 20 birdies and the same number of eagles.
With that, Horschel would have potentially been an ideal candidate to go out in the fourballs.
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