Horschel prevails over Rory in playoff at BMW PGA Championship

Billy Horschel carded an eagle on the second playoff hole to beat Rory McIlroy at the BMW PGA Championship on Sunday.

It's Horschel's second career victory at the BMW PGA Championship after he won the title in 2021. He's the first American to win the flagship event twice.

South Africa's Thriston Lawrence was also in the mix after shooting a 7-under 65 on Sunday, but he bogeyed the opening playoff hole to remove himself from the action.

*Won on second playoff hole

"I'm thrilled, excited (about) the way I played," Horschel said. "I just battled out there today."

After registering a bogey on the 15th hole, Horschel successfully birdied his last two holes in regulation to extend his round. He also got some help from Lawrence, who made par on the final two holes, and McIlroy, who settled for an even score on No. 18.

"I knew I was a little bit behind the eight-ball. ... Listen, Rory could have easily birdied the last hole; he was in prime position to," Horschel said. "There was a lot of luck on my side."

The 37-year-old also acknowledged he was struggling with his swing throughout the week.

"I grind my butt off," Horschel said. "I always do, I always will. I will give everything I've got on every shot and grind it out. I did that today. Listen, I hit some really good shots out there, I made some really good putts. That's what you've got to do when you're not firing on all cylinders."

McIlroy grabbed a share of the lead with a clutch eagle on No. 17.

The Northern Irishman was also in pursuit of his second victory at the BMW PGA Championship after he won the event 10 years ago. He birdied the final playoff hole, but it wasn't enough to overcome Horschel's eagle putt.

McIlroy finished in second place at the Irish Open last week, losing to Rasmus Hojgaard by one stroke after narrowly missing out on an eagle putt that would have forced a playoff.

"Two weeks in a row, I've played well," McIlroy said Sunday, according to analyst Ron Mintz. "Just not quite well enough. But you know, happy with where my game is and happy where it's trending. I've got a week off here, and then get back at it in the Dunhill in a couple weeks."

It's been a tough year for McIlroy, who endured a major collapse at the U.S. Open and missed the cut at the Open Championship.

Though Horschel is amped up about his latest BMW PGA Championship, he also empathizes with McIlroy.

"(I'm) a little disappointed," he said. "Rory's a really good friend of mine. I think the world of him, I think he's a generational talent. I know how close he's been this year, so I can feel for him."