Billy Horschel lifted the BMW PGA Championship for the second time in his career after seeing off Thriston Lawrence and Rory McIlroy in a thrilling playoff at Wentworth Club.
The world No 24 had been a picture of consistency at Virginia Water, which included a career best seven straight birdies during moving day, and carded four rounds in the 60s.
The American, who nearly holed out his third shot at the par-five last, ended with a birdie-birdie finish to climb alongside the leading pair at 20 under before the trio returned to the 18th hole for the playoff.
Lawrence blinked first after a wayward tee-shot and then found the fairway bunker and water to be the first to be eliminated as McIlroy and Horschel calmly rolled in birdies to force a second extra hole.
The Ryder Cup rivals could not be separated as they both found the green in two before McIlroy narrowly slid by his eagle effort.
However, Horschel only needed one putt for a stunning eagle to win this Rolex Series event for the second time in three years.
“I mean I’m thrilled, excited for the way I played,” the 37-year-old said. “It was a battle out there today and at the same time a little bit disappointed, Rory is a 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 for being able to get it done today.
“I had to have a little bit of luck. After the bogey at 15, I knew I was a little behind the eight ball. Thriston didn’t birdie the last two par fives so it gave us an opening.
“Listen, Rory could have easily birdied the last hole, he was in prime position to. So a lot of luck on my side to get this victory today.
“I grind my butt off, I always do and always will. I got at every shot, I ground it out and did that today. I hit some really good shots out there and made some really good putts, that’s what you have to do when you aren’t firing on all cylinders.”
Horschel made a quick start when he rolled in a lovely putt at the opening hole to cut the gap to two on overnight leader Matteo Manassero.
McIlroy briefly slipped back after a bogey at the 2nd but hit back immediately at the 3rd with a birdie before Horschel followed his playing partner to move to 17 under. The two-shot advantage remained though as the Italian also drained a putt for a gain at the same hole.
Lawrence climbed to 16 under with his third birdie of the day – he chipped in at the first two holes – at the 4th and he was joined by McIlroy and Aaron Rai after gains at the 4th and 6th respectively.
Manassero blinked for the first time after a wayward tee-shot led to him bogeying the 4th and trim his lead to one, but he responded immediately by sticking his tee-shot to four feet at the par-three 5th to restore his two-shot advantage at 19 under.
The Italian finished the front nine with a bogey and then put his tee-shot over the back of the 10th green.
Lawrence had climbed up to 17 under with a birdie at the 11th and there was a brief three-way tie for the lead at that mark when Manassero carded successive dropped shots.
However, Aaron Rai took advantage of the par-five 12th and when he birdied to climb to 18 under, he was the new name at the top.
It only lasted a few minutes though as Lawrence rolled in his fifth gain at the 12th to join Rai at the summit, with five players within two shots of the leading pair.
Manassero nearly chipped in at the same hole which would have taken the outright lead, but he tapped in for birdie as Horschel holed a five foot eagle after a beautiful approach at the 12th to create a logjam at the top of the leaderboard.
Lawrence jumped ahead to 19 under with 13 foot putt at the 14th but was swiftly joined by Horschel after his birdie on the hole behind.
The South African continued to apply the pressure and when he sunk a birdie putt from 36 feet at the 16th, he was the first player at 20 under.
Lawrence moved two clear when Horschel bogeyed the 15th to slip back to 18 under alongside Rai and McIlroy as the leader teed up at the final two par fives.
He salvaged par at the 17th, but McIlroy was on in two at the same hole and he rolled in a monster eagle putt to sit alongside Lawrence at the summit.
Lawrence was inches from a finishing birdie as his flawless 65 set the clubhouse target at 20 under, with McIlroy behind on the fairway.
The Northern Irishman narrowly avoided the water with his second and could only par the last to set up a playoff, which included Horschel after his birdie-birdie finish.
The trio returned to the 18th tee and Lawrence struggled as he found the water with his third, while McIlroy went over the back of the green and Horschel landed in the greenside bunker.
McIlroy and Horschel kept their cool to birdie the first extra hole and the pair went back down the last hole once again.
Both found the fairway before landing their second on the green, with McIlroy just missing with his putt before Horschel sealed his second victory at this event.
– Edited report from DP World Tour
Photo: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
