Rory McIlroy sets new expectations following his latest setback at the BMW PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy experienced a tough week, first losing at the Irish Open and then being defeated by Billy Horschel in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth on Sunday.
Rory McIlroy experienced yet another heart-wrenching final day as he lost an emotional playoff to Billy Horschel at the BMW PGA Championship. Despite this setback, the world No. 3 asserted:
“Sooner or later, it’s going to end in a win.”
This summer, Usterman came close to victory at the US Open, Olympics, and last week’s Irish Open without securing a win. Despite the autumn-like temperatures at Wentworth this weekend, his luck did not change.
After struggling with his irons, he sank a 46-foot falcon putt on the 17th hole to tie for the lead with Thriston Lawrence at 20-under par. However, he missed a crucial 16-foot birdie putt on the final hole that would have secured him the title. When Horschel made a birdie on that same final hole, it forced all three players into a sudden-death playoff on the par-5 18th.
The South African was killed on the first hole. Both McIlroy and Horschel reached the center of the green in two shots; McIlroy’s eagle putt narrowly missed, while Horschel sank his 25-foot putt to win this event for a second time. For 2014 winner McIlroy, suffering an agonizing late defeat was all too familiar.
However, after finishing with a closing round of 67, he remarked:
“These things happen. It’s golf, and I’m playing well. For two consecutive weeks, I’ve been performing strongly—though not exceptionally so yet. Last week was a challenging one. However, I’m optimistic about where my game is headed and pleased with its progress.”
“It’s fair to say the diversion is challenging me a bit more than it has in the past, but that’s alright. If someone had said:”
“You aim to show up at Wentworth this week and shoot 20-under par, I’d take that. Only two players have beaten me in the last two weeks—well, actually just one person twice. All I can do is keep showing up and trying to play the golf I’ve been playing, and sooner or later it’s going to result in a win.” “This summer has seen close calls for Ulsterman at the US Open, Olympics, and last week’s Irish Open without securing a victory. And indeed with autumn-like temperatures at Wentworth this weekend his luck did not change.”
After struggling with his irons, a 46-foot putt on the 17th hole helped him tie for the lead with Thriston Lawrence at 20-under par. He missed a crucial 16-foot birdie putt on the final hole that could have secured him the title. When Horschel made a birdie on that same hole, it led to all three players entering a sudden-death playoff on the par-5 18th.
The South African was defeated on the critical hole. Both McIlroy and Horschel reached the center of the green in two shots, but while McIlroy’s birdie putt narrowly missed several times, the American sank his 25-footer to claim victory for a second time. For 2014 champion McIlroy, this painful late loss felt all too familiar.
However, after finishing with a closing score of 67, he remarked:
“These things happen. It’s golf, and I’m playing well. For two weeks in a row, I’ve been performing reasonably—though not exceptionally—well enough. Last week was an exceptional one for me. Overall, I’m pleased with where my game is at and happy with the direction it’s heading.”
“It’s understandable that this concern is challenging me more than it has in the past, but that’s okay. If someone had said:”
“If you told me I’d show up at Wentworth this week and shoot 20-under par, I’d take that. In the last two weeks, only one person has beaten me each time. All I can do is keep showing up and playing the same golf I’ve been playing; sooner or later it’s going to result in a win.”
