Billy Horschel edges Rory McIlroy in playoff to win BMW - ESPN

Billy Horschel won the BMW PGA Championship after beating Rory McIlroy and Thriston Lawrence in a thrilling three-man playoff at Wentworth on Sunday to take home the winner's check of $1.53 million.

The trio finished at 20 under overall, and in the first playoff at the event in 11 years, Lawrence fell first when he bogeyed the 18th after finding the water, leaving Horschel and McIlroy to fight it out for the title.

McIlroy was looking to win for a second time after lifting the trophy in 2014 and birdied the 18th once again, but Horschel kept his nerve and sank a stunning eagle putt to become the first American to win the event twice.

«I am thrilled, excited for the way I played,» said Horschel, who also won the event in 2021. «At the same time, I am a little disappointed. Rory is a really good friend of mine, he is a generational talent, and he has been so close this year.

»I feel for him, but I am also excited.… There was a lot of luck on my side to get this victory today. I will give my all on every shot and grind it out, and that is what I did today. That is what you have to do when you are not firing on all cylinders."

Horschel was locked in second place overnight with McIlroy, and they were both three strokes behind leader Matteo Manassero of Italy.

South Africa's Lawrence was five shots off the lead heading into the final round and carded seven birdies, including a superb putt from 26 feet at the 16th.

McIlroy also was playing catchup all day, and he made it count on the 17th, when he holed a superb eagle putt from over 46 feet to share the lead.

Lawrence had the chance to finish with a birdie, but his putt on the 18th green fell agonizingly short and he waited to see how McIlroy and Horschel would fare.

McIlroy