Bernie McGuire at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
Double BMW PGA Championship winner Billy Horschel believes after a season of gut-wrenching near misses, Rory McIlroy will head into a New Year set to enjoy golfing greatness.
It was less than a fortnight ago when Horschel brilliantly pulled the rug right out from the feet of rivals McIlroy and South African Thriston Lawrence in a play-off at DP World Tour HQ.
Horschel, 37, sensationally holed an eagle putt at the second extra hole to capture a second BMW PGA Championship crown and his 11th pro-career triumph.
“I was more nervous standing over my final tee shot on the 72nd hole, knowing I needed to have a good tee shot,” Horschel said ahead of this week’s Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.
“Then in the play-off it was more-or-less that I should not have been in a play-off but I was, so I then thought to myself I really should not be in a play-off.
“Though looking back maybe it was Thriston Lawrence not birdieing either of the closing two holes and then wondering how did Rory (McIlroy) not birdie the 18th from the middle of the fairway?”
Victory lifted Horschel to 17th in the World Rankings, just one place shy of a highest ranking in some two years.
Sadly, for McIlroy it was a second straight DP World Tour event where he snatched defeat from the hands of victory, and the fourth occasion in 2024 having also fallen agonisingly shy at the US Open and the early season Dubai Invitational.
Despite McIlroy’s pain, Horschel has nothing but praise for his good friend believing 2025 will unfold seeing McIlroy bathed in acclaim.
“Looking ahead I do believe something great is going to happen to Rory,” said Horschel.
“The way Rory’s handled this year and for not cracking following those [near misses] like Bryson (DeChambeau) who got in his way at the U.S. Open, and then what unfolded for him at the Irish Open and then the week later at Wentworth.
“It’s why I feel next year could be a really incredible year for Rory.”
The quest for a Green Jacket and the final leg of the career Grand Slam is one that has proven elusive thus far, but Horschel feels that it’s an accolade that McIlroy’s career has deserved, even if he doesn’t necessarily subscribe to the idea that anything in golf is deserved.
“I hope so for Rory’s sake,” Horschel said.
“I know too well no-one deserves anything in this game and you must deserve it but you look at what Rory has done in the game of golf, he deserves to win golf’s Grand Slam.
“Of course, you could say the same about Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and the likes of Phil Mickelson, I just feel that it would be great to see someone like Rory achieve the feat.
“I’ve seen Tiger (Woods) achieve such a milestone but then to have someone that I know as well and as admire like Rory, would be unbelieveable.”
Horschel says he and McIlroy have become good friends and despite the visiting American denying McIlroy among the leafy Surrey surroundings, the pair have nothing but respect for each other.
“Rory and I are pretty good friends. He’s sent me great messages in the past and I’ve done the same, so we’re good friends,” said Horschel.
“The great thing about Rory is that he’s always been pretty honest with everyone. He says things as he sees them and while he’s changed his mind about what is continuing in the bigger picture in men’s golf, I don’t fault him for it.
“So, I found myself applauding him for changing his views and listening. There are not many guys in the game of golf better than Rory.”