Rory McIlroy: ‘Game is testing me’ after play-off defeat

Rory McIlroy’s recent misery was compounded by yet another agonising near miss on Sunday.

The world No.3 – after failing to convert a four-shot lead at the Irish Open last week – lost to Billy Horschel in a BMW PGA Championship play-off on Sunday.

And despite leaving Wentworth with some positives, McIlroy insisted golf is ‘testing’ him.

“I mean, last week was a tough one,” the 35-year-old started.

“This one, I left with my head held high with the way I played the last hole trying to make three, and then played the play-off holes perfectly, really, a couple of birdies.

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“But it just shows the standard out here. If you slip up just a little bit or don’t make a birdie on a crucial hole, someone is always waiting to take advantage of that and look, I had my chance in regulation.

“Two weeks in a row, I’ve played well, just not quite well enough. The game is testing me a little more than it has done in the past, but that’s fine.

“[I’m] 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.”

Horschel – who made birdie on the last to secure a place in the play-off – converted his eagle putt on the second play-off hole to edge McIlroy.

And it was on the 18th during Sunday’s final round where McIlroy could’ve triumphed.

His approach into the green on the par-5 was fortunate not to find the water before he failed to get up and down for birdie and the win.

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“I had a really awkward yardage for my second – tried to turn a 4-iron over,” he explained. “I was lucky that it didn’t go in the water.

“Still got up-and-down to win in regulation but I was pretty lucky the ball stayed up and I could make par and get into the play-off.

“When you’re only 225 yards to the front of the green, you sort of feel like you have to go for it, just one of those things.

“But played the two playoff holes well, especially the 4-iron I hit into the green on the second was great. I hit a good putt that just slipped by on the right and Billy made his and that was the difference.”

It was McIlroy’s fourth second-place finish this year, and his eighth top five finish without winning.

He’ll return at the Old Course with his dad, Gerry, next week at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.