Billy Horschel Player Profile And What's In The Bag

Article Updated in September 2024

For the second week on the trot, Rory McIlroy suffered more disappointment as he lost the BMW PGA Championship to former winner Billy Horschel in a playoff at Wentworth.

McIlroy admitted that he was gutted to lose the Irish Open to Rasmus Hojgaard seven days earlier and this is another week that will be difficult for him to take

Horschel eagled the 18th to beat McIlroy in a thrilling playoff and then told the fans how much he loved this tournament. He said: "Wentworth suits my eye. I was really happy with the way I held it together and to beat Rory in this manner was something special. I love the British fans. They always give me plenty of support."

• Player Profile
• Last 10 Results
• Key Stats
• World Ranking
• What's In The Bag

McIlroy, Horschel and Thriston Lawrence all finished tied at the top of the leaderboard on 20 under, with Lawrence knocked out of contention after finding the water during the first run down 18 in the playoff.

When they replayed the par-five, McIlroy and Horschel both found the green in two, but the American and 2021 champion clinched a second victory when holing his long putt for eagle.

It means that McIlroy is left to contemplate another painful near-miss, having been beaten in agonising fashion on numerous occasions this season - including at the Irish Open last week and, most notably, when faltering down the stretch in his pursuit of a fifth major at the US Open.

The Northern Irishman had tied Lawrence for the lead on 20 under when holing a 40-footer for eagle at the 17th, but failed to find the birdie at the 18th in regulation play that would have seen him win outright and avoid the need for a playoff.

It was Horschel who birdied at the last, seeing him join McIlroy and Lawrence at the top of the leaderboard as the trio were forced to replay the final hole.

Lawrence sliced his drive wide right and would later find the water while McIlroy and Horschel both left themselves testing birdie putts that both converted - McIlroy's slightly longer from around eight feet - to force them down 18 once more, where Horschel would ultimately deliver.

McIlroy should take some consolation from the fact that his successive runner-up finishes have strengthened his position at the top of the Race to Dubai. He said that he was proud of the way he played at Wentworth and insists that he is looking forward to the rest of the season and beyond.

Player Profile

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

Horschel was born on December 7, 1986 in Grant, Florida and attended Bayside High School.

He accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida and was a four-time All-American. He graduated with a degree in sport management in 2009 and represented the United States at the Palmer Cup in 2007 and 2008, gaining 4.5 points. He also enjoyed a 3-1 record for the winning US Walker Cup team in 2007.

Horschel won the individual medalist honors at the 2006 US Amateur, shooting a two-day score of 138 (60-78, -5) at Hazeltine. His opening round of 60 was an 18-hole tournament and USGA record. He failed to make it past the third round of matchplay.

He turned professional in 2009. In December 2009, he gained a 2010 PGA Tour card through qualifying school. A wrist injury limited Horschel to four PGA Tour events that year, and he did not make the cut in any of them.

In December 2010, he regained his Tour card and made the cut at the Mayakoba Classic, his first in 11 PGA Tour starts, finishing tied 13th. Horschel finished the season 140th on the money list, granting him conditional status for 2012.

Horschel finished third at the 2012 True South Classic, but only finished 147th on the 2012 money list. 

After his third successful attempt in four trips to Q School, he earned his PGA Tour Card for 2013. He began his season by making the cut in every tournament he entered. He had three consecutive top-10 finishes before his breakthrough win at the 2013 Zurich Classic of New Orleans in his 61st PGA Tour start. Horschel made six consecutive birdies in the fourth round and won by one stroke. The win took Horschel to third in the FedEx Cup standings, third on the PGA Tour money list, and 49th in the world rankings. It also earned him entry to the 2013 US PGA, the 2013 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, the Players and the 2014 Masters. 

His world ranking also earned him entry into the US Open. By the end of April 2013, Horschel led the PGA Tour in consecutive cuts made with 23, a streak that ended when he missed the cut at the Players.

His second win came at the 2014 BMW Championship and the following week he also secured the Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup, winning the FedEx Cup.

Two days after winning the Tour Championship and FedEx Cup, Horschel became a father for the first time.

In May 2017, he won the AT&T Byron Nelson. And in April 2018 he won the Zurich Classic with Scott Piercy.

In March 2021, Horschel won the WGC-Dell Technologies Matchplay, beating Scottie Scheffler 2&1 in the final. In September that year he landed the BMW PGA after shooting a final round of 65.

His seventh PGA Tour victory came at the Memorial In June 2022 and later that year he was a member of the US team that won the Presidents Cup.

He struggled for much of 2023 but returned to the winners’ circle at the Corales Puntacana Championship in 2024.

Last 10 Results

BMW PGA Championship - 1st

Tour Championship (72 Hole Scores) - 23rd

BMW Championship - T22nd

FedEx St Jude Championship - T10th

Wyndham Championship - T7th

The 152nd Open - T2nd

Genesis Scottish Open - CUT

Travelers Championship - T55th

US Open - T41st

The Memorial Tournament - T15th

Key Stats

Driving Distance - 299.4 Yards

Driving Accuracy - 63.76%

Greens in Regulation - 66.45%

Sand Saves - 64.80%

Putts Per Round - 28.40

Scoring Average - 69.49

End of Year World Ranking

2020: 42

2021: 23

2022: 18

2023: 63

Current Ranking: 17

What's In Billy Horshcel's Golf Bag?

Driver: Titleist GT3 9.0

Fairway Woods: Titleist TSi2 15.0 & Titleist TSi2 18.0

Irons: Titleist T100 (3, 5 Irons) & 620 MB (6-9 Irons)

Wedges: Vokey Design SM10 46.10F, 52.12F, 56.08M, WedgeWorks 60V (@62)

Putter: Ping Sigma 2 Tyne 4

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Prototype