American Horschel wins PGA title, Wiesberger earns Ryder Cup debut

Tuesday, 14 September 2021 00:41 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

LONDON (Reuters): American Billy Horschel birdied the 18th hole to claim the BMW PGA Championship title in a tense finish on Sunday in a tournament with huge implications for Europe’s Ryder Cup team.

Horschel was tied for first in a group on -18 as he stood over his third shot at the par-five 18th at Wentworth but produced a sensational wedge for a nailed-on birdie to complete a sizzling round of seven-under 65.

With Horschel in the clubhouse, Englishman Laurie Canter needed to find a birdie at the last to force a playoff but was unable to do so and ended in a tie for second alongside Welshman Jamie Donaldson and Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat who shot a superb closing 64.

Horschel, whose bag sports the colours and emblem of English soccer club West Ham United, is only the second American to win the title, following in the footsteps of Arnold Palmer.

Afterwards he said he would celebrate by going to dinner with West Ham’s England international Declan Rice.

“I am speechless really, and that’s rare,” Horschel, who has missed the US Ryder Cup team, said. “To win this event means a lot, this is like the Players’ Championship.”