Billy Horschel snubs bumper payday afer getting one over on Rory McIlroy

Billy Horschel secured a thrilling victory at the DP World Tour’s marquee event, the BMW PGA Championship, catapulting him to fourth in the season-long standings. Despite his strong position, Horschel has opted to sit out the DP World Tour’s playoff opener, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

The American golfer has had an impressive season on European soil, with a second-place finish at The Open Championship and a triumphant win at the BMW PGA Championship, marking his second career victory at Wentworth’s iconic course. In a nail-biting playoff, Horschel outperformed Europe’s top-ranked player, Rory McIlroy, clinching victory with an exceptional long-distance putt that thrilled the crowd.

Horschel’s stellar performance secured his place in the Middle East playoffs, yet he is noticeably absent from this week’s $9 million Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. His recent stint in Europe ended with a missed cut at the French Open, which led him to announce a well-deserved break. The University of Florida alum took to social media platform X to express his gratitude to European fans and confirm his plans for a month-long hiatus from competition.

“I enjoy coming over here [to Europe] a lot,” Horschel shared, as reported by Mirror US. “I am very appreciative of the crowds, I am so amazed by all the support I get when I do come over here. It is surreal to me. I just want to say thanks to everyone for all the support and looking forward to a month off, a much-needed month off.”

He continued, “I was a little mentally tired, starting Sunday at St Andrews, it hit me. I need a month off, work on the game a little bit, and recharge the batteries.”

Reflecting on his close rivalry and friendship with McIlroy after his Wentworth win, Horschel spoke highly of the Northern Irishman. “Yeah, he’s a really good friend. We go back to Walker Cup in 2007, our head-to-head days,” Horschel noted. “I think the world of him. I think he’s the best player in our generation. He’s done so much for the game.”

Though he’ll skip the Abu Dhabi event, Horschel plans to return for the DP World Tour Championship finale, where he’ll aim to overtake McIlroy, who is vying for his sixth Race to Dubai title. With both golfers in top form, the stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to the season.