On Sunday at Wentworth Golf Club, Billy Horschel capped a season of nearlies and almosts with a cathartic BMW PGA Championship victory. Horschel drained a lengthy eagle putt on the second playoff hole to top Rory McIlroy—another recent victim of the “so close” syndrome—and raised both hands to the sky in a show of relief as much as triumph.

Billy Horschel came from behind to defeat Rory McIlroy and Thriston Lawrence in a playoff at the BMW PGA Championship.

Billy Horschel couldn’t help but feel a little guilty. He was just seconds removed from canning a 35-footer for eagle to win the BMW PGA Championship in a playoff, his second time capturing the DP World Tour’s flagship event and at the expense of Rory McIlroy, who for the fourth time this year was exiting with a runner-up finish.