Rory McIlroy's immediate reaction to latest near-miss speaks volumes about his character

Rory McIlroy's cruel season continued with another agonising near miss on Sunday as Billy Horschel snatched BMW PGA Championship victory at Wentworth, but the Northern Irishman has reasons to believe

Rory McIlroy is confident that big victories are around the corner despite his brutal season continuing in a cruel conclusion to the BMW PGA Championship on Sunday.

McIlroy shot a five-under-par final round at Wentworth, including a magnificent eagle at the 17th, to force his way into a three-way playoff with Billy Horschel and Thriston Lawrence in Surrey. The trio were locked at 20-under-par before Lawrence was eliminated after the first playoff hole, carding a bogey while McIlroy and Horschel found birdies.

The pair returned to the 18th tee to do it all over again and went shot for shot in a thrilling finale, with both setting up mid-range eagle chances. McIlroy's ball was a fraction outside Horschel's and went first, drifting his effort millimetres past the cup before tapping in for a birdie.

Horschel, thus, had the chance to win the famous tournament for a second time if he could drain his eagle attempt, and the Florida native's effort never left the centre of the cup as he became the only American to win twice at Wentworth after his 2021 triumph.

It was the second week in succession that McIlroy had missed out on a big win in the most dramatic of circumstances, having lost out on Irish Open glory by a single shot to Rasmus Hojgaard at Royal County Down seven days previously. And Sunday's outcome continued a bruising season for the Ulsterman, who has failed to win since blowing a golden chance to end his decade-long major championship drought at the US Open in June.

But as his wait for a victory drags on, McIlroy is heartened by his form and believes he will get his rewards soon. Moments after congratulating Horschel, McIlroy told reporters: "Last week was a tough one. This one, I left there with my head held high with the way I played the last hole trying to make three, and then yeah, I mean, played the playoff holes perfectly, really, a couple of birdies."

McIlroy had the chance to win the tournament in regulation after Lawrence parred the last, but after pulling his approach just left of the greenside water hazard, he pitched onto the green and his birdie putt narrowly missed the target.

"It just shows the standard out here," McIlroy continued. "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. Had a really awkward yardage for my second. Tried to turn a 4-iron over. I mean, 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 playoff.

"Two weeks in a row, I've played well. Just not quite well enough. But you know, 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."