BMW PGA Championship: Billy Horschel and Rory McIlroy’s battle for Wentworth victory, from contained in the ropes | Golf Information

As Rory McIlroy and Billy Horschel battled it out for BMW PGA Championship victory, Sky Sports activities’ Alex Eaton had a singular behind-the-scenes view as a volunteer rating board holder. He shares his expertise strolling Wentworth alongside two of the world’s greatest…

When the rain was pouring early on Sunday morning, I questioned why I used to be getting away from bed to stroll round a golf course for six hours! After I arrived at Wentworth, nothing may have readied me for who I used to be going to be chosen to stroll with.

As I bought to the volunteer’s tent, there was one group everybody was speaking about – the marquee threeball of Rory McIlroy, Billy Horschel and Matteo Manassero that have been teeing off within the closing group.

I by no means thought in 1,000,000 years that I’d be fortunate sufficient to get that group, particularly because it was the primary yr I used to be volunteering right here, however my luck was in. McIlroy is a hero of mine and I could not imagine how lucky I used to be, so all of the sudden the nerves and pleasure set in.

After telling all my mates who I used to be strolling round with, I headed over to the primary tee with the massive scoreboard in hand. Passing the followers as I glided by, all I may right here was feedback like ‘wow, he has the perfect job’ and ‘are you strolling round with Rory?’, with so many asking for pictures with the board.

As soon as I waded via the crowds, I stood and waited eagerly on the tee field for the gamers to stroll over from the placing inexperienced. First over was Horschel, intently adopted by Manassero. Horschel came to visit and launched himself, the Italian chief intently adopted.

Then I heard the crowds cheer and knew McIlroy should have arrived. He walked over in the direction of me he had a smile on his face which instructed ‘I do know you already know who I’m’. To him I most likely appeared like a child in a candy store! He launched himself and I nervously informed him to play effectively.

‘Fore Left!’

Horschel and Manassero hook their tee pictures into the group to the left of the green however not the four-time main winner, who piped his drive straight down the center earlier than the group erupted.

As I walked with them down the primary fairway, I could not imagine how lucky I used to be to be simply yards away from the world’s greatest golfers. Though, all I may assume was, ‘please do not slip over and fall down the steep hill in entrance of hundreds!’

The primary few holes flew by and I used to be stored busy updating the scoreboard with numerous birdies and some bogeys. I struggled to consider a strategy to make dialog with McIlroy, however bought my likelihood as we left the fifth gap.

Followers caught their fingers out over the ropes asking for top fives from the previous world No 1. I appeared to my proper and jokingly stated ‘Rory, do you assume it is me they’re shouting at and attempting to excessive 5?!’. He laughed and put his arm round me, earlier than stated in his distinctive accent ‘I feel so’.

We carried on speaking and he was saying how he thought he was taking part in effectively and the way superb the followers had been superb, regardless of the horrible climate, making very clear how a lot he loves taking part in Wentworth.

I could not imagine how simple it was to speak to McIlroy, particularly with him in rivalry to win – I assumed that he would have his recreation face on and never need to chat to me!

Because the spherical went on and the gamers bought to 19 underneath, a sudden sinking feeling struck me. As I appeared within the pouch to exchange a rating, I realised I had no playing cards with 9 written on it.

Panicked, I frantically scrolled via tons of of numbers within the pouch, pondering that I used to be about to destroy the one job I had through the spherical! Fortunately, I had the genius concept to show a six the other way up and to make use of that as a brief 9 in the meanwhile till I may inform somebody what occurred.

I made it to the tee, the place I may ask a senior employees member what I may do contemplating what was happening. To my aid, and embarrassment, they laughed at me saying that I simply had my playing cards up the improper method. Because it turned out, my ‘genius’ was not so intelligent in any case!

Late drama at Wentworth

I may inform issues have been heating up as frustrations grew, with Horschel letting out a loud ‘rattling it dude’ which rang out on the tee field. You could possibly inform Horschel knew he was in with an opportunity, as he was getting probably the most animated out of the three golfers.

On the seventeenth, Horschel threw his membership on the floor, which bounced up and clipped Manassero! As we walked down the green after these tee pictures, I used to be anticipating to have to assist search for the golf ball within the bushes. Nonetheless, Horschel’s ball could not have been extra in the midst of fairway!

All I may assume was that if he was that upset with a 300-plus yard drive straight down the center, then he can be devastated if he was me spraying the ball about left to proper on the weekends!

McIlroy was on the seventeenth inexperienced in two after a implausible three-wood, the place the hundreds of individuals across the inexperienced fell silent. All of them knew behind their minds that if McIlroy had any likelihood to win the BMW PGA Championship, then this putt needed to drop!

I used to be stood simply off the inexperienced, prepared the ball into the opening as he hit it. The gang went wild, the ambiance was electrical. McIlroy was tied for the lead after sinking an enormous eagle putt.

Surrounded by safety and police, we walked down the 18th fairway. McIlroy was in prime place, with Horschel within the bunker and – one again from the leaders – compelled to put up. McIlroy then again, got here right here to win and went for the hero shot.

Slinging his lengthy iron method out to the appropriate, attempting to play a draw into the tucked pin, McIlroy dropped to his knees because the ball appeared water sure. Happily, it carried on drawing and landed within the tough.

As we walked as much as the inexperienced, the group have been chanting McIlroy’s identify. Horschel had a number of ft for birdie after sticking his wedge in tight, however all of them knew McIlroy solely wanted an up and all the way down to win at Wentworth for a second time.

McIlroy barely mis-judged his chip and left a protracted putt for birdie and victory, however he did not convert and left himself going through taking part in the opening once more in a play-off with Horschel and South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence.

A day to recollect at Wentworth

As they left the inexperienced to go and signal for his or her rating playing cards, the crowded have been buzzing to know they have been getting golf. McIlroy shook my hand and thanked me for my time, earlier than getting on the buggy and driving to the 18th tee to play the opening once more.

After I walked to the volunteer’s hut, I used to be flooded with individuals asking for pictures with me and the scoreboard. I could not imagine what was happening! I raced again so I may watch the play-off, the place I used to be prepared McIlroy to win but it surely wasn’t to be as Horschel holed that large eagle for victory.

I used to be so lucky to have been given this chance and to get the ultimate group on the ultimate day of the BMW PGA Championship, however subsequent yr this could possibly be you! 570 volunteers helped at Wentworth this week and the competitors would not be doable with out them.

Everybody was so pleasant and welcoming, all sharing their tales of once they had been out and walked with the world’s greatest throughout earlier years. I am now already sit up for my subsequent sporting volunteering journey!

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