European Tour: BMW PGA Championship final leaderboard
If you missed it, after an exciting finish, with half a dozen players vying for the title, it was Kiradech Aphibarnrat who was in control standing on the par 5 17th green who crucially pulled his long second shot wildly left into the marsh leading to an unlikely bogey 6, as opposed to a birdie 4 (64) which opened the door for Billy Horschel and in particular England's Laurie Canter (67)
Horschel came through with a wedge to within the leather for birdie at 18, a real money shot to complete a -7 65 -19 and a 1 shot win over Canter who left his tying putt on the edge, and Welshman Jamie Donaldson (66). Horschel who also won the World Match Play this year becomes the first American to win a Rolex Series Event worth $1,326,253
Horschel, who was gracious in victory, may yet make the American Ryder Cup team as a captain's pick if Brooks Koepka's wrist injury prevents his participation.
Ryder Cup :
After the tournament Padraig Harrington completed his picks with 3 veterans, Ian Poulter who has played great all year of course, all time points leader Sergio Garcia and in form Shane Lowry, providing his underdog team with as strong a 10,11 12 picks as they've ever had.
Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Rory McIlroy, Victor Hovland, Paul Casey, Matt Fitzpatrick, Bernd Weisberger and Lee Westwood all qualified on their own merit.
For the full European team click
For the full USA team click
So the Ryder Cup drama and rhetoric begins again as does the age old David vs Goliath theme.
Jaime Diaz the veteran golf writer says " Whistling Straits will be set up to suit the USA Team, wider fairways, length off the tee which will suit the Americans who are longer and have more talented youth on their side with an average world ranking of 9th with the Europeans ranked 30th and that's a huge advantage, and of course the crowd will be all American. On paper they are overwhelming favourites"
Keep that up, it's the fuel that drives Europe. They've won 9 of the last 12 under similar circumstances and are the defending champions after thrashing USA in Paris.
Bryan Angus
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