BMW PGA Championship: Billy Horschel and Rory McIlroy's battle for Wentworth victory, from inside the ropes

As Rory McIlroy and Billy Horschel competed for the BMW PGA Championship title, Sky Sports’ Alex Eaton enjoyed a special perspective as a volunteer scoreboard holder. He reflects on his experience wandering the Wentworth grounds alongside two of the top golfers in the world...

As the rain fell heavily on Sunday morning, I found myself wondering why I was getting out of bed to spend six hours walking around a golf course. But when I got to Wentworth, I was completely unprepared for the experience that awaited me.

When I arrived at the volunteer tent, there was one group that everyone was buzzing about—the marquee trio of Rory McIlroy, Billy Horschel, and Matteo Manassero, who were set to tee off last.

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I never imagined that I would have the chance to work with that group, especially since it was my first year volunteering here. But fortune smiled upon me. McIlroy has always been one of my idols, and I was in disbelief at how fortunate I was. Suddenly, I felt a rush of both nerves and excitement.

After sharing with my friends who I was with, I made my way to the first tee, carrying the large scoreboard. As I walked past the crowd, I could hear people saying things like, "Wow, he has the best job!" and "Are you really walking alongside Rory?" Many others also asked to take pictures with the board.

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After making my way through the throngs of people, I found myself standing at the tee box, excitedly anticipating the players' arrival from the putting green. The first to arrive was Horschel, with Manassero right behind him. Horschel approached and introduced himself, and Manassero quickly followed suit.

Suddenly, I heard the excitement of the crowd and realized that McIlroy had made his entrance. As he approached me, he wore a smile that seemed to say, "You already recognize me." I must have appeared like a child in a candy store! He introduced himself, and I awkwardly wished him good luck in his game.

Horschel and Manassero sent their tee shots into the spectators on the left side of the fairway, but the four-time major champion kept it straight, launching his drive right down the center, much to the excitement of the crowd.

As I strolled alongside them on the opening fairway, I felt incredibly lucky to be so close to some of the finest golfers in the world. My mind was consumed with a single thought: "Just please don’t trip and tumble down that steep hill in front of the crowd!"

The initial holes went by quickly, and I was occupied with keeping the scoreboard updated, noting many birdies and a couple of bogeys. I found it challenging to come up with topics to discuss with McIlroy, but an opportunity presented itself as we departed from the fifth hole.

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Fans reached out over the ropes, eager for high fives from the former world No. 1. I glanced to my right and playfully remarked, "Rory, do you really think they’re calling out to me for a high five?" He chuckled and threw his arm around me, then replied in his recognizable accent, "I believe they are."

We continued our conversation, and he mentioned that he felt he was performing well. He also praised the fans for their incredible support, even in the terrible weather, emphasizing just how much he enjoys playing at Wentworth.

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I was genuinely surprised by how effortlessly I was able to converse with McIlroy, particularly since he was in the running for the win. I had expected him to be focused and not interested in chatting!

As the round progressed and the players reached a score of 19 under, I felt a wave of anxiety wash over me. While checking my pouch to update a score, I noticed that I didn't have any cards marked with the number nine.

In a state of panic, I hurriedly browsed through countless numbers in the pouch, worried that I might mess up the only task I had for the round! Fortunately, I came up with a clever solution: I flipped a six upside down to creatively use it as a temporary nine while I figured out how to explain the situation to someone.

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I finally reached the tee and decided to ask a senior team member for advice on the situation. To my surprise and slight embarrassment, they chuckled and pointed out that I had simply been holding my cards upside down. It turns out, my so-called brilliance wasn't quite as smart as I thought!

Dramatic Finale At Wentworth

It was clear that tensions were rising, especially when Horschel exclaimed a frustrated "damn it dude" that echoed around the tee box. You could see that he recognized his opportunity, as he was the most fired up of the three players.

On the 17th hole, Horschel tossed his club down, and it bounced back up, hitting Manassero! As we strolled down the fairway following our tee shots, I thought I might need to help search for the golf ball in the bushes. However, Horschel’s ball ended up right in the center of the fairway!

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All I could think was that if he was that upset over a drive that went over 300 yards right down the center, he would be crushed if he were in my shoes, hitting erratic shots all over the place during the weekends!

McIlroy reached the 17th green in just two strokes thanks to an incredible shot with his three-wood, causing the crowd of thousands gathered around to go quiet. Everyone understood that if McIlroy wanted a shot at winning the BMW PGA Championship, he absolutely needed to sink this putt!

I was standing just beside the green, hoping the ball would find its way into the hole as he took his shot. The crowd erupted with excitement; the energy was incredible. McIlroy had tied for the lead after making an impressive eagle putt.

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As we made our way down the 18th fairway, flanked by security and police, McIlroy found himself in a great spot. Horschel, on the other hand, was stuck in a bunker and had to play it safe, sitting one stroke behind the leaders. But McIlroy was determined to secure the victory and opted for a bold, daring shot.

As McIlroy sent his long iron shot out to the right, aiming to curve the ball toward the hidden pin, he sank to his knees when it appeared headed for the water. Thankfully, it continued to curve and ended up in the rough instead.

As we approached the green, we could hear the audience cheering for McIlroy. Horschel had a short putt for birdie after getting his wedge close to the pin, but everyone was aware that McIlroy just needed to make one final move to claim victory at Wentworth for the second time.

McIlroy didn’t quite get his chip right, resulting in a lengthy putt for birdie and the win. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to sink it, which meant he had to play the hole once more in a playoff against Horschel and South Africa's Thriston Lawrence.

A Memorable Day At Wentworth

As they walked away from the green to sign their scorecards, the crowd was excited at the prospect of seeing more golf. McIlroy shook my hand and expressed his gratitude for my time, then hopped onto the buggy and headed over to the 18th tee to play the hole once more.

As I made my way to the volunteer's hut, I was swarmed by fans wanting to take pictures with me and the scoreboard. It was such a surreal experience! I hurried back to catch the playoff, cheering for McIlroy to come out on top, but it didn’t happen—Horschel clinched the win with an incredible eagle putt.

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I feel incredibly lucky to have had the chance to be part of the final group on the last day of the BMW PGA Championship. But next year, it could be your turn! This week, 570 volunteers contributed their time at Wentworth, and the event simply wouldn't have been possible without their support.

Everyone was incredibly kind and inviting, eagerly sharing their experiences of walking alongside the world's best in previous years. I'm already excited about my next opportunity to volunteer at a sporting event!

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