Rory McIlroy has been hailed as the best player of his generation by PGA Tour favorite Billy Horschel, who defeated the golf superstar in a playoff earlier this year

PGA Tour favorite Billy Horschel has praised Rory McIlroy as the best player of his generation, despite the golf icon’s decade-long wait for a fifth major title.

The 35-year-old McIlroy nearly ended his major drought at this year’s U.S. Open, leading the pack until bogeys on three of the last four holes ruined his chances, allowing Bryson DeChambeau to claim the win. In September, McIlroy was also on the cusp of victory at the BMW PGA Championship but lost in a playoff to Horschel, who afterward generously acknowledged his competitor’s superior s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s.

Billy Horschel has hailed Rory McIlroy as his generation’s best (Image: Getty Images)

“Look, the first thing to remember is that Rory is the best player of my/our generation,” Horschel told Golf Monthly. “Absolutely no question about that in my mind. Beating him means you’ve beaten the best of the best.”

He continued: “The other thing is that we are good friends. We’ve been beating each other’s brains out since we were on opposite sides at the 2007 Walker Cup. And man, was that a hot event by the way! Anyway, over the years we’ve built up a lasting friendship, and a mutual respect.

Horschel went on to describe McIlroy as a gracious loser. “I knew how much getting edged at the US and the Irish this year hurt him,” Horschel said. “So I could appreciate how he must have felt when my eagle putt went in, just after his own eagle try burned the hole.

“But the way he looked at me and gave me a little smile, and then congratulated me later, meant so much to me. I think that just showed he is one of the classiest golfers of this generation, as well as the most talented.”

Billy Horschel shakes hands with Rory McIlroy after the BMW PGA Championship ( Image: Getty Images)

McIlroy has won countless tournaments during his career, including two victories on the PGA Tour this year. He’s also won four major titles – the Open Championship, the U.S. Open, and the U.S. PGA Championship twice – but hasn’t won a major since 2014.

Horschel, meanwhile, is a popular figure in golf having tasted success on both the PGA Tour and DP World Tour this year. As well as winning the BMW PGA Championship in September, the 37-year-old was victorious the Corales Puntacana Championship in April. He also finished in a tie for second at the Open Championship this year, won by Xander Schauffele.

On a personal note, Horschel has his sights set on a UK home, hinting at a desire to be closer to West Ham, his beloved soccer club. He shared: “It would also give me a chance to go and see my favorite football team, West Ham, more often. But the bottom line is that I know that I’m very fortunate to be treated by most people here like one of their own.”