Billy Horschel has decided to skip the DP World Tour’s opening playoff event at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, despite finding himself fourth in the season-long rankings.

Horschel has enjoyed great success on European soil this campaign, following up a tied-second finish at The Open Championship, with a dramatic victory at the DP World Tour’s flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship. It was Horschel’s second win around the iconic Wentworth course.

And to get his hands on the trophy, the American pipped Europe’s No. 1 player Rory McIlroy, defeating the home favorite in a tense playoff, holing a remarkable putt from distance for the victory.

This leaves him in a healthy spot following the end of the Tour’s regular season, but despite playing his way into the Middle East playoffs, Horschel’s name has been left off the entry list for this week’s $9 million Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. His last start came back in Europe, where he missed the cut at the French Open.

Following a long trip on the road, the University of Florida graduate announced on the back of his missed cut that he would be taking a month off from competition. “I enjoy coming over here [to Europe] a lot,” he told his followers on X.

“I am very appreciative of the crowds, I am so amazed by all the support I get when I do come over here. It is surreal to me. I just want to say thanks to everyone for all the support and looking forward to a month off, a much-needed month off. I was a little mentally tired, starting Sunday at St Andrews, it hit me. I need a month off, work on the game a little bit, and recharge the batteries.”

McIlroy was all class as he congratulated Billy Horschel after the second playoff hole

Billy Horschel defeated Rory McIlroy ( 

Image:

Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

Despite his absence in Abu Dhabi this week, Horschel told his fans that he will return to the DP World Tour for the season finale a week later at the DP World Tour Championship. The man he will no doubt be looking to chase down is McIlroy, who leads the rankings in the hunt for a sixth Race to Dubai title.

While he was beaten by Horschel at Wentworth, McIlroy is once again the man leading the way on the European circuit, having prevailed in both 2022 and 2023. On the back of his victory in September, UOF graduate Horschel only had kind words to say about the four-time major winner.

“Yeah, he’s a really good friend. We go back to Walker Cup in 2007, our head-to-head days,” Horschel said of McIlroy following his BMW PGA Championship win. “I think the world of him. I think he’s the best player in our generation. He’s done so much for the game.

“You see the support he has here; you see the support he has around the world. He has the most crowds and supporters outside of Tiger Woods. He’s great I think for the game of golf. He does so many great things.”