Billy Horschel has claimed the DP World Tour is the second-best circuit in the world behind the PGA Tour, snubbing LIV Golf.

Horschel is in action on the DP World Tour this week, with the American competing in the circuit’s season finale in Dubai at the Earth Course. The 37-year-old currently finds himself 12 in the Race to Dubai Rankings following a successful stint in Europe which included a second win at the BMW PGA Championship.

Horschel prevailed in the DP World Tour’s flagship event ahead of European No. 1 Rory McIlroy, after defeating the Northern Irishman in a dramatic playoff at Wentworth.

Horschel has been an avid supporter of the European-based tour for some time now and pledged his backing behind them ahead of their finale in Dubai this week. “I support this tour,” he claimed. “I love this tour. I think the world of this tour. But at the same time, I don’t support this tour 20-plus events out of the year.

“Obviously, the PGA Tour is where I play mostly but I want to make sure that these guys understand how special this tour is, how special I think it is, and then what I think of them as golfers. I think they are really great players out here. I think it’s honestly — and quality and talent-wise, I think it’s the second-best tour in the world, and you see it on a regular basis.

“And the more I come over here the more, I’m impressed by the way these guys play on TV, I always have but when you see it in person you get a better perspective of the players.” Horschel’s decision to rank the DP World Tour behind the PGA Tour, but ahead of LIV comes after one of the European circuit’s former players offered an opposing view.

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Billy Horschel defeated Rory McIlroy

Billy Horschel defeated Rory McIlroy ( 

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Six-time DP World Tour winner and former Ryder Cup competitor Thomas Pieters joined the LIV setup at the beginning of 2023, and he believes the breakaway league is a long way ahead of his former tour. “Coming from the DP World Tour, the standard of golf is ten times better than what I used to play,” he told Gulf News earlier this year.

“You can’t hide out here. As you can see from my results, I haven’t had the best year – if you’re average or have a bad week you’re going to finish last or in the last five which sucks, but that’s just the way it is. LIV is getting very strong.” Horschel will of course have differing views, and he believes venturing onto the DP World Tour has made him a better golfer.

“Oh, by far a better golfer,” he said. “I think I’ve improved my game in conditions like playing in The Open Championship and going and playing Dunhill and doing that more often. I’ve become a lot better of a person, I guarantee you that, by having to understand different cultures.

“Try to communicate with people that may not speak English as well or I may not speak their language as well, so you try to communicate that way. Listen, it’s made me a better person all around, as well as in my golf game.”