BMW Championship: Billy Horschel comes out on top in Colorado. 125,000 spectators flock to the debut of the penultimate PGA TOUR Playoff in Denver.

Denver. Billy Horschel claimed the biggest title of his career so far at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. The American won the BMW Championship in Denver with a score of -14 after an impressive display over the weekend. The 27-year-old from Florida laid the foundation for his success on Saturday, when he opened a three-shot lead over the world-class field at the third of four FedExCup Playoff events. He then produced a nerveless display on the demanding course at Cherry Hills Country Club on Sunday. Horschel, who receives a winner’s cheque for 1.44 million US dollars as reward for his second win on the PGA TOUR, climbed 18 places into second in the FedExCup rankings. Having finished runner-up at the second Playoff tournament six days ago, Horschel is the form player going into the TOUR Championship and one of the favourites to secure overall FedExCup victory.

“It means a lot to win,” said Horschel. “I hope it is another step towards something bigger and greater down the road. Hopefully this win will give me some added confidence. I want to be where the Rory McIlroys, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelsons, Bubba Watsons and the guys winning majors are. Hopefully this will be a regular trip to Denver, because a lot of fans came out this weekend and supported us. It’s a great place.

Although the iconic golf course in the “Mile High City” was playing relatively short, due to the high altitude and the fact that the balls consequently fly much further, the greens posed a genuine challenge for the top 70 players in the FedExCup. Horschel aside, Masters champion Bubba Watson (USA, -12) coped best with this challenge in front of 125,000 thrilled spectators.  Third place went to young American Morgan Hoffmann (-11), who shone with rounds of 62 and 63 on the weekend and climbs from 68th to 21st in the FedExCup on the back of this result. As such, Hoffmann is among the 30 players to have qualified for the season finale in Atlanta.

Americans Jim Furyk, Rickie Fowler and Ryan Palmer finished tied in fourth place on nine under par, along with the best-placed European at this year’s tournament, Sergio García (Spain). U.S. Open champion Martin Kaymer (GER, -5) was 16th and will now make the first appearance of his career at the TOUR Championship.

World number one Rory McIlroy (NIR, -8) was unable to regain the title he won at the 2012 BMW Championship. The reigning BMW PGA Champion dropped a total of 12 shots on the 12th green on the weekend: two four-putts from close range cost him a better result than eighth place – a position the Northern Irishman shared with world number two Adam Scott (AUS) and Jordan Spieth (USA). Despite this, the four-time Major winner remains on course for FedExCup success – he is now fourth in the rankings, putting him among the five players with their fate in their own hands: victory at the final tournament of the season, this week’s TOUR Championship in Atlanta, would present any of the McIlroy, Horschel, Watson, Chris Kirk (USA, +1, T36 ) and Hunter Mahan (USA, +7, T59) with overall FedExCup victory, regardless of other results.

This year will once again see a new FedExCup champion crowned. Last year’s winner Henrik Stenson (SWE, -3, T23) ended the BMW Championship ranked 52nd, meaning he has not qualified for the season finale in 23rd place, putting him in 52nd place in the he has not qualified for the season finale. Since the Playoff system was introduced in 2007, no player has ever defended his title. After a long season consisting of 31 tournaments, Stenson now has a welcome break before he attempts to help the European team successfully defend the Ryder Cup in Scotland at the end of September.