McIlroy misses out on 6 mln-pounds FedEx Cup bonanza as Horschel clinches Tour Championship

Billy Horschel beat Northern Irish golf ace Rory McIlroy to the 6 million pounds FedEx Cup prize as the American clinched the Tour Championship and secured the overall title.

The Open and US PGA champion needed to win in Atlanta to secure the bonus, but having been overnight co-leader with Horschel he saw his hopes fade with a double bogey and three other dropped shots on Sunday.

McIlroy finished tied for second on eight under, with Horschel on 11 under. Fellow American Jim Furyk was also tied second, with Justin Rose tied fourth, the BBC reported.

World number one McIlroy made a double bogey on the sixth before three consecutive bogeys from the ninth, although he finished his round with three successive birdies and a par.

McIlroy, who was competing in his eighth tournament in 10 weeks, said that it was a week too far, and added that he was making mistakes that he does not normally make.

But, McIlroy said that Horschel deserved the win, adding that the American played the best golf.

Horschel said that he is on cloud nine, and added that it is just unbelievable, everything that's happened the last two weeks, and especially having a kid on the way. He said that he is not sure life can be better than this.

American Chris Kirk had led the overall competition going into the Atlanta tournament, but suffered a poor third round when he shot a 71 to drop from tied second to seventh.

He eventually finished the Tour Championship tied for fourth on seven under alongside England's Rose and Australia's Jason Day, the report added.