Rory McIlroy suffered playoff agony in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth but insists he’s excited for the future despite racking up his fourth runner-up finish this year.

Just a week after being denied the Irish Open by a fast finishing Rasmus Hojgaard at Royal County Down, the Holywood star gave himself a chance to win outright when he eagled the 17th from 50 feet.

But while he failed to make birdie at the last to win for the fourth time this season and admitted he was lucky not to find water, he birdied both playoff holes only to lose out to Billy Horschel’s brilliant eagle three.

“I'm excited for the future,” said McIlroy, who has had four runner-up finishes this year alone and 34 in his career — one more than Pádraig Harrington.

“I'm playing well, keep giving myself chances. You know, only two people have beaten me in the last two weeks, or not even one person, I guess, in terms of scores.

“So I’m happy with I'm playing. I just have to dust myself off and get ready for for my last three events of the year.”

McIlroy went into the final round three shots behind Matteo Manassero but while he admitted he was scrappy on the front nine, he played the back nine in four-under and just got beaten by a brilliant putter in Horschel.

“Last week was a tough one,” he said of the Irish Open where he almost eagled the 72 hle to force a playoff. “I left there with my head held high with the way I played the last hole trying to make three, and then yeah, I mean, played the playoff holes perfectly, really, a couple of birdies.”

“But it just shows the standard out here. If you slip up just a little bit or don't make a birdie on a crucial hole, someone is always waiting to take advantage of that and look, I had my chance in regulation.

“I had a really awkward yardage for my second. Tried to turn a 4-iron over. I mean, I was lucky that it didn't go in the water. Still had and up-and-down to win in regulation but I was pretty lucky the ball stayed up and I could make par and get into the playoff.”