BILLY HORSCHEL CONJURED a moment of magic to close out victory at the PGA Tour’s Memorial Tournament.
The 35-year-old world number 17, who had led by five shots after a dazzling seven-under-par 65 in the third round, endured a nervy final round before battling to a level par 72 to secure victory by four strokes at a sun-baked Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio.
Rory McIlroy also struggled with a closing 74 to finish tied for 18th, while Shane Lowry’s 76 saw him end up on one-over-par for a share of 32nd.
For Horschel, he looked set for a nerve-jangling final three holes after a birdie from playing partner Aaron Wise on the 15th green saw him move to within two shots of the lead.
But Horschel, who had already made crucial putts to save par on the 13th and 14th holes, rolled in a monster 53-foot eagle putt to leap into a four-shot lead with three to play.
That effectively killed off the challenge of Wise and the chasing pack, and although Horschel dropped a shot with a bogey on the 17th, he finished four shots clear with a 72-hole aggregate of 13-under 275, strolling off the 18th green to be congratulated by tournament host and golf icon Jack Nicklaus.
Horschel said afterwards he had taken inspiration from the course management of Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as he attempted to close out the seventh PGA Tour victory of his career.
“Learn from those two and understand that when you have a lead you don’t have to do anything special, just have to make sure you don’t give any shots back,” Horschel said.
“I did give some shots back, which I was upset about. And if I did have to do something special, be ready for it. That eagle on 15 was huge. Aaron had just made birdie so if I didn’t at least birdie it was down to two shots -– so to make an eagle to go four up with three to play, that’s one you shouldn’t cough up, and I didn’t.”
Wise, meanwhile, closed with a 71 to take sole possession of second place on nine under.
Patrick Cantlay and Chile’s Joaquin Niemann tied for third on seven under, six off the lead, after closing 71s.
A cluster of five players -– Max Homa, Will Zalatoris, Denny McCarthy, Sahith Theegala and Daniel Berger -– shared fifth place on six under.
Spain’s Jon Rahm, South Korea’s Im Sung-Jae and Brendan Steele finished 10th on four under.
Australia’s Cameron Smith, meanwhile, who had faded from contention on Saturday, blew up in his final round with a five-over 77 to finish tied for 13th on three under.
When you hear stories of Clare offering Donal Og more money than what he was getting paid by RTE you wonder how this organisation works. Is this an amateur or a professional game? I have zero problem with players/mentors being financially rewarded for the work they do but transparency is needed. The hypocrisy of the GAA is astounding.
Sur Anthony Daly was paid a fortune while in Dublin .Amateur me ring .
Difference is the Dubs. can afford to pay, and I wonder if Clare debt is even managable
Well Davy near broke the Waterford county board few years ago. Money is no object to the man.
Just notice something about that photo. Have rules been changed to allow sponsors’ logos on hurls? Remember the controversy when Paddy Power tried it a fee years ago?
A *few* years ago
Depends who is getting the money. Different stokes for different folks
Mick O Dwyer n Paudi hardly did it for the love of other Counties…€€€€€€€€€