American golfer Billy Horschel is ranked 20th worldwide. He enters the DP World Tour Championship Dubai this Week in second place in Race to Dubai, the season-long points competition on the European Tour. He must pass Collin Morikawa, an American who is second in the world, and leads the Race to Dubai.
If Horschel wins, he would enter elite company in winning the Race to Dubai and the FedEx Cup, the race’s equivalent on the PGA Tour. Henrik Stenson from Sweden is the only winner of both. He won the FedEx Cup and Race to Dubai in 2013, and 2016.
Horschel is a member both of the PGA, and the European Tours. This year he has played four events in Europe: the Scottish Open, the British Open, the BMW PGA Championship, which he won the same week he found out he would not play in the Ryder Cup — and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Horschel stated he was open to his dual tour status, and he has been welcomed by European fans.
The following interview was edited and condensed.
What does your year look like if you win the BMW PGA Championship?
It was a great highlight. It was my first time playing it in 2019. I was in love with it. It was something I saw as a child. It was our first week out of school. I’d watch it and go play afterward. To win there — the support I got was unbelievable. It made me feel like an English golfer, with so many people cheering me on to victory. It is the flagship event of the European Tour and has the same importance as the Players Championship on PGA Tour. Being able to say I’ve won there is important. It can rival any event on PGA Tour. It’s comparable to the majors.
What was your opinion of the Ryder Cup.
I’m ecstatic the U.S. Team won. Although we had many strong teams on paper, these guys were able to produce, as I knew they would. They were all close-knit, but they also knew how much fun to have on the golf course. I wanted to be part of the team, but I knew that I had a very small chance of being selected. I was more upset because I thought I should have been contacted. It was my little knock at the end, but it all worked out in the end.
What do you think of splitting your time between the PGA and European Tours.
The European Tour’s gotten so much tougher. After winning the BMW PGA, I’ve gotten so much support traveling overseas that I’d like to get over more. I’m trying to give myself enough events on the PGA Tour to give myself an opportunity to win the FedEx Cup again. But I’m also trying to support the European Tour and how it’s trying to grow. Over the next five to 10 years, I’m going to try to get over there at least five times, though seven would be ideal.
You are currently in second position in the Race to Dubai. What are you planning to do for the DP World Tour in Dubai?
It’s a pretty unique situation. Race to Dubai has never been won or won by an American. I think Collin and I have a chance to do something that hasn’t been done before. It’s going to be an unbelievable week. It’s going to be a tight race. There are many great players that have the chance of winning the Race to Dubai. To add your name to that prestigious list is something you can’t get away from. I’ve already been thinking about it since I won the BMW PGA.
What does a season-long contest like the Race to Dubai or the FedEx Cup mean to players
I’m always trying to win the tournament. I have no idea where I stand in points. I’m always trying to get better through the year. But in a couple of events, you’re coming down 18 and you don’t have a chance to win, and you say to yourself, “Let’s not do anything stupid and take away a top-five finish.” At the end of the year, one shot can be a massive difference.
Source: NY Times
