While it was a relatively calm morning at Royal Troon, conditions were looking quite dire on the Scottish course late on Saturday night.
Despite the pouring rain that nearly everyone struggled to endure, Billy Horschel managed to take the win.
After displaying a stellar short game down the backside, Horschel shot a 2-under 69 to move to 4-under for the week, one stroke ahead of the other players heading into the final round of the British Open and in the running to finally win his first major championship and the Claret Jug.
Horschel, who spent most of the day wearing his hat backwards, made a big move over the first nine holes. He quickly moved into the mix with four birdies over the last six holes. After making the turn and the weather worsening, Horschel persevered.
After a bogey on the par-4 11th, Horschel saved par on the 14th hole with an up-and-down shot from the side of a deep pot bunker to stay in the lead, did the same on the 16th hole from an even worse spot in the bunker, burying his ball deep in the sand, and then nearly chipped in on the 17th hole with five consecutive up-and-down shots.
Horschel bogeyed the 18th hole and finished with a 2-under 69.
“I’ve always embraced the rigors of everything I do. I’ve always had fun, and I think that’s the best way to play well,” Horschel said. “I like to hit little bunt shots. I’m bored of golf where you take a full swing, lean to a certain number and then stop. I like it when I have to get creative and find a way around the golf course, and I think I’ve always been good at that for the most part.”
Daniel Brown, who had led from day one, was on the verge of taking the lead after 54 holes. His round was a bit shaky, but he started the 18th hole in the final group with a one-stroke lead. But after hitting a fairway bunker, he had to settle for a double bogey to fall to three under. The 29-year-old Brown is playing in his first major championship. If he wins on Sunday, he will be the first Englishman to win his first British Open since Horace Rollins in 1895.
But with five players at three under par, the Claret Jug is still up for grabs. Tristan Lawrence and Sam Burns, who were at six under par, are in the mix along with Russell Henley, Xander Schauffele and Justin Rose. Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler is in eighth place at two under par, while Shane Lowry, who briefly led by three strokes but collapsed late in the round, is at one under par.
Horschel has won eight times on the PGA Tour, including the Corals Punta Cana Championship earlier this season, but has never won a major championship. The closest he came was in 2013, when he finished tied for fourth at the U.S. Open. He has never finished better than tied for 21st at the British Open.
Horschel has never been in a better position to win a major title, but given the state of the leaderboard and the positive outlook going into Sunday’s round, he’ll have to work even harder to ultimately accomplish the feat.
“What I’ve done this year, and what I’ve done better this week, or tried to do better, is every night before I go to bed I picture myself holding the trophy, I picture myself on the 18th hole holding it and going out in front of the crowd and being celebrated as the British Open champion,” Horschel said.
“We’re going to do that again tonight and hopefully we can get it done tomorrow.”
