Golf: Billy Horschel Leads Valero Texas Open By Two

If I didn’t know any better, I would think 27-year-old PGA Tour rookie, and University of Florida Grad, Billy Horschel was on a mission to get to Augusta next week. The only way the 132nd ranked Horschel can get there is win The Valero Texas Open. That’s the only remaining ticket for someone who doesn’t already have an invitation to the year’s first major.

January 27, 2013; La Jolla, CA, USA; Billy Horschel reacts after his chip shot for eagle goes wide on the sixth hole during the third round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. Mandatory Credit: Photo By Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

After starting his round on Friday on The AT&T Oaks Golf Course at the J.W. Marriott Resort in San Antonio with a couple of bogeys, Horschel got his putter rolling again like he did his last week in Houston, and got himself on the birdie train. He made a hat trick starting at the fifth hole, and made the turn at -1 under 35. He made three more on the back nine, including 17 and 18 to take a two shot lead over the rest of the field.

"“Today, I knew there was not going to be very much wind, so you had to take advantage of this golf course,” Horschel said. “I warmed up really well; probably hit the best I have on the range in a month-and-a-half before a round.”"

Horschel jumped from 55th to 21st in the FedEx Cup standings after a second-place finish at last week’s Shell Houston Open. His golf game has gotten much better as of late, especially after spending two days playing with Tiger Woods in the crazy finish at the fog-shortened Farmers Open at Torrey Pines. Horschel has made the cut in all nine of the events he’s entered this year, extending his TOUR-best streak to 21 made cuts in a row, but he has yet to win a PGA TOUR event.

He’s going to need all the tricks he learned from the Worlds number one if he wants a victory here on Sunday. He has made the cut in all nine of the events he’s entered this year, extending his TOUR-best streak to 21 made cuts in a row, but he has yet to win a PGA TOUR event. If he expects to get to Augusta next week, he will have to beat a pretty strong field, including holders of seven major championships who are close. Rory McIlroy, Jim Furyk, Retief Goosen and Lee Janzen.

"“I couldn’t care less if they’ve won majors or not, honestly,” Horschel said. “I know they’re good players and what they’ve done, but I feel I’m a good player in my own right."

I played in a Gator Alumni Booster tournament a few years back that included Billy Horschel, and I am pulling for him to get that elusive victory. I think, once he gets that first one, there will be many more to come. Since overcoming some physical issues, he seems to have his game on track, and all he needs to do now is win that first one. It would be nice if he got it this weekend in Texas, then he can play his next week in Augusta.

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