TROON, Scotland — Billy Horschel knows from rain at Royal Troon. The eight-time PGA Tour winner played in the British Open the last time it came to the Scottish course, although his appearance was quick and painful. After shooting an opening-round 67 that left him in fourth place after Day 1, Horschel played in howling rain and wind in Round 2, posting an 87 and missing the cut by XX shots.
It’s what makes his play early on Saturday during the third round of the 2024 Open even more impressive, Horschel making four birdies on the front nine to get to six under for the tournament and into a share of the lead.
“I’m a heck of a lot better player than I was in 2016,” Horschel said in a bit of foreshadowing on Friday, “so hopefully if I was in those conditions then, I could handle it a lot better than I did then.”
The rain was so strong during that round eight years ago that Horschel turned his hat around to keep the water from running off the bill of his cap into his eyes. Horschel remembered that specific because he also remembered that the action was panned by fans on social media as being disrespectful.
“I remember I turned my hat backwards about the 14th hole because it was raining so hard,” Then I got blasted on social media for having my hat backwards at the Open Championship.”
Horschel was seen doing it again on Saturday, having decided that the pay off was worth any grief. Besides, he was able to justify it by noting a certain 15-time major winner used to do it on occasion.
“If I remember correctly, I think I’ve seen Tiger do it plenty of times.”
Good enough for Tiger, good enough for Billy.
Is it the British Open or the Open Championship? The name of the final men’s major of the golf season is a subject of continued discussion. The event’s official name, as explained in this op-ed by former R&A chairman Ian Pattinson, is the Open Championship. But since many United States golf fans continue to refer to it as the British Open, and search news around the event accordingly, Golf Digest continues to utilize both names in its coverage.