Brevard’s Billy Horschel Wins FedExCup, $10M

ABOVE VIDEO: Billy Horschel was inducted in the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame in May 2014 and is a four-time All-American at the University of Florida. Only five players in Gator history have received the award four times.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – Firing a final-round 2-under-par 68, the Space Coast’s Billy Horschel defeated Rory McIlroy and Jim Furyk by 3 strokes to win The Tour Championship by Coca-Cola, the finale of the FedExCup Playoffs – and an incredible $10 million  bonus.

Horschel’s total earnings were $11.44 million , including $1.44 for winning his first Tour Championship as well as the $10-million bonus for winning the FedExCup.

Horschel and his wife Brittany are expecting the arrival of  a baby girl within the next two weeks.

“Babe I hope you’re doing well and have fun watching,” Horschel told his pregnant wife in a phone message the night before the most important round of golf of his life. “I’m playing my heart out for you.”

The red hot Horschel picked a perfect time to play the best golf of his life, as he hit fairway after fairway and was rock solid with his short game. In the final few holes, Furyk tied the score with a great up and down on the 14th hole, as Horschel hit his second shot on the 15th into the sand trap.

Horschel played the most important sand wedge shot of his life perfectly, within three feet of the hole, for a chance at a birdie. Horschel sunk the crucial putt, to once again take the lead again at 11 under par. His tee shot off the 486-yard 16th hole went off line and into the rough on the right side of the fairway, causing tremors among his supporters.

Horschel’s ball landed on an up-slope and in a partial tire track, causing Horschel to ask an official “Do I have anything,” inquiring about relief. “No” was the response from the official. He intelligently laid up on the fairway, leaving himself a short chip to the green. His third shot was 97 yards from the hole, but he left it short, and around 30 foot from the hole, for a very tough par.

SANK MONSTER PUTT

With incredible mental toughness, concentration and talent, Horschel sank the monster putt, air punching twice with delight, as he made a gutsy par to maintain his one shot lead. Furyk’s second shot on the 17th was short and left, after perhaps hearing the massive roar of the crowd as Horschel sank his putt a short distance away.

Meanwhile Rose and Day were hovering at 7 under. Horschel’s drive off the 17th tee was clutch and perfectly placed down the right side, while Furyk bogeyed the 17th, to fall back to two shots behind.

Horschel’s second left him just 15 feet for a birdie but he missed it just left for a par. Furyk had a 31 foot putt for a birdie on the 18th but missed left, leaving himself a six foot putt for par, which he missed for a bogey.

POISE AND INTELLIGENT GOLF

Horschel had a three shot lead driving off the 18th tee and in a dream position to win the $10 million FedExCup prize. With great poise, he smartly used his three iron to leave the ball just 29 feet from the hole.

As Horschel tipped his hat to the applauding crowd, he approached his putt and smiled a relaxed and confident smile.

Tapping in for par, Horschel won it all and a combined $11.4 million. Horschel now looks forward to a new-born baby and an incredibly bright future as one the best golfers in the world.

ORIGINAL POST: Billy Horschel Enters Sunday With FedExCup Inside Track

By Brian Wacker, PGATOUR.COM

ATLANTA — How difficult will it be for Billy Horschel to not think of the $10 million bonus that comes with wining the FedExCup?

“It’s not the easiest thing in the world,” Horschel admitted Saturday after a 69 to share the the lead with Rory McIlroy through 54 holes of the season-ending TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola.

“But at the same time whenever I think about that, I’ve got to understand that for me to reach that goal, I have to win the TOUR Championship.  That’s my mind-set, I have to win the TOUR Championship to win that $10 million.”

Technically, he doesn’t.

---

MORE FEDEXCUP: Projected standings | Winning scenarios | Playoffs Tracker | Past Champions

---

Horschel, who came into the week second in the standings, can still win the FedExCup if he finishes anywhere from second to sixth (see chart below) and McIlroy or Chris Kirk (tied for seventh, four shots back) don’t win the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola.

McIlroy, meanwhile, isn’t thinking about the money that’s at stake. He hasn’t since his first year as a professional when he finished third at the Dunhill Links Championship and saw his bank balance.

“I was like oh my goodness,” McIlroy said. “It’s crazy to think about now.”

Instead McIlroy, who shot 67 Saturday, is more concerned with capping off what has already been a great year that has included two major championships and a World Golf Championships title.

“I’m just trying to win another tournament,” he said. “But obviously I know what comes along with the FedExCup and cash and all the rest of it.

“It’s just another chance to win another big tournament, and I really want to take advantage of that.”

Like Horschel, there are a number of scenarios in which McIlroy, who entered the Playoffs fourth in the standings, can still win the FedExCup even if he doesn’t win the tournament on Sunday. See below for more

Here’s a closer look at the projected top 5:

Similar Stories