Thank-you Billy Horschel, thanks for finally closing out Scottie Scheffler and putting an end to one great big giant Sunday snooze-fest that was also known as the finals of the 2021 WGC Match Play.
And what exactly was Billy’s secret to success, the key to him getting an individual PGA Tour win for the first time since the 2017 Byron Nelson?
It was simple: “I had two opponents today who didn’t make any putts and that was the difference,” Horschel said of his 3-and-2 semi-final win over Victor Perez and a 2-and-1 decision over Scottie Scheffler in the championship match. Horschel added that he won without his best stuff: “I was just grinding it out,” said the man who can really grind for a score when needed. “So much emotion, so many turns of the tides out there,” Horschel said of his afternoon’s work at Austin Country Club that bagged him an eye-popping $1,820,000.
Things started out well enough for Scheffler, who is still looking for that first Tour win. Horschel got his drive at the par four second heading too far left and it went deep into the hazard. Horschel’s bogey gave Scheffler a quick lead. But it only lasted a few holes until Horschel pitched in for birdie at the par four fifth to square it then went 1-up when Scheffler bogeyed the par three seventh. From that point, Horschel never trailed.
It became an exercise in viewing boredom as that birdie at the fifth was Horschel first and last of the match. Scheffler lost because he made only one and he probably wouldn’t have made the 34-footer for birdie that Horschel conceded after Billy took that bogey on the second hole. That was it, two players, 17 holes, one real birdie, one “fake” one.
Scheffler displayed an array of problems under pressure, main among them the big left miss off the tee ball. There was one point where the 24-year-old second-year player could have flipped the match and that came at the par five 12th. Horschel hit a good drive, a nice layup and put the pressure on Scottie. The tall Texan then pulled his second badly, into the water and found himself about 10 feet for par after his fourth. Horschel opened the door for Scheffler with a third that sailed long, into a deep bunker behind the green. “I f#@ked up,” Horschel immediately said to his caddie.
Horschel’s fourth finished 18 feet past the hole and he would take bogey. If Scheffler could hole the 10-footer, he’d win the hole and find himself just one-down with six holes to play. Didn’t happen. He missed again from inside five feet for birdie and a potential win at 14. Big left misses, and missed putts — a simple formula for defeat in match play.
And that’s how it went down on a windy Austin afternoon where there was evidently a prohibition on birdies.
Scottie picked up $1,150,000 for his key blunders, he did manage that 1-up win over Matt Kuchar in the morning semi-final.
And speaking of Kooch The Caddie Mooch, he managed to out-play Victor Perez in a snoozer of a consolation match and collected $740,000 for his 2-and-1 win. Victor had to console himself with a swift $600,000 and that’s like a first-place check on the European Tour.
Most of all, it was Slumber Sunday in Austin. A simply dreadful, unwatchable afternoon of par after par after par. Horschel was one-over through 17 holes and you’d figure when you’re over par on the final day of a regular stroke event on the PGA Tour — you’re not winning. Scheffler was two-over through 17 holes and he didn’t win.
Things were fine as long as there were a lot of matches happening, as there were the first four days.
But this four-players on the course stuff on Sunday?
Bah, Humbug!
12 Comments
Brus282
“Kooch The Caddie Mooch” you sure like to disparage some of these pros don’t you? Who made you God of all you report? We readers don’t need nor want extra drama reporting. Yes, it was a boring event, also match play can be boring sometimes. So is life, sometimes.
Tom Edrington
We thought it was disparaging for Kuchar to win $1.4 million then pay his local caddie $3,000…..so did the rest of the golf world, Kuchar’s camp told him so and he ended up paying “El Tucan” after the fact only because of pressure from EVERYWHERE, so there were thousands who felt as I do, Kuchar showed his true colors, a guy worth more than $40 million who just won more than a million not willing to make a fair payday that would literally change one man’s life. So know, I am not “God” of anything, simply a good observer of human nature. No “extra drama” there as you claim, simply the facts as they went down, sir. Sorry your life is “boring.”
RM
FWIW, Tom, I enjoy the pointed commentary and hope you keep calling them as you see them.
Tom Edrington
Thanks RM, always good to see you. Sadly, everyone was afraid to make birdies; Did notice that some of the UT fans hollering for Scheffler made some rude comments to Horschel and Scheffler, in a display of great sportsmanship, apologized to Billy even though it was not fault of his. Scottie’s gotta work on that left miss, it’s what happens when he’s under pressure. He’s got a lot of game, for sure, but perhaps learned that you need to make the big putts at big moments and I can’t help but thinking how the course of the match might have shifted had he made the 10-footer at 12 to actually win the hole after dunking his second in the water.
baxter cepeda
The final day was great. Imo.
The wind made it so. Billy and sheffler were awesome in those tough conditions.
Golf is not boring sans 7 Routine birdies a day. It’s better without that.
These boys played very good golf in those conditions. Not to mention pressure.
The semis and finals were must see for me.
All I know is regardless of who is playing; regardless of scoring; regardless of anything I have a much easier time getting my people to watch a little more match play then stroke play. Everyone is constantly wondering what’s going to happen on every hole for every match.
It’s alwesome.
I get in today’s era where even old guys have ADD some people will get bored but fir me the attention on less matches makes it better. But as i keep saying all they need are more consolation matches.
If they are having 20 tour pros play on Friday for no chance then All 16 guys whom makes the weekend should keep playing until Sunday afternoon for varying checks, points, etc.
But again that match was great. I loved the way Billy gave a 30 footer early. Why? I think to ice that putter a bit.
Billy was awesome. He pushed all the right buttons to win what feels like the 5th most important tournament in golf. If nothing else It is the premier match play event in the world and the gritty; super fiery but friendly Billy Horshel took his legacy to a whole new level as a result.
Tom Edrington
Baxter, we’ll agree to disagree, I was totally bored and could have gotten back into it but when Scottie didn’t make the 10-footer to win the hole on 12, well, the final six holes were a waste of time….he even missed a 4 1/2 footer!!! UGLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.
baxter cepeda
Pressure pressure.
Experience paid off in those final 2 matches.
But We got 6 1/2 rounds of thrilling golf and 9 holes of that dreaded pressure to win in tough conditions.
Sheffler looked like a 24 year old non-pga tour winner coming down the stretch.
That’s golf. It’s a beautiful thing.
Tom Edrington
I still believe the best place for match play is the Ryder Cup, not the PGA Tour.
baxter cepeda
Sure but The Ryder cup is better than every event run by the pga tour. The tour thinks forcing a 5th major may change that. It won’t.
The Ryder cup is arguably top 2 or 3 best events in golf….behind the Masters of course.
Tom Edrington
Totally with you on that Baxter!
RM
Didn’t see as much as I wanted to but I am a fan of Billy Horschel and was glad to see him get back in the winner’s circle, especially on this tough, out of the box tournament.
Tom Edrington
Billy’s overall experience showed on Sunday; Some forget this guy has won the FedEx Cup.