The 2022 Memorial was Billy Horschel’s to win or lose on Sunday at Muirfield Village and he chose to win it with a spectacular eagle at the 15th that paved the road to victory at Jack Nicklaus’ event.
After he shot a seven-under par 67 on moving day, Horschel found himself at 13-under par, five shots clear of his closest competitors. But winning on the PGA Tour is never easy, even with big leads. That was on display at the PGA, where Justin Thomas came from seven behind to win then again last week when Sam Burns came from seven back to upend Scottie Scheffler at Colonial.
The going was tough for Horschel, who missed a birdie putt from six feet at the first hole then made bogey at the par four sixth to make the turn one-over. His playing partner, Aaron Wise, applied some heat with birdies at the 10th and 11th. Horschel defining moment came at the 13th and 14th holes. He holed a pressure-packed 11-footer to save par at 13 then coaxed in another par save from eight feet at 14.
At the par five 15th, Horschel put together a solid drive then found the putting surface from 257 out albeit 53 feet from the hole. A two-putt would put victory within reach but instead, his eagle attempt curved its way to the hole then fell into the cup for eagle. That took him to 14-under par, one-under for the round and four shots clear of Wise with just three holes left.
A pair of pars then a perfect drive and good approach into 18 had his family on their feet.
“It’s special — it truly is,” Horschel said after shaking hands with tournament host Nicklaus. “My wife and kids have never been to any of my victories,” Horschel said. “It’s pretty special.”
Horschel’s putter was special down the stretch with the par savers at 13 and 14 then the bomb for the win-clinching eagle at 15.
“I’ve watched Tiger (Woods) play enough — when you have a lead, you don’t have to do anything special unless someone else does,” Horschel explained. And there was nothing special happening around him as none of the players closest to him went low. Muirfield Village played so tough that only only player among the top five managed to break 70 and that was Max Homa, whose 69 got him to six-under and a tie for fifth.
The win for Horschel was his seventh on the PGA Tour and his sixth individual title.
Kevin Na Resigns His PGA Tour Membership For LIV Series:
Kevin Na did what independent contractors are supposed to do when they want to change companies — they resign from their current spot and move on to the new one.
Na became the first player to actually resign and surrender his playing privileges on the PGA Tour. Other current Tour members, including 13th-ranked Dustin Johnson, have entered the LIV Series opener in London this coming week but have not submitted a resignation to the PGA Tour.
Na had played in 455 PGA Tour events and won five times.
His statement following his resignation said:
“For 19 years, I’ve played on the PGA Tour and I have loved every minute of it. I appreciate the platform the tour has provided me to play the game that I love and for the opportunities that have come with it.
“Recent developments in the professional golf world have given me a chance to reconsider my options. I would like the freedom to play where I want and exercising my right as a free agent gives me that opportunity. However to remain a PGA Tour player, I must give up my right to make these choices about my career. If I exercise my right to choose were and when I play golf, then I cannot remain a PGA Tour player without facing disciplinary proceedings and legal action from the PGA Tour.
“I am sad to share that I have chosen to resign from the PGA Tour. This has not been an easy decision and not one I take lightly. I hope the current policies change and I’ll be able to play on the PGA Tour again.”
