Billy Horschel
Q: Billy, I’m not so sure what got you more excited, 65 bogey‑free or the Gators knocking off LSU?
BILLY HORSCHEL: The Gators, obviously. I was in control of my golf game and whatever my score was today, I was more worried about this football game and I wanted us to win really bad. I want us to be in the championship games. To be a top team, you’ve got to play for championships. I know we’re going to be going against a stud team Alabama, but it’s nice that they did a good job. Like I said, it was nice to take a little focus off the last few holes just worrying about the football game instead of what I was trying to do.
Q: (Inaudible) from tee through green, you flushed the thing when I was watching you. I feel like given the conditions, that had to be an advantage, right?
BILLY HORSCHEL: Yeah, it really is. I think I’m a really good wind player. I remember this year at the Masters T.A. saw something online that had a survey or top‑10 wind players and they had me in that ranking. So I feel like I’m ‑‑ as a ball striker, you should be able to play well in the wind because you’ve got control over your golf ball, the flight of it. So whenever it’s windy, I feel really good about my chances that day in a sense of moving up in the position where I stand on the leaderboard.
Q: Almost like a home game for you this weekend, your thoughts for tomorrow because you’ve been in contention here before?
BILLY HORSCHEL: Yeah, it is like a home game. T.A. been up here for quite a bit of time, I’ve been working with him for eight years now. I would love to win this thing. Obviously I had a chance in 2011, I didn’t get it done. I think I was more disappointed in the sense of how I acted and how I handled myself on the golf course. It wasn’t the professional manner that I want to be seen in. Whatever happens tomorrow, happens. I just want to make sure that I still control my emotions and represent myself in the way that I should. And if there’s any kids that look up to me, I’m showing them the right way to do it.
Actually, I’m excited about tomorrow. It’s going to be a fun day. I feel really good about where my game is and we’ll see where the cards fall at the end of the day.
Q: Billy, how in control of your game did you feel today? We talked about how Mackenzie Hughes had no bogeys coming into today, but I think you’ve only had one through this tournament, so it seems like you’ve been in control since day one.
BILLY HORSCHEL: Yeah, I have. The great thing is my short game has gotten a lot better so if I do miss a shot, I can get it up and down. But when I’m playing bogey‑free rounds, it’s because of the way I’m striking it. I’ve been a ball striker my entire life. I’m one that can control my golf ball in any type of conditions, and finally for the first time in almost 18 months I feel really comfortable over the golf ball with what Todd and I are trying to do. We got in some bad habits. We got to where I was swinging 18 months ago when I won the FedExCup and we’re excited about it because my putting’s improved, my short game’s improved and my wedge play’s improved. So with that, if I can just strike the ball with the ability I have, then I should be able to play better and to a higher level that I think everyone around me knows I can.
Q: Winning big golf tournaments in your experience here, how much is that worth tomorrow?
BILLY HORSCHEL: Oh, I think it’s huge. Obviously there’s some young guys up there on the leaderboard that haven’t been in ‑‑ obviously they’ve won other times but out on the PGA TOUR it’s a little bit different. Obviously Camilo’s up there and he’s won big events as well.
But it all depends on what kind of conditions we get. If we get similar conditions to today, it’s going to be ‑‑ I would love to have similar conditions today because I think the better player shows up in these conditions. But, you know, it’s just going to be one of those days where it’s an emotional field and you’re just going to have to go with ebbs and flows and hopefully you can control your game well enough to get the job done. Like I said, I’m excited.
The big thing is, as I’ve talked about this week, 2011 I had a chance. I didn’t handle myself in the way I needed to and I’ve changed in five years. And so for me to go out tomorrow and show the people in the Sea Island, Saint Simons, southeast Georgia, north Florida community that I’m a better person than I was five years ago and the way I can handle myself, and I would love to be looked up to from little kids in the sense that he’s a good player but he handles himself the right way on the golf course. So that’s a big thing for me and that’s what I’ve been focusing on, just controlling my emotions. I think that’s what’s been allowing me to stay so calm and play so well the last couple days.
Q: How many scores a round do you think you got?
BILLY HORSCHEL: No, I didn’t get one at 11. Actually yeah, I did. First one was 11 when it was 7‑3. Next one came at 14, and then Micah told me when I walked off the green at 16 that it was 13‑10. Mark gave me an update on 18 tee, that was 16‑10, and then on 18.
Q: Who’s Mark?
BILLY HORSCHEL: Immelman. I was looking at Mark and I was looking at my parents and Todd because they had their phones out looking at what was going on. So I’m trying to figure out who was going to give you me the information first.
Q: Are they afraid to not get in your way when you’re playing golf?
BILLY HORSCHEL: No, I’m really in control of my golf game so I don’t have to worry about that.
