American star says Presidents Cup snub ‘hurts’

The United States team for the upcoming Presidents Cup is all set – and, once again, there’s no place in the 12-man line-up for Billy Horschel. 

The eight-time PGA Tour winner – who led going into the final round of this year’s Open Championship at Royal Troon – missed out on one of captain Jim Furyk’s six picks for this month’s clash at The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Canada.

Horschel, 37, finished 17th in qualifying for the match and misses out along with the likes of Jutin Thomas, Akshay Bhatia and Chris Kirk.

As an amateur, Horschel played on two Palmer Cup sides and a Walker Cup team but has managed only one Presidents Cup appearance in 2022 since turning professional.

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Speaking to the Golf Channel’s Matt Adams shortly before Furyk revealed his six picks earlier today, his disappointment at having been overlooked for yet another US side was evident.

“Jim gave me a call yesterday morning,” he revealed. “I’m not getting picked. If I was going to get picked I wouldn’t tell you, but no, Jim gave me a call yesterday morning.

“Jim is a great friend, he’s been an unbelievable role model for me, Both Britanny [Horschel’s wife] and I are big fans of him and Tabitha [Furyk’s wife]. They have given us a lot of advice to us throughout the years.

“The reason we are so involved in our local community is because of them and what they’ve done in the North East Florida community, so we are big fans of theirs and I respect Jim tremendously.”

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Horschel added: “He gave me a call, he said I played hard but it just wasn’t meant to be. I I didn’t expect to make this team. I knew I was way down the list. I know made a little push at the end.

“But listen, it hurts because Jim is a good friend. I wanted to make the Ryder Cup team in 2018 and I wanted to make this Presidents Cup team because he was the captain.

“It’s just not on the cards for me this year but I’m going to play really hard next year and be a part of the Ryder Cup and Keegan’s team next year.”

The US travels to Canada looking to win the Presidents Cup for a tenth consecutive time.

Michael McEwan is bunkered's Head of Content and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Head of Content