Four weeks ago he was number 69 in the standings, he had not made it past the cut in the first round of the Playoffs, he was good, but emotional and looked destined to remain one of the many soldiers who fell in the trenches in the weekly battles of the North American professional golf tour. Yesterday, however, wide-eyed Billy Horschel, 28 years old, born in Grant in Florida, won the Tour Championship and the FedexCup, the richest prize in world golf: 10 million bonuses plus 1,440 million for the tournament, plus 1,440 million of last week at the BMW and what was due to the runner-up at the previous tournament. Yes, because in the last 20 days, something clicked in Horschel's head. Out of 4 Playoffs he missed the cut in the first, narrowly finished second the following week and won the last two, beating direct competitors like world number one Rory McIlroy and veteran Jim Furyk, 44, former FedexCup winner In 2010.
In short, an illustrious unknown won the stars and stripes golf championship thanks to the mechanism that, after an entire season, resets everything and distributes the points to the first 125 in the standings so that anyone can race for the grand finale. It is the first time that the FedexCup has gone to those outside the top 20. It is an unfair system, because it reduces the 12-month work, the weight of the majors and the world championships, but also perfect, because it forces the "stars ” to play, keeps the viewer glued to the screen and leaves each final open until the last, even offering a boy from the rear, with a lot of stuff in his backpack, the chance to raise the coveted cup to heaven.
Horshel has been a professional since 2009, in the early years he repeatedly lost and regained the tour card. In 2013 he won his first tournament in New Orleans, this year he never got on the podium, but he won a dozen top ten finishes and in the end, at the right time, he was able to unleash his best golf. In the last race he made practically no mistakes, he was able to keep his composure and concentration, while wearing pants that made him look more like a clown than a golf pro. His direct rival was world number one Rory McIlroy, a 25-year-old boy who has already won 4 majors, two this year, the designated heir to Tiger Woods, one who inspires a certain amount of fear and respect. Horshel, however, didn't let himself be intimidated, he hit the ball well and unsheathed the putter like a sword, always sinking the ball into the hole at the right time. Chapeau! “Billy this week – says McIlroy – played great, best golf on the course”.
Paradoxically, the new king of the American tour will not participate in the Ryder Cup, scheduled for September 26th. Captain Tom Watson had to close his list before Billy's extraordinary performances and the American team risks finding themselves without the man in better shape than him. For the interested party it is not a drama, given that his wife Brittany is waiting for him at home, about to give birth. “It is the happiest moment of my life – she says – even more than the degree, important in a family without any doctor”. The first hug, at the end of yesterday's long day, was for mum and dad.
Season closed therefore for the PGA tour, which will soon reopen the dances in October for the 2014-2015 calendar. The European tour is still in full swing. Yesterday the 37-year-old Englishman Paul Casey finally returned to victory in Holland, 13 victories to his credit on the circuit, conquered above all between 2009 and 2010. Edoardo Molinari, 11th place, was the best of the Italians in the field, while the critical phase of Matteo Manassero continues who, once again, did not pass the cut.
