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ARDMORE, Pa. — Billy Horschel knows he doesn’t have the most patience in the world, so he just decided to go absolutely historic and not miss a single green in yesterday’s second round of the U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club.
For the first time since the USGA started keeping the stat, a player hit all 18 greens in regulation in the national championship. In doing so, Horschel tied for low round of the tournament with a 3-under 67, his two-round total of 1-under tying him with Phil Mickelson for the clubhouse lead.
“Yeah, 66 sounded better,” Horschel joked, “but I three-”‘putted No. 13.”
That was the single mistake for the 26-year-old Floridian, who picked up his first PGA Tour win earlier this year in New Orleans. After four All-American years at the University of Florida, Horschel turned professional in 2009 and struggled to keep his hot temper under wraps.
It came to an ugly head two years ago, when Horschel came to the final nine holes of the McGladrey Classic and collapsed into a fury of expletives and wayward shots. About a year ago, he started working with sports psychologist Fran Pirozzolo, and things have settled down quite a bit.
“Patience is something that has always been a struggle for me,” Horschel said. “I’m doing a really good job of it this week, staying patient and just taking what’s in front of me. I’m trying to keep a smile on my face and be happy with anything I do. If I can execute every shot, that’s all I can try to do out there this week.”
Horschel was halted Thursday after seven holes with ugly weather and darkness leaving him a 2-over score to sleep on. But unlike times in the past, he didn’t let the result bother him and eat away at his competitive psyche.
“I wasn’t upset at all,” he said. “I don’t have the most patience as a lot of guys out here, but I’ve grown week in and week out.”
Instead of dwelling on the missteps, he came out and played the final 11 holes of his opening round at even par, finishing with a two-over 72.
He then turned right around and fired a blistering second round, evoking great U.S. Open rounds of the past.
“I was not in the zone, trust me,” Horschel said. “This golf course, even though it’s soft, is still a tough golf course.”
Originally, it was thought David Graham hit all 18 greens in his Open victory at Merion in 1981. But the USGA did some digging, and realized Graham putted after each approach shot, missing the 15th green on its fringe. Johnny Miller hit all 18 greens in his historic final-round 63 at Oakmont in 1973, before greens in regulation was an official stat.
“I didn’t know I hit every green until I walked off 18,” Horschel said. “It’s a cool thing. But like I said, it’s not the first time I’ve hit all 18 greens. I’ve done it plenty of times in my career. Obviously it’s at a U.S. Open, but I think the softness of the greens helped that.”