DUBLIN, Ohio – Where does one start with the superlative numbers Billy Horschel has put together through three rounds of The Memorial?
The 7-under 65 in Saturday’s third round under bright skies, which was two shots clear of the next best round turned in?
The five-shot lead he takes into the final round, just one shot shy of the largest 54-hole lead in tournament history held by Tiger Woods (2000) and Jon Rahm (2021)?
The 44 consecutive holes he’s played without a bogey on the rugged, Jack Nicklaus-designed layout at Muirfield Village Golf Club? His lone bogey of the tournament came on the first hole – his 10th of the day – in the first round.
Or his perfect 12-for-12 mark in scrambling, the 42 of 54 greens he’s hit in regulation or the 35 of 42 fairways he’s hit in regulation?
Horschel didn’t mind talking about all of them.
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“I’m very aware of everything I’ve done on the golf course, and I just feel very comfortable right now with what we’re doing on the golf course,” said Horschel, who included his caddie, Mark “Fooch” Fulcher, as part of his success.
Horschel said he’s never had a five-shot lead before – “I’ve had it in my head plenty of times,” he said with a smile – so the 2014 FedEx Cup winner doesn’t expect to change his approach going to the first tee for Sunday’s final round as he tries to win his seventh PGA Tour title.
“I’m not going to be protective,” he said. “I’m not going to be overly aggressive. I’m going to play the way I have the last three days. We’re going to hit the golf shots that are required, and I know if we do that it’s going to give me the best chance to be victorious come tomorrow. I’ve been doing this for 13 years now out here, so I think I should have a pretty clear understanding of what I need to do and the feelings and the emotions I’m going to have tomorrow.”
Horschel is five clear of Aaron Wise (69) and overnight leader Cameron Smith (72). Another shot back are Berger (67), Francesco Molinari (70) and Jhonattan Vegas (71).
Horschel’s stellar play through three rounds stems in part from a conversation he initiated with Fulcher following last week’s missed cut in the Charles Schwab Challenge. The two emphasized the process they have to use that makes sure Horschel is calm and confident over every shot.
“I’m not really worried about score, I’m not really worried about the result of the golf shot, just worried about the process that Fooch and I are trying to do, and I think if we do that well, and I sound like a broken record, but if I do that it allows me to make better swings, and it’s been producing better results,” Horschel said. “I think just going through our process, making sure we have a number where we’re trying to land the ball, talking about the shot, the club selection, the wind. When we do that, it allows me to have a clearer picture and have a little bit more of a higher acceptance level over the golf shot.
“Everyone has told me on my team for years, when I have that, I’m able to make better golf swings on a regular basis. I’m sure I’m going to shock everyone when I say this. I move very quick, and I’m impatient, and so I’m ready to go without always being clear on everything. Sometimes I just want to get the golf shot over with. Yes, am I an idiot for not doing what I know works every time? Yes.
“But I need to do a better job of it. If I’m going to win the golf tournaments I want to win, and I feel like I can win, then I need to do a better job of it on a daily, weekly basis, especially when it comes to the bigger events.
“I’m an idiot for not doing what I need to do on a regular basis.”
