Billy Horschel’s hot hand nets Tour Championship, FedEx Cup, $11.4M
Billy Horschel capped off the best three weeks of his career with the biggest payoff in golf.
Horschel pulled away from a self-destructing Rory McIlroy early, and then holed two clutch putts that felt like $10 million to hold off Jim Furyk on the back nine at East Lake. He closed with a 2-under 68 for a three-shot victory in the Tour Championship to capture the FedEx Cup.
Horschel’s career earnings were just over $4.5 million coming into the year.
He collected $11.4 million in one day – most of that the $10 million FedEx Cup bonus – with an incomparable run through the playoffs.
The 27-year-old from Florida was runner-up in Boston, a winner in Denver and he cashed in big in Atlanta. Horschel was No. 69 when the playoffs began a month ago. No one had won the Fed-Ex Cup starting lower than 19th.
He epitomized what these playoffs offered – one month for anyone to get a hot hand. Horschel shot in the 60s his last 12 rounds.
The timing was great for Horschel – not so much for the American team going over to the Ryder Cup in two weeks. U.S. captain Tom Watson made his three picks after Horschel’s runner-up finish in the Deutsche Bank tourney.
Now the hottest hand in golf – he should move up to No. 14 in the world – will be watching from home. Horschel figures to be plenty occupied. His wife is expecting their first child, a girl, in two weeks.
Furyk closed with two bogeys for a 69 and his fourth runner-up finish this year. He has not won since the Tour Championship four years ago. McIlroy never recovered from three straight bogeys around the turn before three late birdies. He closed with a 71 and wound up No. 3 in the FedEx Cup, which is worth an additional $2 million.
Chris Kirk, who started the Tour Championship atop the FedEx Cup standings, closed with a 68 and tied for fourth with Justin Rose (69) and Jason Day (69). Kirk wound up second in the FedEx Cup and earned a $3 million bonus.
LPGA Tour
At Evian-Les-Bains, France: South Korean teenager Hyo-Joo Kim beat Australian veteran Karrie Webb by one shot to win the Evian Championship and become the third youngest major winner at 19 years, 2 months.
Kim trailed the 39-year-old Webb by one shot heading into the final hole. But she turned the tables with a superb birdie from 12 feet out, and Webb then missed a chance to force a playoff when a par attempt from the same distance drifted left of the hole.
European Tour
At Zandvoort, Netherlands: Paul Casey shot a four-under 66 to win the KLM Open at 14 under, a shot ahead of fellow Englishman Simon Dyson.
Billy Horschel reacts after sinking a short putt on the 18th green to win the Tour Championship golf tournament and the Fed X Cup Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014, in Atlanta. Horschel finished at 11 under par three shots ahead of Jim Furyk, and Rory McIlroy. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Mi Jung Hur of South Korea follows her ball after playing on the 6th hole during the last round of the Evian Championship women’s golf tournament in Evian, eastern France, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
Hyo Joo Kim of South Korea watches the flight of her ball after playing on the 6th hole during the last round of the Evian Championship women’s golf tournament in Evian, eastern France, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
Hyo Joo Kim of South Korea celebrates with a friend after winning the Evian Championship women’s golf tournament in Evian, eastern France, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
Hyo Joo Kim of South Korea plays on the 7th hole during the last round of the Evian Championship women’s golf tournament in Evian, eastern France, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
Karrie Webb of Australia watches the flight of her ball on the 14th hole during the third round of the Evian Championship women’s golf tournament in Evian, eastern France, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
