Billy Horschel is one of those players with so much to play for in the weeks leading up to the Tour Championship on the PGA Tour.
For many, the Wyndham Championship marks the unofficial start of the play-offs, with plenty around that cutline that decides who will be in the field at the St Jude Championship.
Billy Horschel is one of those with little to worry about in North Carolina, with the 37-year-old currently sat 27th in the standings. Instead, he will be hoping to strengthen his grip on a place inside the top 30. But it seems that he is also looking beyond the play-offs.
Horschel made his debut at the Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow back in 2022, taking one point from his three matches. But he has some work to do if he is going to be involved in Montreal in September, with the 2014 FedEx Cup champion down in 22nd in the qualification standings.
Billy Horschel makes claim about qualifying for American team at the Presidents Cup
Of course, only the top six players qualify, so it is no surprise that Horschel is already expecting to be relying on a captain’s pick from Jim Furyk.
But speaking ahead of the Wyndham Championship, Horschel outlined just how much of an uphill battle he believes he has if he is going to make that team – as he also spoke about the goals he still has for the remainder of his career.
“It’s really interesting because I think I am 22 on the President Cup points list and that takes a two year window, so not playing well in 2023 hurt me. But I feel like I was shocked at where I am in the FedEx right now, I thought I would be higher up,” he said.
“But I feel like if I play well the next four weeks, I am going to have to get a pick, I’m not going to qualify in the top six, but I feel like if I play well and continue to do what I have done this year. If I can get another win it increases my chances. I think maybe there is an opportunity for me to get picked, but there is so many great guys, it’s tough to make the US team right now. I don’t think people understand how strong and how deep golf is on the United States side and to be able to make a team in today’s day and age is really a challenge, it’s the toughest it’s ever been in the history of these team competitions to try and make one of these teams.
“To be able to make my second President’s Cup team would be an unbelievable goal of mine. And then I’m in a really good position right now with a year out to make my first Ryder Cup team, which is one of my three goals that I still have left: making a Ryder Cup team, winning a major, and getting to 10 plus wins on the PGA Tour. Those are the three goals I have left to accomplish.
“It would be awesome at Bethpage. Those fans are going to be so raucous. I think whether you are a United States player or a European player, I think some guys are going to be coming away with PTSD because of stuff they are going to hear if they don’t play well. It’s going to be bad.”
The impressive list of names currently relying on a captain’s pick for Montreal
The depth the American team have is so remarkable, with Tony Finau, Max Homa, Brian Harman, Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth all outside the top six right now. So you would imagine that someone like Horschel – who does not have too much experience in a Presidents Cup or Ryder Cup – would need to show some real form in the coming weeks to prove himself to Furyk.
He has got two top 10s in the major championships this year, finishing in a tie for second at The Open Championship at Royal Troon.
But clearly, if he is not going to be involved in Canada next month, he is going to use that as fuel to make sure he is one of the players looking to regain the Ryder Cup in New York next year.
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