2014 FedEx Cup Champ Billy Horschel Continues To Struggle In Shanghai

Sep 14, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Billy Horschel tees off on the eighth hole during the final round of the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

After two rounds at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, 2014 FedEx Cup Champion, Billy Horschel is 13 over par, and off to a horrible start to the 2014-2015 Wrap-Around golf season. The 27 year-old University of Florida grad missed the cut at The Shriners three weeks ago, his first outings on the new season, and hasn’t fared any better in the Pacific Rim.

Horschel finished up in Malaysia in a tie for 37th place, and is near the bottom in Shanghai this week. Both the CIMB Classic, and The WGC-HSBC Champions are no-cut tournaments, so he will stick around to see if he can solve his early season problems before coming home.

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It was a short off-season for the FedEx Cup champ, as he became a father for the first time after wining the final two events to capture the Cup, and most of the money. It probably would have done him well to take some serious time off before returning to work on this hectic off-shore part of the season.

To make matters worse, Horschel has been paired with Graeme McDowell and Patrick Reed in the first two rounds at the Sheshan International Golf Resort, and the popular Northern Irishman is on a roll, leading by three shots at the halfway point.

The golf course has been set up to play a little more difficult this year, and the three-time PGA Tour winner is struggling to hit fairways. He has made nothing happen on the greens as well.

Horschel shot 80 on Thursday, and followed on Friday with a 77. He has made only three birdies on the week so far, and has more double bogeys on his card than birdies. He ended his round on Friday with some hope when he birdied his last hole of the day.

Unfortunately, the birdie came on the heals of a double at 16, and bogey at 17.

Most of the problems Billy Horschel is having are apparent looking at his numbers in the early going. He continues to drive the ball with power, but his accuracy off the tee is less than 60%. His 312 yard average is good for 12th on the PGA, but 58% accuracy is only good for 148th place. Normally a great iron player, his GIR numbers are down to 70%, and with scrambling stats at 48%(144th), we can see why his scoring average is almost at even par.

This is not a new scenario for the former Florida Gator. After wining his first PGA tournament at the 2013 Zurich Classic, he disappeared from the spotlight for well over a year before he got hot during the FedEx Cup playoffs and picked up his second and third wins.

I’m willing to give Horschel some slack, and wait until the new season begins on Maui to get his swing, and game back together. The obvious next step is for him is to pick up some regular season wins on the tour, and maybe a run at a major this year. I am by no means, ready to give up on him at this juncture in his career.

Some time off, and time with family could do wonders for his golf game, and future on the PGA Tour. It just isn’t looking good in China.