DUBLIN, Ohio — Billy Horschel finished any question about his victory at Muirfield Village with an eagle putt from just one conclusion of the eco-friendly to the other on the 15th gap, sending him to a 4-shot victory Sunday at the Memorial.
Horschel was staked to a five-shot guide at the commence of a sunshine-soaked ultimate round and no just one at any time acquired nearer than two pictures. He closed with an even-par 72.
There were being even now a handful of nervous moments.
Horschel’s streak of 49 consecutive holes without the need of a bogey ended on the sixth gap. He did not make his 1st birdie till the 10th gap. He had to scramble for bogey on the par-3 12th that dropped his direct to two above Aaron Intelligent.
Right before the extensive eagle, Horschel saved himself with par putts of 12 toes on the 13th gap and 8 ft on 14.
And then it was above. From the entrance of the eco-friendly on the par-5 15th, Horschel’s putt from just inside of 55 ft experienced the perfect line and ideal pace, bending remaining and dropping in the still left facet of the cup as he stretched out each arms in a peaceful, disbelieving celebration.
“Just like you, major guy,” Horschel reported to event host Jack Nicklaus when it was around.
His lead was up to 4 pictures, and it was a relaxed complete. Horschel concluded at 13-less than 275 and received $2.16 million, the biggest paycheck of his occupation. As an elevated celebration, the win arrives with a a few-12 months exemption.
Horschel claimed he has discovered from Tiger Woods and Nicklaus that he did not will need to do nearly anything special with a 5-shot guide unless the minute referred to as for it. It was calling on the 15th gap immediately after Smart stuffed a wedge into 2 toes for birdie.
“If I experienced to do something specific, I was all set for it,” he claimed. “Making that was large.”
Smart did what he could in a last spherical so difficult that no a person shot far better than 69. He and Joaquin Niemann ended up the only gamers to implement any critical tension on Horschel. He opened the again 9 with a pair of birdies sand saved par from the again bunker on the 12th. But he dropped a shot on the 13th just as Horschel was wanting shaky.
Clever made a meaningless bogey on the remaining gap for a 71 to complete by yourself in second.
Cameron Smith, who experienced the 36-gap direct, also started five pictures behind. He had a pair of double bogeys for a 42 on the entrance nine and was never ever a component.
Niemann, who received yet another elevated celebration at Riviera in the Genesis Invitational, manufactured a solid transfer and was creeping within just array until finally his wedge on the 14th located a bunker, major to double bogey. He answered with two birdies, concluded with a double bogey and shot 71. He tied for third with defending winner Patrick Cantlay (71).
Before the handshake with Nicklaus, Horschel was mobbed by his three kids. He now has seven PGA Tour victories. His spouse has viewed him gain. His parents have noticed him earn. This was the first time his youngsters were there, and they ended up bouncing on the firm greens.
That may well have been as wonderful as any strain as Horschel felt.
“Having a five-shot direct, knowing it was mine to win, I really wished to get the monkey off my back,” he explained of successful with his kids in attendance.
Horschel moves to just outside the house the best 10 in the globe, the highest he has ever been, many thanks to a calendar year that at last has introduced some consistency in a strike-and-pass up recreation. He has three victories in the past 15 months, all of them in opposition to strong fields — the Dell Match Enjoy and the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth past yr, and now this.
It could even be adequate to lastly be thought of for a U.S. staff with the Presidents Cup later on this year.
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