England's Horsfield, 18, 'living the life' with US Open slot
Ian Poulter's hot tip Sam Horsfield becomes youngest Englishman to qualify for the US Open
Ian Poulter's hot tip Sam Horsfield, 18, says he is "living the life" after becoming the youngest Englishman to qualify for the US Open.
The Manchester-born golfer, who moved to the United States when he was five, booked one of four spots in the 36-hole, 70-player US Open qualifying event at the Bear’s Club in Florida.
Horsfield, who has been publicly championed by Ryder Cup star Poulter, finished one shot off the leading score set by three players, including countryman Luke Donald, but punched his ticket to Chambers Bay next week with a 20-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole.
“I’ve been close a couple of other times, so this time finally getting it done was a great feeling,” Horsfield told BBC Radio 5 Live.
Horsfield says he can remember snippets of Manchester, but does not miss the weather.
"I'm living the life, man. It's awesome," he said in a distinctive American accent. "I miss family and stuff but playing golf 365 days a year is awesome.
“I'm a normal 18-year-old kid. I like hanging out with my friends, I go to the park three or four times a week to play basketball, I go to the movies. I’m just a normal kid that happens to play golf."
Two years ago at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Bradenton, Horsfield double-bogeyed his last hole and missed qualifying by three shots, while last year at Quail Valley Golf Club he finished as the first alternate.
England's Poulter once lost to a 14-year-old Horsfield over nine holes, and tweeted that day he was the "best young player I’ve ever played with".
Poulter even told Walker Cup selectors they were "off their rockers" for not selecting him against the United States two years ago.
Despite continued high acclaim from the 12-time European Tour champion, Horsfield knows he still has a long way to go to fulfill his potential.
“It’s cool,” admitted Horsfield when asked what it was like to have Poulter as a mentor. "But I’ve still got to work my butt off every single day."
Horsfield has been selected for this year’s Walker Cup squad at Royal Lytham in September.
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