PGA Tour pro hits back after outrageous "fake" accusation at The Open
Billy Horschel has hit out on X after a golf fan accused him of being "fake and inauthentic".
Billy Horschel earned his career-best major championship finish yesterday at The Open when he came joint runner-up to Xander Schauffele at Royal Troon.
While many golf fans and pundits online praised the American for his performance on the links, one outspoken critic attempted to tarnish his name, attacking his personality and authenticity.
It's not uncommon for golfers to bite back at online abuse, and that's exactly what Horschel did after his final round.
The critic in question, who goes by the appropriate name of Pro Golf Critic, called out Horschel for being "fake and inauthentic" when responding to a story another X user was telling about how much he had enjoyed watching Horschel at the BMW Championship.
Pro Golf Critic's initial tweet was set live the evening before the final round at Royal Troon, but Horschel waited until after the tournament had drawn to a close until he responded.
The initial tweet from Pro Golf Critic read:
"I think he's fake & inauthentic and outside of owning that, nothing will make me like him."
Clearly displeased with his reputation being dragged through the mud, Horschel hit back on X, claiming:
"I haven't replied to any one of your tweets about me over the past year because I felt no need to. But I am now. Feel free to ask around about me. One thing I willing to bet you won't hear is that I'm fake or not authentic."
Check out the full interaction below...
Horschel was not the only person on X who questioned Pro Golf Critic's opinion, and when pushed on the issue by a number of other X users, PGC was reluctant to reveal what exactly had caused his dislike of the American golfer.
He did, however, let one small sliver of evidence creep out when he was discussing Horschel. He said:
"Fake charity stuff irritates me more than anything."
His comments were in response to another X user claiming he had met Horschel at a charity event for a rehab centre his wife had attended when recovering from alcoholism, a topic that was controversially brought up during Sky's coverage of The Open.
It remains unclear why PGC had decided to tarnish Horschel's name online, but one thing is certain: Horschel appears to have had enough of it.
The American began the final day on Scotland's west coast with a one-shot lead at 4-under. However, despite carding six birdies in his final round, three bogeys on the front nine eventually cost him the title.
Horschel was graceful in defeat and heaped praise on eventual winner Schauffele.
Speaking to the media after his round, he said:
"He played great. Listen, he's the second best player this year in the world. No one has played better than him in my opinion. He's got two majors.
"To see him improve, to see him grind and work hard and do everything the right way and have that attitude of trying to do everything you can to get better day in and day out, he deserves everything that he's gotten this year and what he's going to get in the future."
