Billy Horschel forced out of 3M Open on PGA Tour at the last minute
Billy Horschel has withdrawn from the 3M Open on the PGA Tour just days after finishing runner-up at The Open.
Billy Horschel has withdrawn from the 3M Open on the PGA Tour just an hour before his first round tee time as a result of illness.
Horschel, 37, jetted back to the States immediately after his near-miss at The 152nd Open at Royal Troon on Sunday.
He birdied the final three holes to finish two shots behind Open champion Xander Schauffele in a tie for second with Justin Rose.
The former FedEx Cup champion was the first man to arrive on the range at TPC Twin Cities on Monday morning.
When pressed by reporters if he had considered withdrawing from the 3M Open this week as a result of his mentally and physically draining week at The Open, Horschel replied: "Withdrawing? No.
"When I commit to something I try to hold to that commitment unless crazy circumstances arise. When you're playing well, you want to continue to play well.
"Yes, I'm coming halfway around the world, six different time zones, different grasses and everything, but confidence-wise I want to continue to build on that confidence, I want to continue to put myself back in that chance of winning."
But despite being determined to continue his impressive recent play on the PGA Tour this week, Horschel unfortunately went down with illness on Wednesday night.
Horschel tried his best to be fit for the first round after taking some medicine, but he was too under the weather to battle on.
He confirmed his WD around about an hour before his scheduled first round tee time on Thursday afternoon.
Horschel has been replaced in the field by Adam Long.
Of his WD, Horschel told PGA Tour Communications:
"Yeah, it was unfortunate. I wasn't feeling great late last night and took some medicine. Woke up, had decent sleep but woke up and just have a fever, body is just not wanting to respond, every muscle feels like it's locked up. Tried to do a little warmup in the gym, just didn't respond. Tried to go out to the golf course and hit some balls, body's just not wanting to cooperate.
"Disappointing. I was looking forward to playing here at 3M. Played here last year, had a good finish. The event is well run by 3M and Tracy and Hollis, so very disappointed not to be able to play here after coming off a really great finish last week."
Horschel then tweeted:
"Unfortunately, had to withdraw from @3MOpen. Woke up with a fever, body aches, and back just locked up. Tried to warm up and give it a go but body just wouldn’t let it happen. Really disappointed to WD as my family and I enjoyed it here last year and we were hoping to improve on a T-12 finish from last year. Sorry to 3M and everyone involved with the event. Apologize to the fans as well. Thank you for all the support the last couple days while I was out preparing for this week. Once again I’m sorry!!"
Horschel moved to No. 26 on the FedExCup standings with his tie for second at The Open last week.
It is understood Horschel will compete in the Wyndham Championship in two weeks' time on the PGA Tour.
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