WM PHOENIX OPEN

February 13, 2022

Billy Horschel

TPC Scottsdale

Quick Quotes

Q. Billy, good finish at 5-under, bogey-free 5-under 66 today. Just some overall comments on the week and how you assess things.

BILLY HORSCHEL: Yeah, right now I'm a little disappointed. I make the turn at 4-under, put myself in a really good spot going to the back side, which is the more gettable side on this golf course, and had some chances at 11 and 12 and just missed those, then didn't play -- I wish I would have birdied at least one if not both the par-5s on the back side. I was in really good spots in the fairways and I three-putt 15 and then I just sort of the wrong club on 13.

Other than that, it was a really good week. Todd Anderson and I, my teacher, and I have been working very hard for the last couple years, and I sound like a broken record but it's been a trial-and-error with our swing and trying to get the right feels to match up with what we see on video.

I felt like last week at home we finally hit on something, and just never know until you come out here, and it's been pretty good all week. It's not totally grooved in, but I felt like I've had more control of the golf ball than I've had in a while, and I think it showed because I'm putting it really well. I've always putted really well for the last five years, and short game has gotten better, and the things that's held me back is my iron play and my approach play to the green.

This week it's been finally something that's acceptable in my terms.

Q. Nowadays you see guys who are really young coming out and winning and doing really well. Sahith is 24. It seems like you're a guy who may be actually peaking in your 30s right now and you seem to be sort of up there again and again and again and winning big tournaments. Do you think about big-picture stuff like that and do you get excited about stuff like that?

BILLY HORSCHEL: Yeah, I mean, this is my 13th year on the PGA TOUR, so I've been at it quite a while. Was I as polished as some of these guys that are coming out of college now? No, but my game was in a good spot. I just had to get better at things, get better at wedge play, get better at short game, learn a few things out here.

I felt like I've done a really good job the last couple years. The results don't always show, and like I said, I've felt like my approach play has held me back a little bit.

I think my entire team works really hard, and we added Fooch, Mark Fulcher, to the bag last year, which has made a massive difference with his experience and understanding how to get better when you work for a guy like Justin Rose for a decade plus and you see what he did to improve as a player. He brings a great level of experience that my entire team can feed off because no one is bigger than -- no one person is bigger than a team, and so we're always relying on each other to voice opinions and voice what they think needs to be done.

Yeah, I'm 35. Do I feel 35? Yeah, certain days I do feel 35. I've hit quite a few balls in my lifetime and I've worked my butt off rigorously. I still put myself in the top-5 hardest workers out here on the PGA TOUR. It's been that way since day one I stepped out here.

Mentally, whatever you want to think, soul-wise or whatever, I still feel like I'm 27, 26. I still feel like I can go out there and hang with the boys. There are certain days I wake up that I feel it a little bit.

Q. What did the Match Play do for you last year mentally?

BILLY HORSCHEL: You know, I have a great belief in myself and I have a great belief in my talent. I believe that when I'm playing good, I can compete with anyone. I think the only thing I lack from the top guys is distance and how far they hit it. I'm not short, but I'm not carrying the ball 300 plus, 310 plus. I don't have that in my arsenal as just a regular shot without having to go at it out of my shoes.

But I know the way I think, I know the way I battle, I know the way I fight, and I don't give up, that I can compete with any of these guys.

To finally win a big event -- I've won the FedExCup and I've won some other bigger events, but that was the first one to win a WGC event, really just was a confirmation of where I feel like I should be in this game of golf, and then to back it up at the back end of the year over in London at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth was just an affirmation that I can do it, I can continue to do it and compete in the biggest events, which I've always known I can.

Now the next step is just to do it in majors, which my major record has been pretty abysmal. Hopefully in the next decade we can make that a little bit better.

Q. You're a Gator and we know UF likes to have a lot of fun. Can you just talk a little about this atmosphere and how much you enjoy playing this tournament.

BILLY HORSCHEL: I do. I do enjoy playing here. It does get a little raucous and it does get a little crazy and you do have some fans that are -- just not idiots but absolute complete idiots out there, saying the dumbest things in the world.

I've always thrived in atmospheres like this, and I think all you have to do is look at how I've played the 16th hole here. I think I have the lowest scoring average since 2003. I think I'm 9- or 10-under par on that hole. It shows you that I love that arena and I thrive in it.

Yeah, I've played well here over the last five, six years, maybe not consistently, but a couple years ago I was in the final group on Saturday and I've had a couple other chances.

Yeah, it would be nice to win here one day.