Billy Horschel has caught attention not only for his performance at The Open in Scotland but also for his unique golf bag.
Currently, he is in a strong position to win his first-ever major, thanks to his five-under-par performance with two holes left to play in round three, tying him with Englishman Daniel Brown. Horschel had a shaky start, finishing round one one-over-par after bogeying twice on the front nine and only managing a birdie on the 16th. However, he bounced back with a strong three-under round two and birdied four holes on the front nine of round three.
His performance at Royal Troon has been impressive, but it's his claret and blue bag that's turning heads. The reason? Horschel is a massive fan of Premier League club West Ham United, and he proudly displays his allegiance with a Hammers-branded bag. Speaking to the media ahead of The Open, Horschel shared his love for West Ham and the reactions he's received from British football fans.
READ MORE: Rory McIlroy makes good on his Open Championship admission with quick getaway
READ MORE: Ex-LIV Golf star sets sights on PGA Tour after 'it didn't work out' on breakaway circuit
"Listen, whenever I try to come over here I try to get the West Ham bag out and hear 'Up the Hammers' and 'Come on you Irons'," Horschel said. "I've been very fortunate that other supporters of other clubs have been gracious enough to be nice to me compared to maybe how they may be to a fellow English person supporting a West Ham fan!"
The Hammers are gearing up for a two-game stint in the Sunshine State Tour, with fixtures lined up in Jacksonville and Tampa. But despite his excitement, Horschel will miss out on catching a glimpse of new manager Julen Lopetegui due to his golfing schedule. Still, he's buzzing about the Europa League-winning boss taking charge. "I think Julen is going to do a good job," Horschel shared. "I'm excited listening. David Moyes was awesome. He took the club from one spot to another and I think it was time to pass the torch and I think Julen will do a good job."
The American golfer, who once shone with a tied 4th at the U. S. Open in 2013, is smashing it this year on the greens, notching up a personal best T8 at the PGA Championship in May. He's riding high at No. 11 in the world rankings, matching his career-best to date.
For all the latest on news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US.
Reflecting on his chances at major tournaments, Horschel is optimistic, especially after his recent performances. "I'm very pleased. Two quality rounds of golf played and in a really good position going into the weekend I couldn't ask for anything more after the first two rounds.Speaking about his desire to finally claim one of golf's biggest prizes, he added: " he remarked, hinting that his pursuit of a major win is looking more promising than ever.
Discussing his ambition to secure one of golf's most prestigious titles, he said: "The majors mean so much to me. It's a legacy thing. You can submit your legacy in the game of golf by winning a major, by winning multiple majors. I've always felt I've had the game to play well in majors. I just had to get out of my own way. I've always felt like I needed to be perfect. You've got to play perfect golf in majors to be able to win."
"I know that isn't the case, but it was just one of those things where in certain cases I'm probably a slow learner, and in the majors case I am a slow learner in learning how to approach the majors. I've done a better job the last couple years."