Billy Horschel is done talking about talking. Until he’s not. The defending Memorial Tournament champion struggles to keep his lip zipped when asked for an answer.
I know because I asked him.
“I did a podcast with Conor Moore, the Irish guy who does (golf) impersonations, and he asked me if I ever go back to my hotel room after a round and wonder, ‘Why the hell did I give that answer?’ ” Horschel said last week. “And I said, ‘Every day.’ ”
“Do you ever wish you had said, ‘No comment?’ or ‘Next question?’ ”
But any regret Horshel has lasts no longer than Horschel’s short fuse (More on that in a minute.)
“At the end of the day I believe if someone asks me a question, I want to be as honest as I can,” he said. “I don’t want to beat around the bush. It’s an educated opinion. I’ve given it some thought, and when you’ve done that you want to give an honest answer.”
As a member of the media, I wish all athletes were wired like this loquacious 36-year-old Floridian. But as a member of the media I have to admit it can be a no-win situation: remain silent and get pegged as aloof or surly. Say too much and get burned for not keeping your trap shut.
In Horschel’s case, explaining why he explains things becomes fatiguing. Finally, he decides to be himself and let the chips fall.
“Do I kick myself? Why not just say, ‘Nah, I’m not going to answer that.’ Or give a run-of-the-mill answer,” he said. “But that’s just not me.”
Billy Horschel of the United States poses with Jack Nicklaus and his wife Barbara Nicklaus after winning the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday at Muirfield Village Golf Club on June 05, 2022, in Dublin, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Never was. Horschel questioned others’ opinions as a kid, debated with classmates in middle school and used to be “that guy” on Twitter, strafing the site with self-defense posts and pearls of wisdom that no one requested. He has backed off, in part because he knows there is no winning social media wars, but if opportunity knocks he is always at the ready.
After all, it’s his nature based on nurture.
Billy Horschel admits his temper sometimes gets the best of him during tournaments, but chalks up the emotional outbursts to competitive fire.
“My dad is a very quiet guy,” Horschel said. “That side comes from my mom. Not that she’s controversial, but she’s a little more honest with her responses, and doesn’t worry if it…
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