Billy the fashion kid set to woo Muirfield crowds

Billy the fashion kid set to woo Muirfield crowds

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Tony Jimenez July 17, 2013 2:12 PM

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Billy Horschel of the U.S. watches his tee shot on the fifth hole during a practice round ahead of the …


By Tony Jimenez

GULLANE, Scotland (Reuters) - Former winner John Daly's multi-colored trousers will be missing from the 142nd British Open and fellow American Billy Horschel is ready to step into his shoes by wooing the Muirfield fashionistas.

The 26-year-old American, who claimed his maiden victory at the New Orleans Classic in April, has a penchant for loud clothes and it will come as no surprise if he dons a shirt and tie at Muirfield or pants emblazoned with Octopus prints.

"I'm game to wear whatever," Horschel told Reuters in an interview on the eve of the third major of the season.

"People are just getting to know me and I do try to dress nice by wearing a couple of loud outfits here and there. Maybe the tie will come out this week.

"I've also got a couple of things in mind for the future that I think will be pretty cool."

Horschel caused a stir when he sported his Octopus trousers in last month's U.S. Open at the Merion Golf Club in Pennsylvania.

"I've worn some other stuff but to have Octopus on my pants is not something I do often. It was to do with the tradition of Merion, something to mark the U.S. Open winner of 1934 (Olin Dutra) who wore Octopus socks," he said.

"The U.S. Open can be really tense, with a lot of pressure, but wearing the pants was fun and got the fans behind me a bit."

Horschel showed he could live with the elite of world golf as he finished in a tie for fourth at Merion behind champion Justin Rose.

The American has catapulted up to 36th in the world rankings and is confident of launching a genuine title challenge on his British Open debut.


"In my mind I think I can contend whenever I tee it up but obviously it's my first British Open and there will be some learning curves I go through that hopefully won't be too bad," he said.

"I think I can learn quickly and get myself in contention," added Horschel, a brand ambassador for Ralph Lauren, a patron and official outfitter of the British Open.

NOTEWORTHY FEAT

The American achieved a noteworthy feat in the second round at Merion, hitting all 18 greens in regulation, but he will find it hard to replicate that achievement on the parched and dry fairways of Muirfield.

"To do that in a major was pretty cool. I didn't know I had done it until after the round but if I hit all 18 greens this week I can quit golf," joked Horschel.

He knows he will come unstuck on some holes at the 7,192-yard, par-71 Muirfield layout - it will just be a question of keeping his mistakes to a minimum.

"This has been a great experience so far," said a smiling Horschel. "I was hoping to be in the British Open before now but it didn't work out.

"Muirfield is a great place, the views and the weather have been unbelievable and it's exciting to be here.

"My game feels pretty good, I think it could be better but I guess I'm a bit of a perfectionist. I'd like it to be better but this is a game of misses and I just need to control my misses this week."

Scotland's fashion patrol will certainly be out in force for Thursday's opening round as Horschel accompanies fellow American Keegan Bradley and Britain's Ian Poulter in an eye-catching three-ball.

(Editing by Ed Osmond)

Golf-Now I'm good enough for British Open, says Lynn

Golf-Now I'm good enough for British Open, says Lynn

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July 17, 2013 3:09 PM


By Martyn Herman

GULLANE, Scotland, July 17 (Reuters) - Englishman David Lynn's career has been transformed since a stunning runner-up finish at the U.S. PGA last year, so much so that he can finally say he is good enough for the British Open.

For most of his professional career the 39-year-old has been a solid tour journeyman, grinding out a comfortable living without attracting the headlines of compatriots such as Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Justin Rose.

Pragmatism rather than romance was Lynn's driving force which is why he decided against breaking his schedule to try to qualify for the British Open and why on Thursday at Muirfield he will compete in his home major for only the second time.

"It's great to be back," Lynn, who finished runner-up to Rory McIlroy at Kiawah Island in only his second major last year, told Reuters on Wednesday.

"To be honest the reason I've only played one is that I've been a bit averse to going through qualifying really because of how it sat in the schedule.

"Also my mindset was very much that if I'm having to go through qualifying then I'm not really good enough to be playing in it. That's the reason I'm only playing my second one.

"The qualifying always sits right in the middle of big tournaments and first and foremost I had to make sure I had a job for the following year so playing in those tournaments was important for points and rankings.

"It was a sacrifice I had to make."

Lynn's reward for the hard graft arrived last year when he pocketed an $865,000 cheque for his PGAperformance - by far the biggest pay day of his career.


It also earned him an invitation to the 2013 PGA Tour on which he has played more than 15 events this year, finishing fourth at the Honda Classic and second at the Wells Fargo Championship.

While he can still walk around Muirfield in relative obscurity, Lynn, who has one tournament win in 18 years as a professional, has attracted quite a following in the States.

"I'm really enjoying the crowds out there," he said recently of his first year on the American Tour.

"They're a bit more interactive with the players, they like to have a chat and I like that side of things."

With his PGA card already assured for next year, Lynn is in the unusual position of having no pressure as he gets back to the links golf he grew up with at Muirfield.

"I've retained my ranking in the world's top 50 since the PGA and now I'm looking for another big finish now to catapult myself further up the rankings," he said.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge this week. It's back to hitting those low two-iron stingers which is something I'm comfortable with. Good players can adapt their games."

He will not, however, be able to count on his 1891 Queen's shilling that he used as a ball marker when he won his first tournament nine years ago.

"No, I've lost loads of lucky ball markers since then, now I've got a crappy old five pence piece, but it's a special one," he said.

(Editing by Ed Osmond)

Now I'm good enough for British Open, says Lynn

Now I'm good enough for British Open, says Lynn

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Martyn Herman July 17, 2013 3:20 PM

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David Lynn of England lines up a putt on the third hole during the final round of the Wells Fargo Championship …


By Martyn Herman

GULLANE, Scotland (Reuters) - Englishman David Lynn's career has been transformed since a stunning runner-up finish at the U.S. PGA last year, so much so that he can finally say he is good enough for the British Open.

For most of his professional career the 39-year-old has been a solid tour journeyman, grinding out a comfortable living without attracting the headlines of compatriots such as Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Justin Rose.

Pragmatism rather than romance was Lynn's driving force which is why he decided against breaking his schedule to try to qualify for the British Open and why on Thursday at Muirfield he will compete in his home major for only the second time.

"It's great to be back," Lynn, who finished runner-up to Rory McIlroy at Kiawah Island in only his second major last year, told Reuters on Wednesday.

"To be honest the reason I've only played one is that I've been a bit averse to going through qualifying really because of how it sat in the schedule.

"Also my mindset was very much that if I'm having to go through qualifying then I'm not really good enough to be playing in it. That's the reason I'm only playing my second one.

"The qualifying always sits right in the middle of big tournaments and first and foremost I had to make sure I had a job for the following year so playing in those tournaments was important for points and rankings.

"It was a sacrifice I had to make."

Lynn's reward for the hard graft arrived last year when he pocketed an $865,000 check for his PGAperformance - by far the biggest pay day of his career.


It also earned him an invitation to the 2013 PGA Tour on which he has played more than 15 events this year, finishing fourth at the Honda Classic and second at the Wells Fargo Championship.

While he can still walk around Muirfield in relative obscurity, Lynn, who has one tournament win in 18 years as a professional, has attracted quite a following in the States.

"I'm really enjoying the crowds out there," he said recently of his first year on the American Tour.

"They're a bit more interactive with the players, they like to have a chat and I like that side of things."

With his PGA card already assured for next year, Lynn is in the unusual position of having no pressure as he gets back to the links golf he grew up with at Muirfield.

"I've retained my ranking in the world's top 50 since the PGA and now I'm looking for another big finish now to catapult myself further up the rankings," he said.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge this week. It's back to hitting those low two-iron stingers which is something I'm comfortable with. Good players can adapt their games."

He will not, however, be able to count on his 1891 Queen's shilling that he used as a ball marker when he won his first tournament nine years ago.

"No, I've lost loads of lucky ball markers since then, now I've got a crappy old five pence piece, but it's a special one," he said.

(Editing by Ed Osmond)