Billy Horschel Withdraws from 3M Open Due to Illness

In a surprising turn of events, Billy Horschel, fresh off his impressive runner-up finish at the Open Championship, had to withdraw from the 3M Open before it even began. Horschel, who had been looking forward to continuing his strong performance, was forced to pull out due to an unexpected illness.

Horschel’s runner-up finish at the Open Championship was a career-best for him in a major tournament. This strong performance propelled him to No. 26 in the FedExCup standings, putting him in a solid position to make a significant impact in the final stages of the season. His fans and the golfing community were eager to see him continue this momentum at the 3M Open.

However, things took a turn for the worse when Horschel began feeling unwell on Wednesday, the day before the tournament was set to start. Despite his efforts to shake off the symptoms, which included fever and muscle tightness, his condition didn’t improve. Horschel shared his struggle with the illness in an interview with PGA TOUR Communications, saying, “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.”

Horschel’s withdrawal was a significant disappointment, not only for him but also for his fans and the organizers of the 3M Open. He had fond memories of the tournament, having played well there the previous year. “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 said.

Despite this setback, Horschel remains optimistic about his upcoming tournaments. He has announced his intention to compete in the Wyndham Championship, the final regular-season event, in two weeks. This will give him time to recover and hopefully return to the form that saw him finish so strongly at the Open Championship.

The past week has undoubtedly been emotionally and physically taxing for Horschel. After his near victory at Royal Troon, where he led going into the final round, the sudden illness was an unexpected and unwelcome challenge. However, his determination to return to play at the Wyndham Championship shows his resilience and commitment to the sport.

Billy Horschel’s withdrawal from the 3M Open was a significant blow to the tournament and his fans. However, his strong performance at the Open Championship and his position in the FedExCup standings suggest that he still has a lot to offer this season. As he takes the time to recover, the golfing world will be eagerly awaiting his return to see if he can continue his pursuit of another FedExCup title.