Billy Horschel didn’t win.
He then found someone else who hadn’t.
Thriston Lawrence could’ve won the Open Championship, though. Fired a six-under 65 during Saturday’s third round to get him into contention. Teed off in Sunday’s final pairing. Led during Sunday’s final round. Ripped driver all over Royal Troon. He shot a Sunday 68 that, maybe in another Open, would’ve gotten the job done. But Xander Schauffele was masterful. And Lawrence tied for fourth, three shots behind the winner.
The 27-year-old from South Africa had played in majors before, seven of ’em, and played on the weekend in his two previous Opens. He’d won four times on the DP World Tour. But what was happening Saturday and Sunday? Career-changing stuff.
Still, Lawrence was collected, at least in how he was talking to the press folks.
“It’s like any other tournament,” he said late Sunday afternoon. “Once you’re in the lead, you always think about winning. But teeing up today, that was my mindset, going out there to try and win. So being in the lead or being one or two shots back doesn’t change the mindset or game plan or anything. Like I said, it’s a normal Sunday, and yeah, it’s the Open Championship, my first final group in a major, first top 10 in a major, but still, a tournament, just a bigger tournament, more iconic tournament.”
Horschel nearly won too. Shot a 69 on Saturday afternoon in weather you wouldn’t wish upon your worst enemy. Went off last on Sunday with Lawrence. With a gray cardigan, dressed like he came to win. Carded a 68 during the final round and finished with three-straight birdies, or, put another way, how you should finish majors. But he couldn’t catch Schauffele and tied for second, two back of the champ.
It would’ve been legacy-making. Horschel has earned millions. Won tournaments. But never a major. So badly has he wanted one that the 37-year-old from Florida said it affected him in previous starts. He’s learned to be cooler, though. He said he’s even pictured what being handed a major trophy would look like.
“I’ve worked my entire life to be in this position,” Horschel said late Saturday afternoon. “Listen, I’ve been in the lead many times going into a final round. Obviously this is a major. It means a little bit more. We all know that. We know what this means to everyone. I know what it means to my legacy in the game of golf and what I want to do and accomplish.
“But I’m excited to be here. I’ve wanted to be here my entire life. I’m finally here. I’m embracing it. As I told [Golf Channel’s] Todd Lewis, something I’ve done this year, and I’ve done a better job this week of it, or tried to do a better job, is sort of manifest seeing myself holding the trophy before I go to sleep every night, envisioning myself holding that trophy on 18, walking out to the crowd and being congratulated as Open champion.
