BLAINE, Minn. – Billy Horschel has withdrawn from the 3M Open on Thursday ahead of his tee time. Horschel, who finished tied for second last week at the British Open, cited illness.
“It was unfortunate,” he said in a statement on Thursday morning. “I wasn’t feeling great late last night and took some medicine. Woke up, had decent sleep but woke up and just have a fever, body is just not wanting to respond, every muscle feels like it’s locked up. 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 was one of the first players to arrive on the driving range on Tuesday and he talked about how he wanted to “get back on the horse,” this week and chase winning for the ninth time on the PGA Tour.
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Asked on Wednesday during his pre-tournament press conference if he had considered bailing on the 3M after his strong finish at the British locked up his top-50 status, he said, “Withdrawing? No. When I commit to something I try to hold to that commitment unless crazy circumstances arise. When you’re playing well, you want to continue to play well. Yes, I’m coming halfway around the world, six different time zones, different grasses and everything, but confidence-wise I want to continue to build on that confidence, I want to continue to put myself back in that chance of winning. That’s why I’m here.”
Unfortunately, had to withdraw from @3MOpen. Woke up with a fever, body aches, and back just locked up. Tried to warm up and give it a go but body just wouldn’t let it happen. Really disappointed to WD as my family and I enjoyed it here last year and we were hoping to improve…
— Billy Horschel (@BillyHo_Golf) July 25, 2024
On Wednesday, Horschel, 37, conceded that the jet lag had hit him and he wasn’t feeling great.
“This morning I woke up and I was a little tired, body was moving a little bit slower, but that’s expected,” he said. “You travel halfway around the world, played the last couple weeks over in Scotland. Any of the guys coming over from there are going to feel the same thing.”
Horschel was expected to tee off at 1:53 p.m. ET on Thursday. He was replaced in the field by alternate Adam Long.
“Disappointing,” Horschel reiterated. “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.”
