The Open leader Billy Horschel explains bizarre reason he carries West Ham golf bag at Royal Troon
LEADER of The Open heading into the final round Billy Horschel has revealed why he carries a West Ham golf bag with him at Royal Troon.
The American putter is enjoying a magnificent run in Scotland.
And his four-under-par score after three rounds could see the world No11 clinch a famous golf victory later on Sunday.
But aside from his skills with a club, Horschel has also been making waves for his choice of bag.
The 37-year-old, who hails from Florida, has been making his way around the course with a West Ham logo front and centre.
And Horschel has now revealed that he has the claret-and-blue bag as he is a massive Hammers fan after watching cult classic flick Green Street.
The movie stars Elijah Wood as an American tourist who becomes hooked on the thrill of following West Ham, as well as the dark side of hooliganism.
And Horschel said: “During my sophomore year of college I moved into a new apartment and the cable wasn’t going to be hooked up for a couple of days so we went to Best Buy and bought a couple of DVDs, one of those DVDs was Green Street.
“I loved the movie, I loved Charlie Hunnam as an actor and obviously the film is about the firms at Millwall and West Ham, from there I started following them.
“Since about 10-12 years ago I’ve been paying really close attention to them since NBC Sports starting showing Premier League games.
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“I’m always watching their matches and any Premier Leagues actually, but I follow them [West Ham] very closely and I’m aware of how they’re doing, the transfer window and just a die hard supporter like I am for my Florida Gators.”
On the reception he gets from English fans, Horschel continued: “Whenever I try to come over here I try to get the West Ham bag out and hear ‘Up the Hammers’ and ‘Come on you Irons’.
“I’ve been very fortunate that other supporters of other clubs have been gracious enough to be nice to me, compared to maybe how they may bet to a fellow English person supporting a West Ham fan!”
Horschel has also had his say on whether Julen Lopetegui can lead West Ham back up the table following David Moyes’ exit.
He added: “I think Julen is going to do a good job. I’m exciting listening.
“David Moyes was awesome, he took the club from one spot to another and I think it was time to pass the torch, and Julen will do a good job.”
Horschel previously revealed he is close friends with Hammers legend Mark Noble, who is now the club’s sporting director.
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After a tough day on the green, he said: “Noble’s a West Ham legend, really close friends.
“We are very much wired similarly in the way we handle things. Just him telling me how great a player and person I am.
“Even though I know that about myself, it never hurts to hear that from people you love.”
On his chances of winning The Open, Horschel noted: “I’m very pleased. Two quality rounds of golf played and in a really good position going into the weekend I couldn’t ask for anything more after the first two rounds.
“The majors mean so much to me. It’s a legacy thing. You can submit your legacy in the game of golf by winning a major, by winning multiple majors.
“I’ve always felt I’ve had the game to play well in majors. I just had to get out of my own way.
“I’ve always felt like I needed to be perfect. You’ve got to play perfect golf in majors to be able to win.
“I know that isn’t the case, but it was just one of those things where in certain cases I’m probably a slow learner, and in the majors case I am a slow learner in learning how to approach the majors. I’ve done a better job the last couple years.”