PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Billy Horschel made a charge up the leaderboard during the final round of the Honda Classic, one that nearly netted him a spot in the WGC-Mexico Championship. As it turns out, it wouldn’t have mattered.
Horschel began the week ranked No. 75 in the world and likely needed at least a second-place finish to crack the top 50 and earn a spot in next week’s no-cut event. He came to the 72nd hole tied for third, but made bogey after his approach shot found the water.
After his round, Horschel explained that he had already made the decision to skip next week’s event even if he qualified, citing security concerns.
“I think the WGC events are great events. I just wasn’t sure if I wanted to go to Mexico City,” Horschel said. “I know that they’ve said it’s a secure spot, and we’re fine, and where we are is good. I just didn’t want to go. A lot of guys don’t want to go to China; I didn’t want to go to Mexico.”
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The tournament had been held at Trump National Doral in Miami for the last several years, but the PGA Tour announced in June that it would be shifting to Mexico City as part of a long-term deal. Thus far the only player to withdraw from the field is world No. 2 Jason Day, who announced Sunday that he is battling a double ear infection and the flu.
Horschel has made three starts since 2011 at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba, the Tour’s only other tournament in Mexico, and still plans to watch from home before heading to the Valspar Championship.
“I’ve been to Mexico before, and I love Cancun,” he said. “It’s the first year of the event, and I just want to see how it went. That’s what it really came down to. I want to see how everything was run, I want to see the feedback from the players, and then I’d go from there.”
