Men's Golf's Horschel To Face Big Guns in Walker Cup
Friday, September 7, 2007 | Men's Golf
University of Florida junior Billy Horschel (Grant, Fla.) and the U.S. team will kickoff the 2007 Walker Cup Match this weekend, Sept. 8-9, at Royal County Down Golf Club in Newcastle, Ireland. Horschel was among the first eight players picked for the 10-man U.S. team by the USGA in early August.
Horschel, paired with Oklahoma State freshman Rickie Fowler, will begin the amateur team competition over the 7,181-yard, par 71 layout by taking on Great Britain and Ireland's experienced pairing of Lloyd Saltman and Rhys Davies in foursomes (alternate shot). Saltman and Davies are the GB&I's strongest pairing and they were sent out first with the intention of getting their team on the board early. Each played well at the 2005 Walker Cup and they've remained amateurs for the last two years for this occasion. Next week they will both turn professional.
After standing up the big guns in the morning, the task doesn't get any easier for Horschel in the afternoon. To begin the afternoon singles matches, he drew 18-year-old Irish phenomenon Rory McIllroy. McIllroy was the low amateur at this year's British Open and also plans to turn professional on Monday.
Horschel has totaled 16 career top-10 finishes at Florida, including three individual medals. He is currently second all-time in career stroke average with a 71.94 mark, behind former Gator and PGA Tour pro Camilo Villegas' 71.21 clip. He is a two-time, first-team All-American and was named the 2007 SEC Player of the Year.
The Walker Cup Match is a team tournament between amateurs from the U.S. pitted against a squad from Great Britain and Ireland that began in 1922. It is held biennially, hosted at sites alternating between the two teams.
A total of 24 matches will be played during the two-day competition. Two different forms of match play are used in the competition; singles and foursomes (alternate shot). Four foursomes and eight singles matches are played on each of the two days of competition.
For complete tournament information, including updated tee times and live scoring, please visit the official site of The 2007 Walker Cup Match.
2007 United States Walker Cup Team
Player Hometown
Rickie Fowler Murrieta, Calif.
Billy Horschel Grant, Fla.
Dustin Johnson Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Chris Kirk Woodstock, Ga.
Colt Knost Dallas, Texas
Trip Kuehne Irving, Texas
Jamie Lovemark Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.
Jonathan Moore Vancouver, Wash.
Webb Simpson Raleigh, N.C.
Kyle Stanley Gig Harbor, Wash.
2007 Great Britain/Ireland Walker Cup Team
Player Hometown
Jonathan Caldwell Newtonards, Northern Ireland
Rhys Davies Glamorgan, Wales
Nigel Edwards Caerphilly, Wales
David Horsey Wilmslow, England
Rory McIlroy Holywood, Northern Ireland
Llewellyn Matthews Bidgend, Wales
Jamie Moul Colchester, England
John Parry Knaresborourgh, England
Lloyd Saltman Gorebridge, Scotland
Daniel Willett Sheffield, England
-UF-
