Sam Horsfield qualified for the U.S. Open by tying for third and advancing on a playoff at a sectional qualifier in Jacksonville last week.
Horsfield Ready for Second U.S. Open
Wednesday, June 15, 2016 | Men's Golf
OAKMONT, Pa. – University of Florida golfer Sam Horsfield will tee off the U.S. Open at 7:07 a.m. on Thursday at Oakmont Country Club. It will be the freshman's second-straight U.S. Open.
Horsfield punched his ticket to Oakmont after birdying a playoff hole at the Timuquana Country Club Section Qualifier in Jacksonville, Fla., last week. The Davenport, Fla., native entered into a five-man playoff for two spots after tying for third with a 36-hole total of -6 (138). The birdie earned him one of the four advancing spots from the sectional.
The U.S. Open marks Horsfield's second major. The recipient of the 2016 Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman Award, Horsfield will enter this week's tournament with the experience of the 2015 U.S. Open under his belt. He shot rounds of 75-76 to miss the cut at Chambers Bay only a couple months before kicking off his freshman campaign at UF.
Horsfield will be joined by another Gator, 2014 FedExCup champion Billy Horschel, at Oakmont this week. Horschel has six top-25 finishes, including three top-10 performances, in 13 events this season. His best finish came at the Valero Texas Open in April, where he tied for fourth.
In three U.S. Open appearances as a professional, Horschel has never placed outside the top 25. He tied for 25th in 2015, tied for 23rd in 2014 and tied for fourth in 2013.
Tee times begin Thursday at 6:45 a.m., with Horsfield opening his round shortly after and Horschel teeing off in the afternoon. The tournament runs Thursday through Sunday at Oakmont Country Club. The field will be cut to the lowest 60 scorers (plus anyone tied for 60th) following Round 2.
Head Coach JC Deacon
On Sam Horsfield competing in the major:
"Him playing in the U.S. Open last year is a big advantage for this year. He knew what to expect and is a little more comfortable with all the surrounding conditions. It's more about playing well and getting the job done this year instead of just going through the experience."
On his message to Sam Horsfield:
"You have to be below the hole. The greens are really, really quick, so you have to really think about where you're leaving your approach shots. You have to hit fairways. I think that's the biggest thing. Whatever club it is, you have to get the ball in the fairway. If you're in the rough this week, it's going to kick your butt.
Freshman Sam Horsfield
On if playing in the 2015 U.S. Open helped him prepare for this year's event:
"Yes, definitely. I'm not as starstruck by the people there. I'm just trying to treat it like another tournament."
On his key to success at Oakmont Country Club:
"I'm just focusing on hitting the fairways. If you miss the fairways, you get punished a lot, so I think that's the main thing I'm going to focus on."
His thoughts entering the U.S. Open:
"I'm just really excited to be playing in my second U.S. Open and my 12th USGA event. It's going to be a great experience, and I'm excited to get started."
Florida's Round 1 Pairings
7:07 a.m. – 1st Tee – Patrick Rodgers, SAM HORSFIELD (a), Andrew Johnston
1:36 p.m. – 10th Tee – Brandt Snedeker, Bill Haas, BILLY HORSCHEL
TV Coverage
Thursday, Round 1
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. – FOX Sports 1
5 p.m. - 8 p.m. – FOX
7:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. – Featured Groups Live Stream
7:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. – Featured Holes Live Stream
Friday, Round 2
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. – FOX Sports 1
5 p.m. - 8 p.m. – FOX
7:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. – Featured Groups Live Stream
7:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. – Featured Holes Live Stream
Saturday, Round 3
11 a.m. - 7 p.m. – FOX
4 p.m. - 7 p.m. – FOX Deportes
11 a.m. - 6 p.m. – Featured Groups Live Stream
11 a.m. - 6 p.m. – Featured Holes Live Stream
Sunday, Final Round
11 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. – FOX
4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. – FOX Deportes
11 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. – Featured Groups Live Stream
11 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. – Featured Holes Live Stream
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Horsfield punched his ticket to Oakmont after birdying a playoff hole at the Timuquana Country Club Section Qualifier in Jacksonville, Fla., last week. The Davenport, Fla., native entered into a five-man playoff for two spots after tying for third with a 36-hole total of -6 (138). The birdie earned him one of the four advancing spots from the sectional.
The U.S. Open marks Horsfield's second major. The recipient of the 2016 Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman Award, Horsfield will enter this week's tournament with the experience of the 2015 U.S. Open under his belt. He shot rounds of 75-76 to miss the cut at Chambers Bay only a couple months before kicking off his freshman campaign at UF.
Horsfield will be joined by another Gator, 2014 FedExCup champion Billy Horschel, at Oakmont this week. Horschel has six top-25 finishes, including three top-10 performances, in 13 events this season. His best finish came at the Valero Texas Open in April, where he tied for fourth.
In three U.S. Open appearances as a professional, Horschel has never placed outside the top 25. He tied for 25th in 2015, tied for 23rd in 2014 and tied for fourth in 2013.
Tee times begin Thursday at 6:45 a.m., with Horsfield opening his round shortly after and Horschel teeing off in the afternoon. The tournament runs Thursday through Sunday at Oakmont Country Club. The field will be cut to the lowest 60 scorers (plus anyone tied for 60th) following Round 2.
Head Coach JC Deacon
On Sam Horsfield competing in the major:
"Him playing in the U.S. Open last year is a big advantage for this year. He knew what to expect and is a little more comfortable with all the surrounding conditions. It's more about playing well and getting the job done this year instead of just going through the experience."
On his message to Sam Horsfield:
"You have to be below the hole. The greens are really, really quick, so you have to really think about where you're leaving your approach shots. You have to hit fairways. I think that's the biggest thing. Whatever club it is, you have to get the ball in the fairway. If you're in the rough this week, it's going to kick your butt.
Freshman Sam Horsfield
On if playing in the 2015 U.S. Open helped him prepare for this year's event:
"Yes, definitely. I'm not as starstruck by the people there. I'm just trying to treat it like another tournament."
On his key to success at Oakmont Country Club:
"I'm just focusing on hitting the fairways. If you miss the fairways, you get punished a lot, so I think that's the main thing I'm going to focus on."
His thoughts entering the U.S. Open:
"I'm just really excited to be playing in my second U.S. Open and my 12th USGA event. It's going to be a great experience, and I'm excited to get started."
Florida's Round 1 Pairings
7:07 a.m. – 1st Tee – Patrick Rodgers, SAM HORSFIELD (a), Andrew Johnston
1:36 p.m. – 10th Tee – Brandt Snedeker, Bill Haas, BILLY HORSCHEL
TV Coverage
Thursday, Round 1
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. – FOX Sports 1
5 p.m. - 8 p.m. – FOX
7:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. – Featured Groups Live Stream
7:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. – Featured Holes Live Stream
Friday, Round 2
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. – FOX Sports 1
5 p.m. - 8 p.m. – FOX
7:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. – Featured Groups Live Stream
7:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. – Featured Holes Live Stream
Saturday, Round 3
11 a.m. - 7 p.m. – FOX
4 p.m. - 7 p.m. – FOX Deportes
11 a.m. - 6 p.m. – Featured Groups Live Stream
11 a.m. - 6 p.m. – Featured Holes Live Stream
Sunday, Final Round
11 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. – FOX
4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. – FOX Deportes
11 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. – Featured Groups Live Stream
11 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. – Featured Holes Live Stream
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