Golf: Patience makes perfect for Horschel at Open

Patience was never Billy Horschel’s virtue, but with some maturing and work with a psychologist, he now finds himself among the leaders at the US Open, where patience is crucial.

The 26-year-old American, who missed the cut at the 2006 US Open in his only prior major start, fired a three-under 67 on Friday to seize the clubhouse lead at the 113th US Open at Merion on one-under 139 for 36 holes.

“Patience is something that has always been a struggle for me,” Horschel said. “I’m doing a really good job of it this week, staying patient and just taking what’s in front of me.

“If I do have a stretch of bad holes, it’s not that I don’t hit the panic button. I just don’t press right away.”

That philosophy has made this a breakthrough season for Horschel, who shared second at the Houston Open and third at the Texas Open before winning his first US PGA Tour title at New Orleans in April.

“I’ve acquired some patience, not as much as I wish I had, but I just think the older I get, the more mature I get on the golf course, the more understanding I have,” Horschel said.

“You’re going to have a couple of bad holes but if you get in a flow you can sort of get something going. The older I get, the more I can understand that I don’t have to get off to a hot start.

“I don’t have as much patience as a lot of guys out here, but I’ve grown week in and week out.

“No matter how bad I hit it or how bad my short game is or how bad I’m putting during the practice round days, once I get to Thursday I flip a switch and find some way to play well.”

With US Open courses arranged to test a player’s patience, his willingness not to shoot at pins or to take pars and move on, Horschel would figure to be at a disadvantage on a layout where every errant shot carries a punishment.

But Horschel on Friday became the first US Open golfer to hit every green in regulation since the statistic originated in 1992.

“Everything seems good,” Horschel said. “I’ve just got to stay patient. If I can execute every shot, that’s all I can try to do.”

Some of the credit for Horschel’s success goes to Fran Pirozzolo, his sport psychologist for the past year.

“In the past, I’ve felt more comfortable coming from behind,” Horschel said. “But with Fran in the picture, I’m more comfortable with being in the lead or near the lead going into the weekend.

“It’s just all about limiting distractions and not thinking about scenarios, what happens if I win or anything. It’s just focusing on what I do best and that’s playing golf.”

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