“I don't like it!” – Billy Horschel reflects on his pre-shot routine
Billy Horschel opened up about his pre-shot routine as he prepares to compete in this week's DP World Tour event. The American golfer entered the field for the 2024 FedEx Open de France and will tee off this week. He has already started his practice sessions, and recently the DP World Tour uploaded a video of the 37-year-old explaining his pre-shot routine.
Horschel revealed that he used to go a little halfway before taking a shot and then made sure that his clubs were outside his hands the way he wanted before hitting the shot. He made changes to his swing and started practicing "making a full backswing." This was something he began in 2023, and although he claimed to not "like it," he continues to do it because it has been working for him.
Speaking of his pre-shot routine, Horschel said:
"My normal pre-shot routine over the ball for many years has just been go a little halfway, go about halfway back. Check to just make sure the club's outside my hands the way I want. Somewhere, it may have started in 2023... I started making a full backswing. You know, going to halfway then making a full backswing afterwards. You know, where I wanted the club and feel how I loaded in the hip. I just kept doing it. ..."
"I don't like it! I want to only do the half one, but ... but right now, the way I have to feel it ... I have to feel like I ... sometimes I need to make a fuller backswing to feel like the club stays outside my hands. The club stays in front of my chest on the way back, and I feel like I unload with my right leg. So yeah, it's ... it annoys me at times, but it's been working, so I haven't been in too much of a worry or hurry to try and change it," he added.
Billy Horschel will tee off in this week's Open de France tournament starting Thursday, 10 October. The DP World Tour event will take place at Le Golf National and conclude on Sunday, 13 October.
A look into Billy Horschel's performance in 2024
Horschel had some decent finishes on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour in 2024. On the PGA Tour, he competed in 23 tournaments and had one victory. He won the 2024 Corales Puntacana Championship after playing four rounds of 67, 69, 66, and 63.
In addition to his win, Horschel had been impressive in other tournaments. He was the runner-up at The Open Championship and recorded seven top-10 finishes. He had only missed six cuts on the PGA Tour in 2024.
Meanwhile, on the DP World Tour, Horschel had only competed in two tournaments. He won the 2024 BMW PGA Championship by defeating Rory McIlroy and Thriston Lawrence in a playoff. However, following his win, he then played at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship but missed the cut.