England’s Sam Horsfield will be returning to the U.S. with plenty of momentum for this week’s PGA Championship.
Horsfield shot 3-under 68 on Sunday for a 13-under 271 total at Rinkven International Golf Club in Antwerp, Belgium, and two-stroke victory at the Soudal Open. He embraced girlfriend/caddie Issi Bryon on the 18th green after his third title on the DP World Tour and first victory in nearly two years.
“I was trying not to cry while I was over that little tap-in,” Horsfield said behind the 18th green. His regular caddie, Michael “Mick” Seaborn, was home dealing with a family health issue.
“Having Issi on the bag, it’s been an amazing week,” Horsfield said. “Mick’s not here, but I wish he was. I was able to do it for him, and I’m just so happy.
“I thought about him a lot, especially on the back nine.”
Horsfield, who was making only his second start after a two-month absence because of a back injury earlier this year, came into the Soudal Open at No. 110 in the world. He is projected to rise to a career-high No. 61.
New Zealand’s Ryan Fox and Germany’s Yannick Paul shared second place at 11-under 273. American Chase Hanna birdied four of his final five holes to tie for fourth with South Africa’s Oliver Bekker at 10-under. Belgium’s Thomas Pieters tied for ninth, six strokes behind Horsfield, to lead the home contingent in their national open.
Horsfield, 25, who was born in Manchester, England, moved with his family to suburban Orlando when he was 5 and grew up in the States, where he played college golf at Florida. He turned pro in 2017 and medaled at the European Tour Qualifying School but needed 2½ years before posting his first victory, at the 2020 Hero Open. His second one quickly followed, two weeks later at the Celtic Classic.
He pointed to his 33-foot birdie putt on No. 7 Sunday as a big key to winning the Soudal Open.
“To make that long putt and get a little momentum myself, that was really big,” Horsfield said. “I just played really solid all week.”
He tied for 49th last year in his PGA Championship debut.
Perhaps the biggest story of the week, though, came from a teen who made his DP World Tour debut on his home course.
Ukrainian Lev Grinberg opened with rounds of 70-69 for a 3-under 139 total through 36 holes, becoming the second-youngest player in tour history to qualify for weekend play. Grinberg, at 14 years, 6 months and 6 days of age, is a month older than China’s Tianlang Guan was when he made the cut at the 2013 Masters.
Though Grinberg faded into T-64 on the weekend after rounds of 76 and 74, his performance didn’t go unnoticed among other competitors.
England’s Matthew Southgate called Grinberg’s performance in qualifying for the final two rounds “absolutely incredible,” adding that it was “right up there with the greatest sporting achievements this year.”
Speaking on Golf Channel, Grinberg certainly didn’t shy away from the big stage.
“For me, there’s only two places: the first and the rest,” he said.
Staff and Wire Reports