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With less than two weeks until the year’s second major, Billy Horschel delivered disappointing news: the eight-time PGA Tour winner will undergo right hip surgery, forcing him to miss the PGA Championship and several marquee events during the heart of the season. Horschel initially withdrew from the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, citing a “lower body injury,” disappointing fans eager to see him pair up with Tom Hoge. The two-time Zurich champion—once as an individual in 2013 and again in the team format alongside Scott Piercy in 2018—was a favorite heading into the event at TPC Louisiana. First alternate Kevin Chappell replaced Horschel in the lineup.

At the time, Horschel expressed hope that a few days of rest and recovery would be enough. But after further medical consultations, the decision was made to undergo surgery in Colorado next week. “It’s an unfortunate situation with so many great events left on the calendar,” Horschel posted on X. “But this is a preventative measure. I’m already itching to start rehab, get back to practicing, and I look forward to returning to the course sometime around late summer or early fall.” Horschel’s announcement was accompanied by a heartfelt video thanking fans, sponsors, and his support team. It was a sobering update for a player showing glimpses of strong form this spring, including a solo fourth-place finish at the Valspar Championship. Though he missed the cut at Augusta, he rebounded with a respectable T27 at the RBC Heritage.

Now, his focus shifts from tournament prep to recovery. The timing is especially frustrating, with the PGA Championship just nine days away and the summer stretch of high-stakes golf looming. Still, Horschel remains optimistic, vowing to keep fans updated on his rehab progress and target a return later this season. In a sport where physical wear and tear is often hidden behind polished swings, Horschel’s transparency and professionalism shine through, even from the sidelines. Yet as Horschel steps away from competition to focus on recovery, some observers can’t help but notice a troubling trend—one that suggests his latest setback may not be an isolated incident.

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Pattern or coincidence? Horschel’s surprise Zurich Classic and 3M Open withdrawals

Billy Horschel’s sudden exit from the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in April sent ripples through the golf world—not only because of the timing, but also because it echoes a recent pattern that fans and insiders can’t ignore. The fact that Horschel, a two-time winner at Zurich and one of the tournament’s most visible ambassadors, withdrew just hours after appearing at a major sponsorship announcement alongside PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan raised more questions than answers. While Horschel was quick to clarify his absence was due to a lower-body injury, the abrupt nature of the decision, coming after public commitments, reminded many of his similarly unexpected withdrawal from the 3M Open in July 2024. That time, it was fever, aches, and a locked-up back that kept him from competing. Now, just nine days away from the PGA Championship, this latest development has sparked renewed concerns about the 37-year-old’s physical durability.

Horschel is known for his intensity and competitiveness, but these back-to-back mid-season exits beg the question: is there an underlying health issue that hasn’t been fully disclosed? Or are these simply unfortunate coincidences in a grueling tour schedule? For fans, the disappointment goes beyond logistics. Horschel is a crowd favorite—especially in New Orleans, where his track record and personality have made him a staple. And for the PGA Tour, the optics of a prominent player bowing out just after a high-profile event add to a growing list of challenges during a period of flux in the sport. Whether this is a blip or a trend remains to be seen. But as Horschel now prepares for hip surgery, questions around his long-term schedule—and the impact on events that count on his star power—aren’t going away anytime soon.