Billy Horschel encourages his compatriots to play more often on the DP World Tour

4th in the Race, the American Billy Horschel, present for the final in Dubai, says he would like to come and play on the European Tour. And he would like his PGA Tour colleagues to do the same.

LV, in Dubai

He is obviously very happy to be there. His good humor shone through this Tuesday on the driving range of the Jumeirah Golf Estatesbetween frank and warm handshakes and great bursts of laughter. Invited to meet the media at the end of the morning, Billy Horschel37, recent winner of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, has once again let his heart speak. Yes, the Floridian likes to come and play on the DP World Tour.

« I have a different vision of golf and the world of golfhe declares. I grew up watching the European Tour. I grew up imagining coming here and participating in these events, and even when I turned professional early in my career, I continued to watch a lot of these events. My university coach told me that if I wanted to become a world-class player, I had to travel all over the world and win tournaments. »

When I think of the game of golf, I think of traveling the world, having your picture taken with fans, signing autographs.

Billy Horschel

A barely veiled message to his colleagues on the PGA Tour, who are reluctant to travel the world in search of other sensations, other cultures… A question of mentality, quite simply.

« I don't blame the guys in Americahe adds. That's the decision they made, but when the Tour started 20 years ago to have much better financial results than the DP World, or the European Tour at the time, it changed the way whose things the players saw. They didn't need to travel and became very America-centric. »

« I don't blame themhe continues. When I think of the game of golf, I think of traveling the world, having your picture taken with fans, signing autographs. And I honestly think they would also grow as people, traveling more around the world and experiencing more different cultures and languages. I always encourage guys to travel and come play even if it's just a few events a year. Afterwards, it's their decision and they do what is best for them. It's their choice. I can't blame them. »

I also became a much better person, I guarantee you, by having to understand different cultures.

Billy Horschel

One thing is certain, the former winner of the 2014 FedEx Cup, who is playing his second this week DP World Tour Championship after that of 2021 (he finished 32nd), became a better golfer by coming more often to confront the game practiced on the European Tour.

« I think I improved my game by participating in The Open and playing more often Dunhill Links For examplehe concludes. I also became a much better person, I guarantee you, by having to understand different cultures. Also trying to communicate with people who maybe don't speak English as well or I maybe don't speak their language as well… It's actually made me a better person in every way, including in my golf game. »

Photo : Richard Heathcote/Getty Images