The Open star doesn't hold back on Padraig Harrington's comments – 'Stupidest thing!'
Billy Horschel has snapped back at Padraig Harrington after the Irishman suggested hosting The Open Championship abroad. This year's tournament returns to Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland for the first time since 2019, when Shane Lowry lifted the trophy.
Harrington, a two-time winner in 2007 and 2008, will once again be in the hunt. Earlier this year, the 53-year-old stirred some controversy by suggesting The Open could be held in other nations, including France and Australia.
These proposals surfaced as speculation swirled around the possibility of hosting the event in the Republic of Ireland for the first time.
"If it goes outside of the UK and comes down south to the Republic, you're kind of saying it can go anywhere," he told Bunkered."I'm not saying now, but who knows, in 100 years we could be down in the sandbelt in Australia.
"Even 20 years, why not? There's also great links golf courses in the Netherlands. France have great links courses. I don't think it should ever go off a links course.
"But who says we shouldn't go down to the great links in New Zealand? The R&A is a global entity and they run golf around the world, they do a great job."
When asked about these remarks during an episode of The Fried Egg Podcast, Horschel strongly pushed back. He labelled the proposal as absurd, saying: "The stupidest freaking thing I've ever heard. I'm happy if that goes viral.
"You're going to move The Open Championship from links-style courses, and if you play them on links-style courses in other countries, it's not the same as being played in the UK.
"I'm okay with going to Ireland and playing Portmarnock. I love that golf course, I think it's great. I played it during the Walker Cup practice session [in 2007].
"But to take it outside the UK, I just can't think of a course outside of the [British Isles] that would fit the feel and everything that is The Open Championship. I hope it doesn't happen. I'm old school, I always want to see it played in the UK."
The 2025 edition is scheduled for Royal Birkdale, with St Andrews lined up for 2027. Organisers have yet to finalise other upcoming venues, though it's expected that the 2028 tournament may be moved on the calendar to avoid overlapping with the Summer Olympics.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
21 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Adam Idah earns Celtic dressing room support as misfiring striker absolved from Champions League blame game
The £9million Irishman had another night to forget as his goal drought continued Adam Idah can't buy a goal right now. But Callum McGregor is certain the drought won't last much longer. The £9million striker has endured a tough start to the campaign, drawing a blank in his first three games and finding himself hooked at half-time of Celtic's most lucrative clash of the season. Idah was anonymous against Kairat Almaty as Celts stumbled to a goalless draw in their Champions League play-off first leg. Brendan Rodgers wasted no time in making a change, with Yang thrown on the left and Daizen Maeda moved through the middle. The switch gave Celtic more urgency, but they couldn't find the crucial goal that would have left them in pole position to secure a £40million league phase windfall. Idah will be desperate to get off the mark this weekend against Livingston - if he's given the nod - before the gruelling 10-hour flight to Kazakhstan. And skipper McGregor is convinced the misfiring Irishman just needs one goal to spark him into life. He said: "I think everybody looks at strikers and they think they need a goal. 'The big man started well to be fair. I think he's worked hard for the team, it just maybe wasn't his night, but we're just trying to go for something different there, a wee bit more pace through the middle of the pitch. 'So, the gaffer makes the tweaks and the players try and carry it out as much as they can. 'I think everyone thinks strikers need goals to be doing well. The big man will be fine. "He'll come back in, he'll train over the weekend, we'll get him on the pitch at the weekend and hopefully he can get that goal." It's not as if Idah doesn't know where the net is. He hit 20 goals last term - including a Champions League double away to Aston Villa and a derby strike at Ibrox. McGregor stressed the team also has a role in helping him rediscover that form. McGregor said: "It's not just on Adam as well, the team have to function properly, get him the right chances in front of goal to get those goals. 'So, it's a team thing, it's never one individual that's tasked with carrying the whole team on his shoulders. It's a team thing. 'We have to be connected, we've got to get him the chances inside the box and then it's up to him to then put them away. But we never done enough of that in the first half.' Supporters made their fury clear as chants of 'Sack the Board' echoed around the stadium during the second half and again at full-time. Fans aimed their anger at the directors' box after another window of frustration left Rodgers short of the signings he wanted. McGregor has been in this movie before and says the players need to shut out the noise and rally together. He said: 'We have to stick together. The strength of this club has been when we're together. So many good moments. 'Even in the bad moments, we have to stick together. And we've drawn the game. We never played as well as what everyone hoped we would. 'The players are the same. We go home and we're as upset about the game as anyone as well. 'We're all in it together, we all feel the same pain. But we have to stay positive. It's a massive 10 days or so for the club. 'So, we need everyone, we need the backing, players need to come to the fore in two, three huge games before the international break. 'We've had a lot of success for a long time and that's come from everybody being together and moving in the right direction and the fans and the players being connected. So, this is no different. 'It doesn't change because we drew the game nil-nil tonight. Yes, we want better, we expect better, and we want to be in the Champions League. So, now it's up to the players to deliver that." Now, Rodgers' men face the daunting task of becoming the first Scottish side ever to win on Kazakh soil. Anything less than victory in Almaty will see their dreams of reaching the Champions League proper for a fourth year running in tatters. McGregor said: "It's a big test, and that's it. I think when you play at this club, you have to be ready for the big test. The players have had so many big moments that they've come through together. 'It's a strong squad, with a lot of experience and we'll have to draw on all of that. And what a challenge to go there and win and if we do that, then we're in the Champions League and that's where we want to be. "It makes it a wee bit easier now that you have to actually now go there and win. The mindset is attack the game, do everything that we did tonight but just score, basically. Do it a bit better. 'So, that'll probably be the template for the game anyway. You have to block out the noise, we have to go there, perform and if we perform, I believe we'll win." A 3,500-mile trek to the edge of Europe doesn't make it any easier. But McGregor won't accept excuses. He added: "Of course it's difficult and we have to deal with it, there's been a lot of things put in place and everybody trying to help us, but ultimately the players when we go out the pitch, we have to be ready. "There's now no excuse. We have to win the game and if we don't, then it'll be on us.'
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Ian Wright shows his true colours as Roy Keane fights back tears looking at photograph
Roy Keane may have been one of football's toughest personalities during his playing days, but a rare wave of emotion hit him during a recent podcast appearance Ian Wright displayed his comforting side after Roy Keane was blind-sided by a wave of emotion, after looking at an old photograph of his parents. The Manchester United legend struggled to hold back the tears as he showed a picture of his mother and father at the old Wembley Stadium to Jill Scott, Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher and Wright during a recent podcast appearance. Keane's father Maurice passed away at the age of 79 years old in August 2019, after suffering a stroke towards the end of 2018. For many football fans, it would have been the first time they saw Keane's emotions get the better of him. What would have been less shocking was the sight of Wright immediately comforting the Irishman. The Arsenal legend, who has a long track record of kind gestures, displayed his caring and sympathetic side. On the latest episode of the Stick to Football podcast, Keane showed the photograph to his colleagues. As he did, the ex-United skipper said: "You're on about photos, look at that there. "You're on about family, the ups and downs of football. But when you see your family at Wembley after you've won a big game..." When Neville took the photograph from the Irishman, Keane could be seen reaching over to Wright, before tapping his leg. The former Gunner then turned towards him and put his hand on his shoulder, while Keane tried to hold back the tears. Wright then said "it's a good one" and "that's beautiful" before asking for the photo back, so he could take another look at it with Keane. After seeing Keane's emotions, Scott said: "That's why photographs are so good to keep aren't they? Like, some people have the photographs instead of [having them] on their phone." Keane then revealed another picture of himself as a youngster and said: "I'm in a United top there but that is my brother's. I think the Spurs one was sold out," before saying he would have been 13 years old at the time. The emotional moment was not the only time the pundits, who often find themselves having heated debates with each other, took a trip down memory lane. The ex-players all brought in copies of old contracts they signed during their early days in the game. He displayed a four-year deal he signed in his early days playing for United, which saw him earn £1million a year. There was also a clause which stated the club would supplement some flights from Manchester to his home Cork. Reading out that part of his deal, he said: "The club will provide 20 return flights Manchester/Cork/Manchester for the use of the player, his partner and children for each year of this contract commencing from 1 July 2002."
Daily Record
4 hours ago
- Daily Record
Has Brendan Rodgers been backed by Celtic board? Every penny they've spent since his return
Fans have vented their fury about the lack of spending this summer with just 11 days remaining in the window Celtic fans have grown restless with the club's perceived lack of ambition in the transfer market for a number of years. But those frustrations reached fever pitch on Wednesday night as supporters chanted 'sack the board' during the goalless draw with Kairat Almaty that has left Brendan Rodgers ' side with some work to do in the second leg of their Champions League play-off if they want to bank the £40million jackpot up for grabs. The Irishman has held his tongue on the restricted spending power, but has reiterated that the Hoops can't expect to make further inroads on the European stage if they are not willing to invest into the playing squad. Seven first team signings have arrived through the doors at Lennoxtown so far this summer but fans are desperate to see their club splash some serious cash on attacking reinforcements, with links to the likes of Michel-Ange Balikwisha and David Strelec not going anywhere. But just how much have Celtic spent since Rodgers' second spell in Glasgow's East End began over two years ago? Record Sport has you covered with all the incomings and the fees involved in that time frame. 2025 Summer Transfer Window Money spent (approximately): £2.75million With 11 days of the window still remaining, the champions have spent just shy of £3million. While they have spent a decent chunk of cash in wages to bring Kieran Tierney back from Arsenal on a free transfer, the only players to arrive for fees so far are Benjamin Nygren (£1.2million), Hayato Inamura (£250,000) and Shin Yamada (£1.2million). Celtic have paid a nominal development fee to sign young striker Callum Osmand on loan from Fulham while Ross Doohan arrived on a free transfer from Aberdeen and centre back Jahmal Simpson-Pusey has been snapped up on loan from Manchester City. 2025 January Transfer Window Money spent (approximately): £9million The Hoops did get the chequebook out back in January but that was largely down to the departure of Kyogo Furuhashi. The Japan striker moved to Rennes in Ligue 1 in a deal worth £10million, paving the way for Celtic to re-sign Portuguese winger Jota from the French club for a fee in the region of £8.4million, just 18 months after he left Parkhead for £25million to join Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League. The only other bit of business in the winter window saw English Premier League veteran Jeffrey Schlupp sign on a loan deal for the remainder of the campaign from Crystal Palace. 2024 Summer Transfer Window Money spent (approximately): £30million Celtic's biggest spending window to date came six months earlier at the start of last season. The Parkhead giants' outlay passed the £30million mark, with the club smashing their transfer record to recruit Arne Engels from Augsburg for £11million. A hefty £6million was also parted with to land Sheffield United defender Auston Trusty while Adam Idah and Paulo Bernardo were signed on permanent deals for £8.5million and £3.4million following successful loan spells. Goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo and Dundee playmaker Luke McCowan cost Celtic in the region of £1million each while Barcelona's Alex Valle was signed on loan. But those dealings were once again offset by one major departure, with the Hoops receiving £25million from Brighton for Denmark star Matt O'Riley. 2024 January Transfer Window Money spent (approximately): £3million Rodgers' only welcomed two new faces into the club during the mid-season window in the 2023/24 campaign, only one of which required them to pay a transfer fee. Nicolas Kuhn was snapped up from Rapid Vienna for around £3million, with Celtic going onto make a more than tidy profit when they sold the German winger to Como in Serie A for £16.5million earlier this summer. Adam Idah arrived on loan from Norwich City and nine strikes in 19 matches convinced Rodgers and Parkhead chiefs to push the boat out to sign him permanently 12 months ago. 2023 Summer Transfer Window Money spent (approximately) : £18million The former Liverpool boss' first summer back in Glasgow saw a decent bit of cash invested in the squad. The biggest outlay was reserved for Polish defender Maik Nawrocki, with Celtic forking out £4.3million for the Legia Warsaw centre back. The rest of the spending was made up with the captures of Luis Palma (£3.5million), Odin Thiago Holm (£2.5million), Marco Tilio (£1.5million), Yang (£2.1million), Kwon Hyeok-kyu (£1million) and Gustaf Lagerbielke (£3million). Aussie kid Liam Bonetig was also signed from Western Sydney Wanderers for a nominal fee. Liverpool's Nat Phillips and Benfica's Bernardo were both recruited on loan deals, with Celtic signing the latter on a permanent basis in the following summer.
