The Open Championship runner-up Billy Horschel has hit back at claims he’s ‘fake and inauthentic’ following his best-ever major finish.
Horschel finished two shots behind eventual winner Xander Schauffele at Royal Troon, with the American earning plaudits from across the golfing world for his performance on a blustery weekend in western Scotland.
The iconic course took several major scalps during the first two rounds, including Tommy Fleetwood, Bryson DeChambeau and the under-pressure Rory McIlroy, who all missed the cut.
But Horschel battled hard and had topped the leaderboard heading into the final round, but ultimately fell short of picking up his maiden major victory.
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It wasn’t good enough for some though, with one disgruntled fan taking to social media to bemoan Horschel’s runner-up finish.
Posting on X, @ProGolfCritic said: "I think he's fake & inauthentic and outside of owning that, nothing will make me like him."
Horschel was understandably unimpressed, with the world No.33 replying: "I haven't replied to any one of your tweets about me over the past year because I felt no need to. But I am now.
“Feel free to ask around about me. One thing I am willing to bet you won't hear is that I'm fake or not authentic."
After coming so close to lifting the Claret Jug, the 37-year-old also issued a thank-you to his fans on social media.
In a one-and-a-half-minute clip posted to X, the golfer - sporting a West Ham United cap - said: “Hope everyone is having a great Monday, obviously a long flight from Scotland.
“Had a lot of time to think about yesterday [the final round], to read all of the support I received on social media, respond to a lot of those messages, respond to a lot of personal messages I got."
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He continued: “But thank you for all your support, it truly means a lot to me. It was a fun week, it was nearly a special week, but Xander played great golf… and to see him finally get his first major at the PGA [Championship] and then get another on two majors later is impressive.
“But for me, disappointed. I think it hit me on the plane how close I was to winning a major. The opportunity I had.
“We get back on the horse… so next time we’re in an opportunity to win a major, hopefully, we can capitalise on it and be the one holding the trophy at the end."
