Billy Horschel’s wife tweeted the confession a day after he edged out Jason Day to win the Byron Nelson on Sunday, his first PGA Tour win since taking golf’s biggest prize cheque at the FedEx Cup three years ago.
Horschel fell to world No. 81 after the Farmers Insurance Open earlier this year, his lowest ranking since breaking into the top 100 in mid-2016, and was 76th heading to Texas after three straight missed cuts.
After the victory, a visibly emotional Horschel said: “Life gets in the way sometimes. I’m not able to talk about it right now. But it’s just a lot of stuff happened in the last year and this is just – this is nice.”
On Monday, his wife of two years and mother of their two daughters tweeted a statement.
“I write this nervously, skeptically, but also proudly because I have embraced the woman I have become over the past year,” she wrote. “I am an alcoholic.
“I say that now without shame. Admitting that to myself, family and friends has saved my life and marriage. However, the last year has not come without its extreme struggles as Billy alluded to yesterday.”
Brittany went on to explain that she has spent a few weeks last year being treated in Florida. She added that Horschel “silently battled through, with support from family and close friends, a very sad, scary and trying time”.
“This weekend marked one year sober for me, but also marked a very hard fought year for Billy,” she said. “He deserves to soak in the glory of his win yesterday, throw his feet up and and just let out a long, deep breath.”
i would like to share why yesterday's win had some extra emotions for my hubby, @BillyHo_Golf xo pic.twitter.com/2yDyhm8kRR
— brittany horschel (@britt_horschel) May 22, 2017
Horschel himself later tweeted in support of his wife.
Proud of the journey that my wife is on! She is an amazing mother and unbelievable wife! https://t.co/4Q1TVeUCQV
— Billy Horschel (@BillyHo_Golf) May 22, 2017
The 30-year-old courted controversy as recently as the Players Championship earlier this month when he threw his putter at his caddie and storming off the green before his playing partners had finished the hole.
Even I treat my caddies with more respect than this pic.twitter.com/QA725V88rc
— Shooter McGavin (@ShooterMcGavin_) May 12, 2017
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Alex Perry
