COLUMBUS, Ohio — Hideki Matsuyama knows that golf can be cruel.
The Japanese golfer, winner of the Memorial in 2014 and the Masters in 2021, has dealt with a neck injury of late that has stolen some of his distance and forced him to sit out for a month. Asked how’s he feeling, he said, “I feel great. You never know, though, tomorrow morning.”
One day, you have the world by a string, you’re winning the Memorial and your dream of your family celebrating with you on the 18th green comes to fruition. That was Billy Horschel at the 2022 Memorial. One year later, he shot 84 and was holding back tears as he tried to process what had happened during a live interview. Horschel was sent packing on Friday but maybe with an ounce of confidence restored after making six birdies and shooting even-par 72.
That 12-stroke one-day improvement should provide some solace to Horschel as he searches for answers to how his game has soured since one of the crowning achievements of his career.
Justin Thomas’s dip from PGA Championship winner last May to missed cut at the Memorial isn’t as drastic as Horschel but he’s none too happy to be leaving Jack’s Place early and his game appears to have a few more holes in it than he would like with the U.S. Open less than two weeks away.
Among those players who were feeling great like Matsuyama on Friday? World No. 5 Xander Schauffele’s score improved by 11 shots – from an opening-round 77, his highest score since the second round of the 2022 Masters, to a second-round 66. Matt Kuchar went from 79 to 67. And how about nine-time Tour winner Brandt Snedeker, who shot 73-72—145 to make the cut in his first start since September after undergoing experimental surgery on his sternum. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler snuck in on the number — it took 3-over 147 or better to be among the 66 players moving on to the weekend — despite missing a short par putt at 18 that left him dismayed. Golf, it giveth and it taketh away.
As Horschel noted on Thursday, “As low as it feels, it feels like I’m not that far off at the same time. Which is insane to say when you see me shoot 84 today. It doesn’t, it wouldn’t make sense to a lot of people. But I don’t think I’m that far off.”
Confidence is knowing your best golf is still to come. Here are the notables who missed the cut and are hoping better golf for them is just around the corner.