Billy Horschel had a chance to win the British Open. He said it will motivate him in the future

Billy Horschel showed his usual fight on Sunday in the final round of the Open Championship — even when it no longer mattered.

Horschel, a Ponte Vedra Beach resident, native of Grant-Valkaria who graduated from Palm Bay-Bayside High, and former University of Florida All-American, posted his best major championship finish on Sunday at Royal Troon with a tie for second, after he held the 54-hole lead by one shot. He shot 68 for a total of 7-under-par 277.

The day began well enough with a birdie putt of 23 feet, 3 inches at No. 1, and subsequent birdie rolls of 9-7 at No. 4 and one of 15-9 at No. 6.

But Horschel missed a putt of less than 3 feet for par at No. 8 and bogeyed the 10th.

By that time, winner Xander Schauffele was well on his way to a closing 65 and a 9-under total of 275.

How did Billy Horschel finish his day at Troon?

However, Horschel wasn't done. He forged his way into the tie for second with Justin Rose with three closing birdies, of 4, 4-8 and 2-5 feet.

"It's what's in my DNA," he said during his post-round news conference. "I'm going to always fight, always going to battle until the end ... I started off great, making birdie on the first hole. Hit a wayward shot on No. 3 there to make bogey, but came back with birdies at 4 and 6. Obviously, lost momentum and [Nos.] 8 and 10 when Xander was makiing a runaway charge."

Horschel also nearly holed a bunker shot at No. 5 and missed 1 16-foot birdie putt attempt at No. 7.

"Just missed [at No. 5]," he said. "I've had about six or seven of those this week, bunker shots and chips that just burned the edge."

Billy Horschel earned a spot in the 2025 Masters

The consolation is that Horschel ensured himself a spot in the only major he didn't play this year, The Masters at Augusta National. He wasn't eligible at the time but The Masters offers spots to the top four in the Open.

Horschel was making his 43rd major championship start. It was his third top 10 but two have come this year. He tied for eighth at the PGA at Valhalla and tied for 41st in the U.S. Open at Pinehurst.

Horschel also has made 14 of his last 18 major championship.

It was his first 54-hole lead in a major and in the aftermath, he couldn't hide his feelings.

"I'm disappointed ... I should feel disappointed," he said. "I had a chance to win a major. I was in a really good position. I just didn't play — I just made a few too many mistakes today when I didn't need to."

He shouldn't feel too bad, though. His second-place tie also earned him a cool $1.4 million.

Billy Horschel ready to 'step through the door'

However, Horschel was looking ahead to a time when he will start drawing from the positives of the week.

He figured it wouldn't take long.

"We'll look back on this in an hour, I'll be very happy with how I played, I'll be very happy with what I did this week," he said. "I did a lot of great things that I can take on to the next few years of majors, and hopefully one of these will be my time to step through the door and hold one of them."

High praise for Xander Schauffele, Thriston Lawrence

Horschel didn't just talk about himself. He praised Schauffele for a job well done and told playing partner Thriston Lawrence that he'd see him on the PGA Tour.

Horschel played with Schauffele for the first time in the 2017 FedEx St. Jude Classic and liked what he saw.

“I was really impressed with his game at that time,” Horschel said. “To see him improve, to see him grind and work hard and do everything the right way and have that attitude of trying to do everything you can to get better ... he deserves everything he’s gotten this year and what he’s going to get in the future.”

Horschel said Lawrence will soon become known outside the DP World Tour and the Sunshine Tour (South Africa), where he has won seven times combined.

“He’s a really good player,” Horschel said “He’s got a game that can compete at any level. We’re going to see more of him, not only on this stage but also on the PGA Tour.”

Billy Horschel reps West Ham

Horschel endeared himself to British football fans when he played in the Open with a bag sporting the logo of West Ham. He said he's a big fan of the Irons.

"Whenever I try to come over here, I try to get the West Ham bag out,” Horschel told Golf Digest said earlier in the week. “I love to hear "'Up the Hammers'" and "'Come on you Irons.'"

He said his affinity for West Ham began when he was at Florida and saw a movie "Green Street," which was about a group of hooligan fans. The lead character was a West Ham fan.

"I'm always watching their matches and any Premier Leagues actually, but I follow them [West Ham] very closely," he said. "I'm just a die hard supporter like I am for my Florida Gators."

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Billy Horschel had a chance to win the British Open. He said it will motivate him in the future