We have another first-time winner on the PGA TOUR this season! Billy Hurley III won his first PGA TOUR event, the 14th person to do so this year, at the 2016 Quicken Loans National. This win qualifies him for next month’s Open Championship and also gives him entry into next week’s WGC Bridgestone Invitational, the PGA Championship, FedExCup Playoffs, The Masters, as well as exemption on the PGA TOUR through the 2017-18 season.
The course is not far from his Annapolis home and the Naval Academy he graduated from 12 years ago. It is fitting that this would be the course where he could capture his first victory – a hometown win! Hurley shot a 2-under 69 during the final found to finish at 17-under par, three strokes ahead of Vijay Singh.
The poise he developed at the Naval Academy and during his five years of service definitely helped Hurley down the stretch. An extremely high level of mental toughness and focus is required to deal with adversity during a round of golf and Hurley passed with flying colours. All week, galleries were full of fans supporting the local who grew up in Leesburg, Virginia, chanting “Maryland” and “21412,” the zip code for the Naval Academy. Hurley proudly wears Navy colours, including a club head cover of the Academy’s goat mascot. In the video above, watch highlights from his first career victory!
Source: PGA Tour
