Billy Hurley III will miss the Open to attend sister's wedding
Last Updated: 29/06/16 12:01pm
Billy Hurley III has revealed he has turned down his place in the Open at Troon following his maiden PGA Tour title in the Quicken Loans National on Sunday.
The 34-year-old received the invite after his victory at Congressional in Maryland but has decided that his sister's wedding takes priority over his second ever Open in Scotland.
The American has been replaced by compatriot Jim Herman in the field, with Australia's Marcus Fraser now first reserve ahead of former world No 1 Luke Donald and Daniel Summerhays.
Hurley III seemed an unlikely winner at the Quicken Loans National event, but the former Naval officer stunned his friends and family as he raced to a 17-under-par three-shot victory in his hometown.
He had missed six cuts this year, but Sunday's win lifted him from 607th to No 169 in the world rankings, secured his PGA Tour card and significantly changed his schedule for the next year.
Despite now qualifying for the Open in Troon, Hurley III said the decision to forgo his fifth major championship appearance was an easy decision.
"I wouldn't miss my sister's wedding for the world, and I think at this point in time for me and my family and the trajectory of our family, it's very important for me to be there to support her and her new husband," Hurley III said Tuesday in his pre-tournament press conference for the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
"It was a pretty easy decision at the end of the day."
"She tried not to really influence me a ton Sunday night," Hurley III added, "but I called her while I was playing today and she started crying. So she was pretty thrilled that I'll be there."
Family is important to Hurley III, and it was no surprise how popular his win was given that it came just a year after he used an impromptu press conference at the same tournament to appeal for the safe return of his father, who had gone missing.
Willard Hurley Jr was found a day later on July 31, but on August 13 was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 61-years-old.
It had been a tough road for Hurley III in the immediate aftermath of his father's death, who failed twice to regain his PGA Tour card, ultimately coming up $394 (£298) short after playing in the four-week Web.com Tour Finals.
It meant that he was hugely reliant on sponsor's invites to events this season, but had so far had only managed a best of T42 at the AT&T Byron Nelson event. It seemed fitting the former navy officer should win an event that honours military veterans this week with his invitation to Congressional, which is a nod from tournament host Tiger Woods to his late father Earl.
"It's been a hard year. It's been a really hard year," Hurley said. "So it's nice to have something go well. Ernie Els said after I holed the last putt something like, 'You know, I think your dad's looking down really proud of you'.
"It couldn't be a better tournament to win from all the facets of it. From us being close to home, being close to the academy, close to where I grew up. I mean, it's just perfect."
While he may not be making an appearance at Troon, Hurley III will be playing in this week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, as well as the US PGA Championship and his first ever Masters at Augusta National next April.
