Billy Horschel was very emotional after winning the AT&T Byron Nelson Classic on Sunday. His wife, Brittany, shed some light as to why the four-time PGA Tour winner felt so relieved to have something positive happen.
"One year ago, I began a journey to a healthy me; mentally and physically," Brittany Horschel wrote on Twitter. "I will keep this simple, 'I am an alcoholic.' I say that now without shame. Admitting that to myself, family and friends has saved my life and marriage."
Brittany mentioned that she spent two months in a rehab facility last year to treat her ongoing alcohol dependency.
"During that time," Brittany said in the Twitter statement, "Billy had to take on the 100-percent responsibility of taking care of our then 1 1/2 year old daughter, moving us into our new home, competing on Tour and God only knows what else and what all went through that man's head during that time. He silently battled through, with support from family and close friends, a very sad, scary and trying time."
Billy Horschel was asked by reporters why the win invoked such an emotional reaction. He did not get into Brittany's situation, but he did hint at off-the course struggles.
"Life gets in the way sometimes, and it's truly special to be winning on something on a day like this," he said Sunday afternoon. "Honestly, 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."
Brittany stated in her letter that this past weekend also marked her one-year anniversary of sobriety. After her post, Billy tweeted his support, saying, in part: "Proud of the journey that my wife is on!"
The couple has two daughters. The youngest, Colbie Rae, was born just last month.
Horschel will be back in action this week at the Dean & DeLuca Invitational at Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas.
