The Open: It’s in the bag for Hammers fan Horschel

World No25 Billy Horschel is adding some extra colour to The Open at Royal St George’s this week — by showing off a new football-themed golf bag.

Horschel, 34, has been a West Ham fan since his college years and sees this weekend as the perfect opportunity to show his love for the Hammers, with a claret and blue bag sporting the London’s club’s crest. 

Explaining his choice on Instgram, Horschel said: "I haven’t had a bag sponsor for over a year and half, so I’ve been able to do some unique bags.

"That’s why I’ve been able to rock my Florida Gator colours and support them, as I always will. 

“But I’ve also been a West Ham United fan, as some of you guys know.  

"I saw Green Street Hooligans — starring Charlie Hunman and Elijah Wood — and just absolutely fell in love with West Ham United and supported them since then."

Looking ahead to this weekend’s 149th Open Championship, Horschel said: "We’re not far from London so why not do a West Han United bag? Claret and blue, with a West Ham United crest on it. 

"So that is the bag I will be rocking this week. Hopefully it will bring me some luck and some support from my fellow Hammers."

Horschel received a text out of the blue from West Ham captain Mark Noble after winning the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play in March.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Horschel said: "I've never met Mark but he got my number from Francesco Molinari [another golfing West Ham fan] and sent me a text.

"That was one of the coolest things and we were texting back and forth."