Horschel intends to return

Billy Horschel began his final round so far off the pace he figured he’d need to shoot 10 or 11 under just to have a chance at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

As it turned out, the former University of Florida standout wasn’t too far off the mark after he closed with a stellar 7-under 66 to finish in a tie for sixth at 14-under 278 in his first trip around the spacious Plantation Course.

To hear him tell it, it won’t be his last time to play in this elite winners-only event, as confidence just oozes out of his 27-year-old frame in such a matter-of-fact way, it leaves little room for doubt.

"I’ve watched this on TV for many, many years," Horschel said. "It’s a great place. I’m sure I’ll be back for many years to come, and I look forward to starting my year here every year."

You don’t play on the PGA Tour without having belief in yourself and trust in your game, no matter what position you are in coming down the stretch. Horschel began the day at 7 under, tied for 19th and not on anyone’s mind for hoisting a trophy or taking home a new Hyundai.

But for him, it’s all about finding a way to win, no matter where you start the final round.

"You know, I’m not one of those guys who ever chucked it in," Horschel said. "You go back to people around me since I was a kid, no matter how bad I’m playing, I’m still going to go out there and play the best I can.

"I’m never going to go out there and half-ass it. If I’m 10 shots back, I’m not going to say, ‘Whatever, I can’t win this week. Just get me off this golf course I want to leave.’ I’m not that kind of person. I’m not born that way. My insides don’t turn that way."

Simpson keeps things in perspective

U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson had a lot on his mind this week as his caddie, Paul Tesori, kept a close eye on newborn son Isaiah, who is undergoing tests in a Jacksonville, Fla., hospital after suffering a seizure on Saturday.

Normally, Simpson would be playing at the Sony Open in Hawaii this week, but he will return to the mainland to be with Tesori and his wife, Michelle.

Simpson "borrowed" Bubba Watson’s caddie, Ted Scott, for this week’s winners-only event and even thought of going home to be with his friend, but opted to try to win one for Tesori. He fell a couple of shots shy of that goal, but the Tesori family is forever in Simpson’s debt for the attention they’ve received the past couple of days.

It prompted them to post this on their website:

"We are so blessed for all the support and prayers from our families …, our friends and the entire golf community. In the mere 36 hours he has been with us, our perfect little boy, Isaiah, has not only touched our hearts, he has touched thousands of lives. We continue to ask for prayers for baby Isaiah’s brain, heart and body as we await many test results over the coming weeks as well as prayers for the nurses and doctors tasked with loving and caring for him. Regardless of the results, Jeremiah 1:5 assures us this is all part of God’s perfect plan, and we will embrace whatever lies ahead for our family."

Kuchar bounces back; on to Sony

Had Matt Kuchar not bogeyed the par-5 ninth in Monday’s final round, who knows what the Georgia Tech graduate might have done over the closing nine. He had a rough round on Saturday that left him outside the ropes, but his closing 6-under 67 was good enough for a tie for sixth.

"I got off to a great start, was really playing well," Kuchar said. "Looking back, I hit two amazing shots into No. 9 but was up on the green and rolled back down. It turned a birdie into a bogey. Man, looking back, that was a real bummer.

"It was nice to bounce back from (Sunday, when he shot a 75 that dropped him into a tie for 16th). That was a frustrating day for me on the golf course. Today, to come back and kind of see my name come up on the leaderboard was nice to see."

Kuchar is one of 18 golfers who played at Kapalua and will tee it up at the Sony Open on Thursday. He is one of six of the world’s top 25 golfers, including Adam Scott and 2009 Sony winner Zach Johnson, playing at Waialae Country Club.

"I really enjoy Waialae," Kuchar said.

FINAL RESULTS

At Kapalua Plantation Course

Purse: $5.7 million; Yardage: 7,452; Par: 73
FedEx Cup points earned in parentheses

FEDEXCUP LEADERS: TOP 10

Through Monday, with points and year-to-date earnings

1. Webb Simpson, 748, $1,633,417. 2. Jimmy Walker, 733, $1,409,833. 3. Harris English, 725, $1,516,817. 4. Ryan Moore, 714, $1,690,350. 5. Dustin Johnson, 639, $1,598,750. 6. Chris Kirk, 631, $1,172,558. 7. Zach Johnson, 584, $1,249,850. 8. Gary Woodland, 358, $886,000. 9. Jordan Spieth, 355, $755,000. 10. Scott Brown, 348, $636,725.