Despite being a Florida Gator, you can say that Billy Horschel of the Atlanta Drive Golf Club has leaned all the way into the Atlanta sports scene.
And not in a good way, necessarily.
While walking into the SoFi Center for his first TGL match, Horschel donned a massive silver chain that read “Dirty Birds,” an homage to the Atlanta Falcons. He then performed the “Dirty Bird” Dance, which originated in 1998, the year Atlanta lost to John Elway and the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXXIII.
Wide Receiver O.J. Santiago created the original “Dirty Bird” and first did so when he scored two touchdowns against the New England Patriots on Nov. 8, 1998. The Falcons won that game 41-10 at Foxboro Stadium, and after the game, Santiago stormed into the visitor’s locker room exclaiming, “How about them Dirty Birds!”
But Horschel should retire his version of the dance, as it was nothing but cringe-worthy.
His teammate, Justin Thomas, agreed.
“I’d probably go back in time and not watch Billy do the “Dirty Bird” dance if I could because I will never be able to get that out of my mind,” Thomas said.
Horschel then quickly responded:
“Etched in there for life. As I said, it wasn’t going to be pretty. I was going to make a fool of myself. But it’s not the first time and won’t be the last time.”
Horschel does deserve some credit for trying. He did his best to associate himself with the Falcons, who share the same owner as Horschel’s Atlanta Drive. Arthur Blank, who amassed his wealth by founding HomeDepot, also owns Atlanta United FC of the MLS and invested heavily into TGL. Blank is also part of the Strategic Sports Group (SSG), which injected $1.5 billion into the PGA Tour last year. The SSG helped create the tour’s new equity program.
You have to wonder if Blank got a kick out of Horschel’s entrance, but many golf fans did not. Alas, Horschel’s Atlanta Drive went on to defeat the New York Golf Club during the team’s first TGL match.
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Follow him on X @jack_milko.
