ORLANDO, Fla. — The PGA Tour felt a little quieter, dispassionate and dull without Billy Horschel.

Horschel was back Thursday at Orlando’s Bay Hill Club in Lodge breathing energy into the morning wave of the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

His golf game also showed some life as he continues to recover from right hip surgery in May of 2025. A bogey-free 3-under-par 69 was the former Florida Gator’s best score at the API since he opened with a 67 in 2022 on his way to runner-up finish to Scottie Scheffler.

“The game’s building, it’s getting better,” he said. “I just need to be a little better with the swing. I just need more reps, I just need to groove it in a little bit more. I want everything to be perfect.

“But at the end of the day it’s about putting the ball in the hole with the least amount of shots and I did a really good job of that today.”

Horschel has ground to make up after Daniel Berger posted a 63 during unusually benign conditions at Bay Hill. The score was one off the tournament record of 62 posted by the late Andy Bean (1981), Greg Norman (1984) and Adam Scott (2014). Only Bean — like Horschel a former UF star — went on the win.

“It’s going to be an incredibly difficult and challenging week,” Berger said. “A little bit of wind, a little bit less moisture, and it’s just going to be like a U.S. Open. I think when you come to Bay Hill to play this event you know what you’re getting, and so it doesn’t shock me.

“You’re ready for it.”

Whatever lies ahead, Horschel will attack Friday’s round with the passion and personality he’s shown ever since he joined the PGA Tour in 2009.

Wearing salmon-colored pants and a white shirt over his chiseled frame Thursday, he cajoled a few putts, spoke to some shots and talked to himself. Horschel consistently chatted up and down the fairways with playing partner Ryan Fox, an affable, unflappable 39-year-old New Zealander.

“I love someone to talk to,” Fox told the Orlando Sentinel. “With Billy, you’re always going to get a chat out of him. So that was great. I like one as well.

“The self commentary going around is brilliant.”

Fox did a double-take on the 13th tee box when Horschel barked, “Stop it!” Wondering what he or his caddie had done, Fox quickly realized Horschel was admonishing himself.

“I sort of jumped,” Fox said. “And then he goes, ’Stop it, Billy. You can’t keep doing that.’ We had a laugh about it down the fairway.”

Horschel’s approach has made him both a popular and polarizing presence on the PGA Tour.

Unapologetic, opinionated and unfailingly authentic, the 39-year-old rarely hides his thoughts or feelings inside or outside the ropes.

During last week’s Cognizant Classic, he exchanged words with a spectator after a poor shot led to a triple-bogey.

“I guess you guys wanna make yourselves feel good about yourselves with a comment like that, don’t ya?” Horschel said after his pitch from behind the par-3 15th hole found water in front of the green.

On Thursday, fans cheered Horschel as he neared the finish of his round.

Orlando’s Zach Hartley yelled, “Go Gators!,” as Horschel walked up the 18th fairway.

“He’s always an entertainer,” Hartley said.

An iron shot from the right rough landed left of the green, but a deft pitch shot to a few feet led an up-and-down that completed Horschel’s round with Fox, who shot 68.

Horschel, who got into the limited-field, 72-player event on a sponsor’s exemption, hit just 7 of 14 fairways, but he found 13 of 18 greens. He surprised himself following a discouraging warm-up session because of hip tightness and discomfort.

“I didn’t know what was going to happen out there,” Horschel said. “But I hit a couple good shots early to sort of give me a little confidence. Played really nicely. Something that I can hopefully build off the next few days.”

Horschel walked away in a good position to reach the weekend after missed cuts in 2023 and 2025. Winning for the ninth time on tour is likely down the road, but he’s already well ahead of schedule.

Doctors repaired a massive tear in his labrum, shaved down some bone to open up his hip capsule and addressed two micro fractures. A yearlong recovery period loomed. The hard-charging Horschel returned in fewer than six months, but continues to get back to full speed.

“They’re all a little shocked I’ve come back as quickly as I have and I’m able to do what I am,” he said. “I try to beat timelines. I don’t listen. I think I’m different … and show the doctors.

“But there’s a reason they’re doctors and there’s a reason I’m not.”

Horschel’s abilities as a golfer, entertainer and big personality have served him well, earning him 11 professional wins and more than $40 million in earnings.

But when he was away from the game, Horschel discovered life without golf didn’t leave a hole he couldn’t fill. He set aside his obsession with the game to spend time with his wife, Brittany, and their three children, ages 11, 8 and 7.

“I saw what it’s like on the other side,” he said. “It’s pretty (expletive) good. So life’s pretty good on the other side.”

Professional golf, though, is better with Horschel.

“Golf needs its characters,” Fox said. “He’s certainly one of them. He’s good fun, and we need more guys like it.”