For almost his entire professional career, Scott Dunlap has been a textbook example of the quintessential journeyman tour pro. Dunlap literally fit the journey part of that description, playing in South Africa, Canada and South America along with a 6-year stint on the PGA Tour from 1996-2002 and a career-length stretch on what is now the Web.com Tour that spanned a quarter … [Read more...]
Andrade back to playing after broadcast stint; Denied win as Champions rookie by Couples
At the age of 46, long time Atlanta resident Billy Andrade came to a realistic but hard-to-accept decision regarding his PGA Tour career. After 22 seasons, 624 starts, four victories and $12.38 million in earnings, Andrade determined he could no longer compete at a sufficient level to continue playing the tour on a regular basis. Andrade made just two of 17 cuts and less … [Read more...]
Nelson, Doyle, Mason took different paths to careers on Champions Tour
The Champions Tour has provided a mulligan of sorts for a variety of golfers who have reached their 50th birthdays, including three Georgians who took very different paths before joining the tour in the late 1990s/early 2000s. Marietta’s Larry Nelson took the conventional path to the Champions Tour, enjoying a successful PGA Tour career before becoming one of the top senior … [Read more...]
4 Georgians making first starts in Masters; Todd, Harman among ‘rookie’ contingent
For the second straight year, four golfers with Georgia ties will make their Masters debuts . The foursome will join seven other Georgians in the Masters field this April, with the possibility that the number could reach 12 by the time the game’s best players arrive in Augusta. Georgia’s 2015 “rookie” contingent in the Masters consists of three former Georgia Bulldogs and … [Read more...]
From humble origins to Masters champion (twice); Watson takes unique route to reach elite status
Unlike many of the other players near the top of the World Golf Rankings, Bubba Watson was not a world class player almost from the moment he turned professional. Watson’s college career started in an unusual place for someone who has won two of the last three Masters – Faulkner State Community College in Alabama. He joined the golf team at Georgia in the Fall of 1999, … [Read more...]
Savannah’s Silvers among 2015 Web.com Tour qualifiers
Two Georgia residents and a pair of recent college golfers from the state earned exempt status for the 2015 Web.com Tour in the finals of qualifying, which concluded Dec. 16 in south Florida. The four qualifiers are Savannah’s Mark Silvers, recent UGA golfer Bryden Macpherson, Atlanta area resident Michael Hebert and 2014 Georgia Tech graduate Richy Werenski. The top 45 … [Read more...]
Ex-Bulldog Brendon Todd enjoys best season of pro career; Emerges a stronger player after 2 difficult years
Of the 29 players who competed in the 2014 Tour Championship at East Lake, it’s hard to imagine any of them had a greater sense of satisfaction for that accomplishment than Brendon Todd. Like most of the players in the field, Todd was a highly touted young player who enjoyed success in amateur and college golf and quickly made his way to the PGA Tour. But shortly after … [Read more...]
10 Georgians reach Web.com qualifying finals; Veterans Parel, O’Neal, Claxton advance
More than 30 players with Georgia ties competed in the second stage of qualifying for the 2015 Web.com Tour, but only 10 made it to the finals. The third and final stage of qualifying is scheduled for Dec. 11-16 on the Fazio and Champions courses at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Three of the six second stage qualifiers in November were played in Florida, two in … [Read more...]
Georgians advance in Web.com Tour qualifying
Two Georgia courses hosted first stage qualifiers for the 2015 Web.com Tour in October, and nine players with ties to the state advanced to second stage at both sites. Richy Werenski, who completed his college career at Georgia Tech earlier this year, placed 2nd in the qualifier at the Standard Club in Johns Creek, finishing with a 19-under 269 total after scores of … [Read more...]