Playing with the big boys on the PGA Tour

This past week I had the unique opportunity to play in the Farmers Insurance Open, formally known as the Buick Invitational. This has been one of the main stops of the PGA tour for many years now and draws some of the world’s best golfers, including Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els and Robert Allenby.
Every year the tournament hosts a qualifier for amateurs, where 100 of the best amateur golfers in California compete for one spot. This year I was lucky enough to play very well and ultimately win the qualifier after beating the USD men’s golf coach, Tim Mickelson, in a playoff. Since he is my coach here at USD, it was obviously an awkward situation for both of us with so much riding on the line and a great story, as something like this rarely, if ever, happens.
Playing in a PGA tour event has been my dream since I was a kid. My dad has played golf professionally my whole life and I have always dreamt of following in his footsteps. With my dad, as well as my mom and other family in the crowd, I got to tee it up at Torrey Pines and measure myself against the best in the world.
Also competing in the tournament this past week was former Torero golf standout Blake Trimble. He too was also making his PGA tour debut. With both of us having played in the NCAA National Championship for the Toreros for the first time in school history last spring, we thought we would be able to handle the nerves and pressure of the PGA tour. We both quickly found out that nothing could compare to what we would feel on the first hole.
Blake’s first round began on the North Course at Torrey Pines where his hands were shaking so bad that he four-putted the first hole and left the green with his hands still quivering. It wasn’t until a few holes later where he calmed himself and turned what seemed to be a disaster into a great round of four under 68. He birdied seven of his last 14 holes to be right in contention after the first round.
While Blake was getting off to his shaky start on the North Course, I was having a shaky start of my own on the South Course. With the anticipation of hearing my name called to the tee in front of about 25 people, my heart rate started to increase uncontrollably. My hands were trembling so badly that I could hardly tee up my ball on my first hole. The difficult South Course showed its teeth that day as I got off to a very steady start shooting a one over par 73.
Blake continued his good play on the South and made the Friday cut ensuring him of his first PGA tour paycheck and an invaluable experience. My tournament stopped on Friday afternoon when I missed the cut after playing very mediocre golf on the North Course.
Although my experience on the PGA tour was short lived for this one week, I would not trade it in for anything. To gain the experience of a tournament at the highest level has set the tone for the rest of this year as I, along with eight other Torero golfers look for a WCC title.
We begin our run for a National Championship on Feb. 8 and 9 at our home tournament at the Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe.