Madison native Brian Carlson earns first PGA Tour Canada victory
Brian Carlson was signing his scorecard following his remaining spherical within the Prince Edward Island Open in Canada when he was instructed he had received the event.
However Carlson wanted to see it for himself.
“I requested somebody to offer me a cart experience again to the 18th inexperienced to ensure,” Carlson mentioned. “It turned out to be proper, however I nonetheless wished to ensure everybody signed their card.”
It was official: Carlson, a Madison native, had received his first event on PGA Tour Canada. He’s been on the tour since 2019.
What made it much more particular was his dad, Invoice, caddied for him.
“That was particular,” mentioned Carlson, 26. “He been wanting to look at me play. He had not been to an occasion in awhile.”
Carlson birdied the sixteenth and seventeenth holes to take a 2-shot lead into the ultimate gap, however then hit his tee shot on 18 into the water hazard. After his penalty stroke and subsequent third shot, Carlson pitched onto the inexperienced to 7 ft. It was then that he checked the leaderboard and realized he had a 2-shot lead.
Carlson proceeded to make the putt for par. He shot a final-round 65 and received by 1 shot.
“I used to be lastly in a position to clear up these doubts I’ve had on the course. Now I do know I can win if I get into these situations extra often,” Carlson mentioned. “It feels nice to win. The extent of competitors is insane. You actually must play strong for 4 days to win.”
Carlson received $36,000 — in Canadian and earlier than taxes, he famous — however nonetheless a giant payday. He is ready to repay bank card debt constructed up from event charges and journey bills. Like plenty of sports activities, it’s tough to make a residing if not taking part in on the largest of phases, on this case the PGA Tour.
“Golf is an costly sport. I really feel like availability and alternative now permits for extra competitors available. Each child popping out of faculty is insanely gifted,” Carlson mentioned.
Carlson was a standout within the Huge 10 Convention at Purdue College, graduating in 2018. He performed on the Dakotas Tour instantly out of faculty earlier than making PGA Tour Canada.
However that exact tour was some of the affected by the pandemic. Individuals couldn’t compete in Canada every of the final two years. So in 2020, Carlson performed in eight LocaliQ occasions within the U.S. to maintain his recreation sharp.
Final yr, the Forme Tour was created for gamers within the U.S. who couldn’t cross the border.
Carlson has a level in economics. However he actually hasn’t given a lot thought to a fall-back plan if it doesn’t work out. He’s all in on his golf profession.
“(Being an expert golfer is) positively not for the faint of coronary heart. You need to be prepared to enter the bottom of the lows, I do know it sounds cliche, however you must be put underneath stress like that. It’s a great check to seek out out what you’re fabricated from,” Carlson mentioned.
Extra vital than the prize cash is the five hundred Fortinet Cup factors Carlson acquired for the win. That put him into first place after three occasions. The tour is now on a three-week break earlier than the ultimate seven occasions of the season.
The highest 10 finishers on the factors checklist obtain some standing on the Korn Ferry Tour for subsequent season. Golfers are assured spots in some fields in the event that they end second by way of fifth whereas the factors champ is absolutely exempt on the Korn Ferry for subsequent season.
“The purpose is to maneuver up as rapidly as I can to the following level of my profession on the Korn Fery Tour if the whole lot goes as deliberate,” Carlson mentioned.
joseph.morelli@hearstmediact.com; @nhrJoeMorelli
