Tour News
Jordan Holley: On the brink
By Jordan Holley
GolfWRX Contributor
Jordan Holley is a mini-tour player pursuing his dream of earning a PGA Tour card. He graduated from Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla., where he was an NCAA All-American and a member of the Cleveland Golf Academic All-American First Team. He qualified for the U.S. Amateur in 2008, and since turning professional has played on the NGA Hooters and eGolf tours, as well as other minor league tours.
Pressure. I like to say I love it and I have tended to play my best golf under pressure. I am playing golf at this level for the feeling of having a chance to win or make that jump to the next level. It feels unlike anything I have ever felt in any other sport I played.
To quote Eminem’s Grammy Award winning song Lose Yourself, “If you had one shot, or one opportunity, to seize everything you ever wanted — one moment, would you capture it or just let it slip?”
I had an incredible chance to make my mark this week in the Monday qualifier for the Web.com Tour’s Utah Championship. I drove 500 miles from Denver to Salt Lake City, got pulled over and cited for 70 in a 65, stopped at an incredible burger joint Pistol Pete’s in Helper, Utah, booked a hotel and prepared for my chance. Once the round started, I spent the day telling myself this:
“I have found myself in plenty of situations like this and pulled it out! You are on today! This is your day!”
I was lying to myself about being in that position before, but I thought it was MY day. It marked only my third Tour qualifier in the last two years as my focus has been to maintain a living. At $350 a pop it has made more sense to play events where I have the chance to make money rather than risk the money in an effort to move my career to the next level. But for now, I knew this was where I needed to be.
Well, I birdied my first three holes out of the gate and turned in five-under 31. Birdies on Nos. 11 and 12 moved me to seven-under and well on my way to my first Tour event. I didn’t tighten up and kept my foot on the gas pedal, executing one good shot after another. I missed a few good looks at birdie but was still bogey free as I headed to my 16th hole (I started on No. 10). I knew one more birdie would solidify my spot in the tourney. I hit a beautiful seven iron on the 208-yard par 3 with a slightly helping wind to about 25 feet below the hole. I hit my putt dead center in the heart of the hole, but about two feet short. Instead of finishing, I marked to ensure I didn’t step in anyones line and as I’m sure you can tell, I missed the putt. It wasn’t a nervous stroke, hit 90 percent of the hole but didn’t fall. In hindsight, this was one of those moments I just needed to take a few extra seconds and regroup.
Although I ripped my next tee shot and hit the wedge to five feet, my mind was still reeling. I made a poor stroke and lipped it out again! Knowing I most likely needed a birdie on the last, I hit a massive tee ball and left myself only 115 yards to the final flag. I hit the wedge to 15 feet and actually got myself comfortable before facing the putt. Another solid stroke later, I watched in disgust as the putt just grazed the high side of the hole and finished two feet past. I tapped it in for 66 and began what would become a 6-plus hour waiting game.
Not sure what to do with myself, I drove around in circles just disgusted with my finish. I ended up at a movie, by myself, just trying to kill time. When it finished, I still had more than hours to kill. I went to a Barnes & Noble, grabbed a book about fly fishing, got a coffee, and settled in. I finally got word that we would most likely be headed to playoff. Driving back to the course, I was encouraged that even though I didn’t finish a great round the way I should, I still might have a chance!
Upon returning to the course, the officials lined us up for what would end up being a 14 man playoff for two spots. They split us into two groups of seven by drawing cards and rattled off the brief rules. I drew the fourth spot and hit another beautiful drive on the eighth hole well past where I did in regulation. Facing an 80 yard pitch shot, I hit another good one to six feet and on the EXACT same line I had in regulation (my 17th hole). After only one birdie in our group, I faced another great chance to finally get where I feel I belong. I knew the putt would advance me to the next playoff hole and I felt completely at peace standing over it. t didn’t even touch the hole this time as I pulled it harder than an Olympic sprinter pulls a hammy. It was tough to swallow.
Now I am entered into the Wyoming Open playing for $7,000 instead of a Web.com Tour event playing for $100,000. It’s so dang close, I can taste it. This won’t be my last hurrah, I’ll be back next time (Omaha, Neb., first week of August) but man am I tired of telling you guys sob stories. I keep telling myself to just grind it out and put myself in these positions. I’ll learn how to close like I KNOW I can.This will be my last story until one of three things happen:
No. 1. I find a sponsor who believes in what I can do and wants to help get me to the next level.
No 2. I win again.
No. 3. I qualify for another Tour event (PGA Tour or Web.com Tour).
This is my motivation because I actually enjoy getting this stuff off my chest and I hope you all enjoy a little peek into the life of a (for now) mini-tour grinder. Thanks again for the support and feedback! Stay tuned!
Click here for more discussion in the “Tour Talk” forum.
You can follow Jordan on Twitter @J_Holley6under and GolfWRX @GolfWRX
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 PGA Championship
GolfWRX is on site this week at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, for the PGA Championship.
While we see fewer equipment changes and new gear seeding at major championships, we get a look at custom gear and looks into the bags of players we rarely see, which is just as exciting. In the case of the PGA Championship, this means a look at the gear some of the PGA Professionals who qualified for the tournament will be gaming, and LIV players, such as Jon Rahm and Patrick Reed.
Check out links to all our albums from Valhalla below and check back throughout the week as we continue to update.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Michael Block – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Patrick Reed – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cam Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Josh Speight – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Takumi Kanaya – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kyle Mendoza – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Adrian Meronk – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jordan Smith – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jeremy Wells – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jared Jones – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Somers – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Larkin Gross – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tracy Phillips – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jon Rahm – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Keita Nakajima – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Kazuma Kobori – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- David Puig – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Ryan Van Velzen – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brad Marek – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Chris Gotterup – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rich Beem WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Phil Mickelson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Matt Dobyns – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Lucas Herbert – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Jason Dufner – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- John Daly – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Taylor Gooch – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dean Burmester – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
- Dustin Johnson – WITB – 2024 PGA Championship
Pullout Albums
- Ping putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Bettinardi covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Cameron putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
- Max Homa – Titleist 2 wood – 2024 PGA Championship
- Scotty Cameron experimental putter shaft by UST – 2024 PGA Championship
- Joaquin Niemann – new Ping putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Brooks Koepka’s new Cameron putter – 2024 PGA Championship
- Rickie Fowler’s Cobra bag and Aerojet driver – 2024 PGA Championship
- Super Stroke grip – 2024 PGA Championship
- Tiger Woods – 2024 PGA Championship
- Michael Block’s new TaylorMade “Proto” 7-iron, from address – 2024 PGA Championship
- Odyssey putter covers – 2024 PGA Championship
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News
Photos from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
GolfWRX is live this week at the Wells Fargo Championship as a field of the world’s best golfers descend upon Charlotte, North Carolina, hoping to tame the beast that is Quail Hollow Club in this Signature Event — only Scottie Scheffler, who is home awaiting the birth of his first child, is absent.
From the grounds at Quail Hollow, we have our usual assortment of general galleries and WITBs — including a look at left-hander Akshay Bhatia’s setup. Among the pullout albums, we have a look inside Cobra’s impressive new tour truck for you to check out. Also featured is a special look at Quail Hollow king, Rory McIlroy.
Be sure to check back throughout the week as we add more galleries.
General Albums
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Monday #1
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Akshay Bhatia – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matthieu Pavon – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Keegan Bradley – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Webb Simpson – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Emiliano Grillo – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Taylor Pendrith – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Kevin Tway – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
Pullout Albums
- New Cobra equipment truck – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rory McIlroy – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- New Cobra equipment truck – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Eric Cole’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Custom Cameron putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matt Kuchar’s custom Bettinardi – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Justin Thomas – driver change – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rickie Fowler – putter change – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rickie Fowler’s new custom Odyssey Jailbird 380 putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Tommy Fleetwood testing a TaylorMade Spider Tour X (with custom neck) – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Cobra Darkspeed Volition driver – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
See what GolfWRXers are saying about our Wells Fargo Championship photos in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
GolfWRX is on site this week in McKinney, Texas, at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson (FKA the AT&T Byron Nelson).
Last year at TPC Craig Ranch, Jason Day ended a five-year winless streak. J-Day is in the field again, as are Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, and Will Zalatoris.
We have our usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums for your perusal. As always, we’ll continue to add links to additional albums as they make their way to us from the Lone Star State.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Pierceson Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kris Kim – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- David Nyfjall – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Adrien Dumont de Chassart – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Jarred Jetter – North Texas PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Richy Werenski – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Wesley Bryan – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Parker Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Peter Kuest – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Blaine Hale, Jr. – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kelly Kraft – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Rico Hoey – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Pullout Albums
- Adam Scott’s 2 new custom L.A.B. Golf putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Scotty Cameron putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Ben Griffin playing Maxfli golf ball
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Tre
Jul 13, 2012 at 10:36 pm
It is weird to read about a golf course I use to play everyday. Glen Eagle is a great course and a very fair test. I know my guys out there had those greens rolling well.