Reuters
Golf – The 150th Open Championship – Old Course, St Andrews, Scotland, Britain – July 13, 2022 Bryson DeChambeau of the U.S. in action during a practice round REUTERS/Andrew Boyers
Reuters
Golf – The 150th Open Championship – Old Course, St Andrews, Scotland, Britain – July 13, 2022 Bryson DeChambeau of the U.S. in action during a practice round REUTERS/Andrew Boyers
Some of the seasoned golfers made headlines last weekend after age-defying performances at the game’s biggest stages. While everyone celebrated the second coming of 52-year-old Phil Mickelson, many missed an even greater achievement by an older player. But why does the veteran declare the PGA Champions Tour as the game’s “purest form?”
Record-setter’s appreciation for the PGA Tour Champions
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Having qualified for the illustrious Players Championship last month, 56-year-old Jerry Kelly was never in contention for a major upset at the tournament. But his 36-hole score of two-over par was enough to grant him a spot for the weekend.
Having made the cut at the ripe age of 56, Kelly became the oldest player to make the cut at the Players Championship, breaking legendary golfer Arnold Palmer‘s record. It also skyrocketed his status in the golf community, where he chose to laud the veteran league of the PGA Tour.
Imago
HONOLULU, HI – JANUARY 13: Jerry Kelly USA watches his tee shot on 11 during Rd2 of the Sony Open at Waialae Country Club on January 13, 2023 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire GOLF: JAN 13 PGA, Golf Herren – Sony Open in Hawaii Icon230113024. Image Courtesy: IMAGO
“It’d be interesting. You guys should check out, you know, a Champions Tour event at some point because it is the purest form, in golf of competition between pros, because most of the guys have made their living, they’ve done well,” he claimed about his present league.
Do PGA Tour pros play only for money?
Furthermore, Kelly opinionated on the lack of demand for money on the veteran tour shifted perspectives solely towards golf, which wasn’t the case with the PGA Tour players.
“I mean, the guys on the PGA Tour. Absolutely play it for the money. They’re playing for the titles, but hey, there’s a reason this thing jumped up so high,” he said.
Kelly had a decent PGA Tour career, winning three titles in a span of nearly two decades. But the majority of his trophies have come from the veteran PGA Tour Champions. The 56-year-old made his debut on the tour at the Chubb Classic in February 2017, which was followed by an early win at the Boeing Classic six months later.
But Kelly’s biggest moment arrived when he won his first-ever major championship at the Bridgestone Senior Players Championship at Firestone Country Club in Ohio. The golfer added to his tally by winning the same tournament in July last year.
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