For seven years, Braden Thornberry has been, sadly for him, the reply to a trivia query.
Whereas eight of the 9 members of the 2017 U.S. Walker Cup group who turned skilled had gone on to earn their PGA Tour playing cards (Scottie Scheffler and Collin Morikawa have every gained a number of majors), Thornberry was caught within the minors, maybe ceaselessly. He performed 4 straight years on the KFT, then misplaced his card previous to final season. Final yr, three of his 4 world-ranked begins got here on the Problem Tour – all missed cuts. He regained his KFT standing this yr through Q-Faculty, but was No. 51 in factors getting into this week’s Korn Ferry Tour Championship at French Lick.
Needing a solo second or higher to maneuver into the highest 30 and earn his PGA Tour card, Thornberry did one higher: He gained.
Thornberry closed in 6-under 66 after which waited hours to find that his 9 underneath was adequate for a one-shot win over Brian Campbell, Doc Redman and Alistair Docherty.
“I performed good all yr and simply hadn’t fairly obtained it to work out for me,” Thornberry mentioned. “It’s a bizarre factor as a result of it’s getting my first professional win in addition to attending to the PGA Tour. I simply labored so arduous to get right here. A number of stuff I really feel like hasn’t gone my method over the past 5 years or so, and to lastly have one thing go my method and play properly on the proper time is simply superb.”
Campbell and Redman, one other Walker Cupper in 2017 who was attempting to get again to the PGA Tour, every birdied their last gap to knock Docherty out of place. Docherty’s misfortune was Noah Goodwin’s acquire, as Goodwin, the previous SMU standout who entered the week at No. 26 in factors, ended up No. 30.
“Each second of it was terrible,” Goodwin mentioned of his prolonged wait after tying for forty fourth. “There was no break your entire time. I imply, God, on the finish of the day I obtained fortunate. However it takes a whole lot of luck to play this sport, and it takes a whole lot of luck to get the place we’re going. I’m simply grateful.”
Meet Thornberry, Campbell, Goodwin and the 27 different gamers who graduated the Korn Ferry Tour this yr:
