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Ben Fuqua, right, will have his father, Gene, caddying for him again as he tries to get one step closer to qualifying for play on the PGA Tour. (Advocate File Photo) |
The road is long, the hazards are many and most of those who start the journey will not make it to the end.
However, both Ben Fuqua and Philip Hendrickson believe they are better equipped for the trip than they were a year ago.
The two Danville golfers will tee it up in the coming days in the first stage of the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament. They will be playing different courses in different states at different times, but they will be taking a similar approach.
Both have focused on consistency to get them past rough patches in their games and to give themselves the best chance to succeed in their second try at Q-School.
“My main thing is stepping on that first tee with a chance for my best golf to come out on any given day,” Fuqua said. “The consistency of my best golf is going to be the difference-maker, and that’s what I’m trying to sharpen.”
Hendrickson said he doubted himself and his abilities for a long time but has worked through that.
“Last year was a bad year, but I finally feel like I’m headed back in the right direction,” he said. “The whole game’s about consistency. The guys out there that are the best in the world, they’ve got unlimited consistency, and that’s where it’s at.”
The most consistent players in Q-school will reap the most greatest reward, the coveted tour card that goes to the top 25 finishers in the last of the three qualifying stages that encompass a total of 14 grueling rounds.
But first prize isn’t the only prize. The next 50 players who don’t earn PGA Tour membership are eligible for membership on the Nationwide Tour, a consolation prize that Hendrickson said he’s be happy to accept.
“My goal is to get to that final stage, which I think I’m definitely capable of doing, and to get some kind of status on the Nationwide Tour. This year or maybe next year, I think I’m going to do it.”
Fuqua is playing this week in Lakeland, Fla., while Hendrickson plays next week in Pinehurst, N.C. Typically, the top 25 or so players plus ties in each tournament — there are 13 being held nationwide this month — will advance to the second stage.
“The great thing is I control my own destiny; the bad thing is I have to start from the bottom,” Fuqua said.
Actually, Fuqua and Hendrickson have already done that. Both participated in the pre-qualifying stage last month, competing in the same tournament at Auburn, Ala. Hendrickson tied for 17th place at 3-under par in the 54-hole tourney, and Fuqua tied for 34th place at 2-over par.
“Getting through that was a monkey off my back,” Fuqua said. “After last year’s disappointment — I had one bad round in the third round last year — it was nice to kind of put that to rest.”
Both of them tied for 45th place at their pre-qualifying tournament last year, missing the chance to advance by just two strokes. Fuqua was done in by an 82 in the third of four rounds; all four of Hendrickson’s rounds were between 74 and 77.
Fuqua was one stroke above the cut line this time, and he said he’ll use that as motivation for this round.
“I’m hoping that my games coming around and clicking and find a hot steak at the right time,” he said. “There’s nothing like a solid test over three days in Auburn to motivate me and make me realize this is not going to be easy.”
Hendrickson said he played more conservatively than he’ll be able to at this level.
“It was a survive-and-advance type thing,” he said. “I know I have to play well to move on to the next round, and the competition gets better at each stage. I’d say if I play well and shoot even better, I should be in good shape.”
However, both Ben Fuqua and Philip Hendrickson believe they are better equipped for the trip than they were a year ago.
The two Danville golfers will tee it up in the coming days in the first stage of the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament. They will be playing different courses in different states at different times, but they will be taking a similar approach.
Both have focused on consistency to get them past rough patches in their games and to give themselves the best chance to succeed in their second try at Q-School.
“My main thing is stepping on that first tee with a chance for my best golf to come out on any given day,” Fuqua said. “The consistency of my best golf is going to be the difference-maker, and that’s what I’m trying to sharpen.”
Hendrickson said he doubted himself and his abilities for a long time but has worked through that.
“Last year was a bad year, but I finally feel like I’m headed back in the right direction,” he said. “The whole game’s about consistency. The guys out there that are the best in the world, they’ve got unlimited consistency, and that’s where it’s at.”
The most consistent players in Q-school will reap the most greatest reward, the coveted tour card that goes to the top 25 finishers in the last of the three qualifying stages that encompass a total of 14 grueling rounds.
But first prize isn’t the only prize. The next 50 players who don’t earn PGA Tour membership are eligible for membership on the Nationwide Tour, a consolation prize that Hendrickson said he’s be happy to accept.
“My goal is to get to that final stage, which I think I’m definitely capable of doing, and to get some kind of status on the Nationwide Tour. This year or maybe next year, I think I’m going to do it.”
Fuqua is playing this week in Lakeland, Fla., while Hendrickson plays next week in Pinehurst, N.C. Typically, the top 25 or so players plus ties in each tournament — there are 13 being held nationwide this month — will advance to the second stage.
“The great thing is I control my own destiny; the bad thing is I have to start from the bottom,” Fuqua said.
Actually, Fuqua and Hendrickson have already done that. Both participated in the pre-qualifying stage last month, competing in the same tournament at Auburn, Ala. Hendrickson tied for 17th place at 3-under par in the 54-hole tourney, and Fuqua tied for 34th place at 2-over par.
“Getting through that was a monkey off my back,” Fuqua said. “After last year’s disappointment — I had one bad round in the third round last year — it was nice to kind of put that to rest.”
Both of them tied for 45th place at their pre-qualifying tournament last year, missing the chance to advance by just two strokes. Fuqua was done in by an 82 in the third of four rounds; all four of Hendrickson’s rounds were between 74 and 77.
Fuqua was one stroke above the cut line this time, and he said he’ll use that as motivation for this round.
“I’m hoping that my games coming around and clicking and find a hot steak at the right time,” he said. “There’s nothing like a solid test over three days in Auburn to motivate me and make me realize this is not going to be easy.”
Hendrickson said he played more conservatively than he’ll be able to at this level.
“It was a survive-and-advance type thing,” he said. “I know I have to play well to move on to the next round, and the competition gets better at each stage. I’d say if I play well and shoot even better, I should be in good shape.”
