Patrick Cantlay Will Turn Pro

[mvmac]

Amateur star Patrick Cantlay won't be heading back to UCLA his junior year, seems he has decided to turn pro and will sign with Mark Steinberg's agency.  If Cantlay turns pros this week he will be able to accept six sponsor exemptions and will have a maximum of nine starts as a non-member. If he earns enough in those starts to equal the amount made by No. 150 from last year’s money list ($411,943) he will earn special temporary status and have unlimited sponsor exemptions.

Quote:

Rex Hoggard of the Golf Channel reported this morning that 20 year old UCLA Sophomore Patrick Cantlay will announce that he will turn professional this week.

If you remember, Cantlay had a phenomenal summer last year after his freshman year at UCLA.

He won Low Amateur honors at the 2011 U. S. Open at Congressional and was in the top 25 in four other professional events last year.

He would have won over $700,000 in prize money.

What did you do for walking around money while you were in college?

Cantlay also won a boatload of awards as a collegiate golfer.

He won four collegiate tournaments as a freshman and received the 2011 Haskins award given to the most outstanding college golfer.

He was named the Golf Coaches Association of America Division I Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year plus he was recognized as the Phil Mickelson Freshman of the Year award winner.

Patrick won the Mark H. McCormick Medal as the top ranked amateur in the world at the end of 2011.

Golf Channel’s Hoggard also reported that Cantlay would sign an agent agreement with Tiger Woods ’ agent, Mark Steinberg.

Steinberg left IMG last year to start his own agency.

The impending change to the qualifying requirements for membership on the PGA Tour is the reason for the rush to turn professional.

Cantlay had repeatedly stated that he would play all four years at UCLA, but the absence of the PGA Q-School will require that new pros earn their PGA Tour card via the Nationwide Tour.

Top young amateurs can come onto the tour this summer to take advantage of their celebrity for tournament exemptions and try to earn enough money to get their card for next year and bypass the Nationwide Tour.

Plus there is a host of sponsors just waiting to write very large checks with many zeros attached for a player of Cantlay's ability.

[mvmac]

It's official

Quote:

CROMWELL, Conn. – As expected, Patrick Cantlay turned professional on Tuesday in advance of playing the Travelers Championship this week. GolfChannel.com first reported the news Sunday from the U.S. Open.

“I had a really good time at UCLA for my two years,” this year’s Ben Hogan Award winner said. “I learned a lot and I developed a lot, and I’ve played really well this last year, and I feel like it’s time for me to play as a pro. I think it’s best for my golf game.”

The 20-year-old signed with agent Mark Steinberg at Excel Sports Management, which also represents Tiger Woods and Matt Kuchar.

Cantlay enjoyed one of the more decorated amateur careers in recent memory. He was last year’s Jack Nicklaus Award winner, low amateur at both the 2011 U.S. Open and 2012 Masters, posted a 10-under 60 at the Travelers Championship last year, and starred for the United States Walker Cup team.

He explained the reasoning behind his decision to turn pro by saying, “For me, it was a combination of being comfortable with being a professional and taking it to the next level and timing. I think this timing makes sense for me, being able to start somewhere where I’m comfortable and I have good memories. And I feel ready and comfortable with being a pro and trying to be as good as I can be.”

As for his upcoming schedule, Cantlay maintained that next week’s AT&T; National is the only appearance that is imminent.

He did, however, contend that the PGA Tour’s decision to revamp how players gain membership through Q-School was not a factor in his decision.

“If you’re good enough to be a pro,” he said, “you’re going to be able to be a pro pretty quick and it’ll be apparent. So I think Q-School still allows really good players to get out there fast.”

[bunkerputt]

"I feel like it’s time for me to play as a pro. I think it’s best for my golf game."  Spoken like a true golf nut.  Now he has a real chance of improving his handicap significantly.

[Motley01]

Hmm, I'm thinking it's too early for him. He needs another couple of years of experience, before trying to up against the quality of players now on the tour.

Only 2 years at UCLA, why don't you just finish school Patrick.

I think he will struggle for a few years, and then he will start being one of the top 20 players.

These are just my opinions of course. But good luck to him, it's rough out there on tour, he just doesn't know it yet.

[mvmac]

Originally Posted by Motley01

Hmm, I'm thinking it's too early for him. He needs another couple of years of experience, before trying to up against the quality of players now on the tour.

Only 2 years at UCLA, why don't you just finish school Patrick.

I think he will struggle for a few years, and then he will start being one of the top 20 players.

These are just my opinions of course. But good luck to him, it's rough out there on tour, he just doesn't know it yet.

I agree he'll probably struggle at first, then get comfortable and used to the weekly flow.  I'm sure Steinberg got a hold of him at one tournament and laid off how much he could make by turning pro now.  I think he turned pro now because it's tough to turn down 3-5 million (I'm guessing) and he's looking ahead to the changes of tour school.

[pixel5]

I think he is good enough to earn the 400k, maybe up to 600k. And you know what? That is all he needs this year to secure his card for 2013. The important thing is getting the starts to give him experience this year while he is earning that money. If he can hold up against the pressure, I think he will be a great player in 2013, possibly getting a W in a smaller tournament.

[ERdiesel]

Me thinks playing in a tournament as an amateur where your livelihood didn't depend on how well you did versus playing in the same tournament as a pro where your future and livelihood depending on how well you did will result in two different outcomes.  I believe that part of why he played so well as an amateur is there is lowered expectations and you can just go out and play.  Playing as a pro, expectations are higher, and if you don't play well you don't get paid well and if you don't get paid well, you don't get your tour card or keep it.  This difference in psychology is a factor not to be discounted.

[ahearnb]

I need some help regarding the logistics of turning pro. He doesn't get the prize money from where he finished in the US Open, does he? If not, could he have turned pro after his finish last week and accepted the money?

Thanks.

[pixel5]

Originally Posted by ahearnb

I need some help regarding the logistics of turning pro. He doesn't get the prize money from where he finished in the US Open, does he? If not, could he have turned pro after his finish last week and accepted the money?

Thanks.

If my understanding is correct, you must declare your intent BEFORE the tournament starts. Once you declare your intent to turn pro, regardless of the outcome of the tournament, you are no longer eligible to play in the NCAA in any division, and you are no longer eligible to compete in amateur events.

[xxsoultonesxx]

I think that this is a case of striking while the iron is hot. Look at Lexi Thompson. She proved she had the skills.  These opportunities are rare. Do you blame them for feeling ready and having a rare and elusive opportunity within reach?

I hope he does really well.

[evan01]

My first reaction is what a waste of a free ride through college.  But does anyone know Bud Cawley from Alabama? Jumped on tour and made the grade on the money list. Then again you have the big three from the cowboys at Oklahoma  Tway,Hoffman and Uihlein and they are floundering in obscurity.  Yes they are great players but it takes big nads to hang up there. Obviously Fowler is the best example but Cantalys  not my kid and I wish him the best of luck.

[Infamous 273]

tough to turn down the fast cash, and with the new qualifying standards coming up, it makes it even tougher.

i can see cantlay having a start to his career much like cameron tringale's career has started: earning $1.3 in his second year, and on pace to break that this year, all the while contending in some tourneys, with a few top 5/top 10 finishes.

[cruzthepug]

Not a very good start to his pro career, +5, t138 after the first round. Got some work to do tomorrow to make the cut.

[RPMPIRE]

My guess is he'll end up dropping to the Nationwide tour for a while, especially after his slow start today. Joseph Bramlett has done so and he was also watched very closely since he graduated from Q-school.

On a side note, does Cantlay ever smile out there? It looks like he plays golf but hates doing it.