Reality Check? How and when to go to the next level?

[MEfree]

Originally Posted by joekelly

Top ranked amateur, Patrick Cantley, recently quit college, after 2 years on the UCLA golf team, to turn pro. Many college athletes wish they were somewhere besides 'in the classroom'.  We can read about the basketball and football players moping and sulking between elementary statistics and Roman history, 101. The Bball and Fball players have hardly any alternative option in their sports career but not so golf pro wannabees. Patrick did not want to sit in the classroom, he only wants to 'do golf'.  Lots of golf pros, even the very best, never went to college. Consider Rory, for one.  Poulter worked at a driving range for years, as did Lee Trevino. Tiger never graduated, quit Stanford early.  Bill Gates never graduated college.   Sure Dad, offer as much help as possible but beware of 'pushing your agenda', even if it seems to you, the best.

Originally Posted by joekelly

Best wishes for all, surely.  But seems to me that if Plan B is as big as, or more attainable than Plan A,  then Plan A becomes less desirable.  From what i have learnt success at the level wanted by junior will take every ounce of his work and dedication, and very few distractions.  College provides rewards but is  also loaded with distractions.

There is a massive difference between 0.001 percent and zero percent.

Yes, many of the top Pros did not graduate college, but most of them went, at least for a while.  Yes, College has distractions, but so does the PGA Tour.  If the kid is as good and mature as Rory at 18, then skipping college might be the right move, but at this point, I think planning on going to college keeps more doors open.

One of the interesting things about golf is the longer time window that Pros have to be successful.  Even if the OP`s son`s game was not to benefit by going to college, he could always drop out and still have plenty of time to make it as a pro.

Cantlay was the top Am as a Freshman, but still said he was going to go 4 years and came back for his Soph year.  I think the reason he changed his mind is that is there was not a lot more for him to accomplish as an Am and his game seemed to stagnate a bit.  Combined with the fact that after this year, Q school will not lead to direct PGA membership and he felt it was time to make a move.  My point is that he still put in 2 years and likely matured as a person (and as a player at least for the first year).

Here are Cantlay`s PGA Tour finishes while he was enrolled at UCLA and playing as an Am

6/19/11	U.S. Open	T21	75	67	70	72	--	284	E	--
6/26/11	Travelers Championship	T24	67	60	72	70	--	269	-11	--
7/03/11	AT&T; National	T20	70	69	71	67	--	277	-3	--
7/24/11	RBC Canadian Open	T9	72	71	68	69	--	280	E	--
10/09/11	Frys.com Open	T67	69	74	70	72	--	285	+1	--

2/19/12	Northern Trust Open	CUT	78	72	--	--	--	150	+8	--
4/08/12	Masters Tournament	T47	71	78	74	72	--	295	+7	--

He was able to do well and gain the confidence that he could play with the big boys WHILE IN COLLEGE.

[divot dave]

spidermonkey... you must be as proud of a dad as there is on this planet. congrats and I wish you and your son the best of fortune in the years to come.