Ex-trump Bedminster Assistant Finds Improbable Way To Masters

A pro who once worked in New Jersey has authored the Cinderella story of this young golf season.

Jim Herman, who spent two years working as an assistant pro at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster (2006-07), was the most unlikely player to earn his way into this year’s Masters when he won the Shell Open in Houston on the Sunday before Masters week.

Herman's Cinderella-like story earned him a last-minute spot into his first Masters. The victory for the 38-year-old journeyman – he knocked around the mini tours for quite a while – got him a 2½-year exemption on the PGA Tour and a first-place prize of $1.224 million.

Almost immediately he received a tweet from his old boss, Donald Trump, who was stumping in Wisconsin ahead of the primaries there.

With Trump's financial assistance, Herman finally advanced far enough through Q-School to earn a Web.com Tour spot in 2008. He played 114 events and finally won one. He moved up to the PGA Tour in 2011, but was 0-for-106 tournaments until Sunday. On the 72nd green at the Shell Open, Herman, 38, needed a two-putt from 20-feet for a win, and he got it.

"I feel awfully good," Trump told USA Today. "It was really nice to see him win. He's such a good guy. A nice person. And he deserves it. Such a great story. He's what America is all about. He never gave up on his dream."

While working at Trump National in Bedminster, Herman tested himself playing in local events. He twice showed well in the State Open conducted by the New Jersey State Golf Association.

In 2006, he finished tied for fourth behind champion Jason Lamp at Hollywood Golf Club in Deal and earned $3,500. In the 2007 State Open at Plainfield Country Club, he earned $2,487.50 by tying for sixth place in the event won by Brian Komline.

Herman, a native of Ohio native, didn't make it to the Web.com Tour until he was 30. He didn't reach the big-time PGA Tour until he was 33 — and then failed to keep his card his first three seasons.

Herman had moved to the West Coast of Florida in 2000 and was working at the PGA Golf Club before he was offered a job at Trump National in 2006.

"I hired him as an assistant because I felt the club needed a strong player to play with the members," said Mickie Gallagher, Trump National-Bedminster's director of golf. "I think, deep down, Jim saw this as his last opportunity."

Herman dominated the New York PGA assistant events — no easy feat — and would routinely shoot 5 or 6 under par while playing with Trump. The owner couldn't understand why Herman wasn't on the PGA Tour.

"I told Mr. Trump that Jim had never been given the financial opportunity to try, and I thought it would behoove him to sponsor him," Gallagher said. "He said, 'Backing athletes not the best business deal, but sometimes it works out. If you feel this strongly about it, I'll do it.' "

Herman knows he wouldn't have made it to Augusta National without Trump's assistance.

"He not only wrote me a check, he gave me some confidence," Herman said.

Gallagher also reached out to top instructor Bill Davis several years ago to help with Herman's mediocre short game.

It turned out that Herman's holed-out chip at No. 16 proved to be the difference in his one-shot victory over Henrik Stenson at the Shell Open. Herman improved 123 spots in the world ranking, to No. 68.

"That was vital," Herman said of his short-game improvement. "I've never had a coach to help me. I don't know if I was stubborn, but I'm glad I did."

TCPalm.com contributed to this article