Former Amateur Champion Ryan McCormick Makes PGA Tour Debut
On Thursday, March 23, former NJSGA Amateur champion Ryan McCormick of Middletown, N.J., embarked on fulfilling his dream of playing amongst the best golfers in the world.
By shooting a 7-under-par 65 in the Monday pre-qualifier, McCormick earned a spot in the PGA Tour’s $3 million Puerto Rico Open at Coco Beach Golf and Country Club, eventually won by D.A. Points.
McCormick shot back-to-back rounds of 1-over 73s and failed to make the cut.
“Playing in a PGA Tour event is something I dreamed about as a kid,” said McCormick, 26, who earned a full-time spot on the Asian Tour earlier this winter.
“I played pretty well on Monday. To be honest, I showed up 20 minutes before my tee time and barely hit any balls and had no putts,” said the former All-Big East golfer at St. John’s University. “I just thought I’d go out there and give it my best.”
His 65 tied him for second place as four in the field of 80 advanced to the Puerto Rico Open, which includes top professionals such as Graham McDowell, Hunter Mahan, Retief Goosen, Angel Cabrera, Matt Jones, Luke List, Graham DeLaet, Ian Poulter and Chris Kirk.
Ryan joins his father, Mark McCormick, long-time pro at Suburban Golf Club in Union, as a family duo who will have both played in a PGA Tour event. Mark played in the 2012 U.S. Open at Olympic Club in San Francisco.
Ryan tried his hand in only one other PGA Tour pre-qualifier, the 2016 Traveler’s, but failed to qualify. Besides playing on the Asian Tour, he also tried qualifying for selected Web.com events and will also try for the U.S. Open.
He had the added pleasure of having another former NJSGA Caddie Scholar in his company, in Kevin Foley of Somerville, who volunteered to caddie for McCormick after failing to get through pre-qualifying.
“Kevin played in this event the year he was on the PGA Tour in 2014, and knows the course pretty well. We got to know each other in January when we were both in Germany trying to qualify for the European Tour, so I’m happy to have him with me.“
Last summer, McCormick had no tour status. He did qualify for one Web.com event by shooting a 64 in Wichita, Ks.,, but played in a variety of events such as the Cape Cod Open, Massachusetts Open, New England Open and the 72-hole Quebec Golf Association event.
“I played really well last summer and had a bunch of top 10s in those events, making some money. Scoring-wise, I played really well. I had an unofficial 59 playing with my buddies at Charleston Springs in Millstone (N.J.). It was my best year as a pro as far as scoring went,” said McCormick, who won the Met Amateur and State Amateur in 2012.
McCormick was paired with PGA Tour pro Steve Alker of New Zealand and Californian Xander Schauffele.
“If I can get through the first round with a smile on my face and know I gave it give it my best shot, I’ll be happy. I know my game, and I’m playing well. I’ve played some practice rounds so I have a course strategy,” McCormick said.
“I just want to get out there and enjoy myself. It will be good either way.. I’m confident in my game and I like the way I’m playing. All that will take care of itself.”
