Illinois makes a splash on PGA Tour
Even though golfers from around these parts have been limited to practicing their swings in domes and their putting on the living room carpet thanks to a brutal, ice-cold winter, out on the PGA Tour, golfers with Illinois connections have been red-hot.
In the first five full field events on tour, a pair of them have combined for three victories.
It started with Mark Wilson, who resides in Elmhurst and refines his game at Cog Hill, taking the Sony Open in Hawaii. In his third start of the season, Wilson picked up victory No. 2 by winning in a playoff at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
“I’m just enjoying the ride here and that’s just kind of the way I’m going to look at the year here, just ride this train as long as I can,” said Wilson, who has a sizeable lead in the FedEx Cup points standings.
Moving up 23 spots to No. 2 on that list is Pekin native and U of I product D.A Points, who got in on the fun by taking the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am over the weekend, the first Tour win of his career.
Perhaps it was karma that his amateur playing partner for the week was none other than noted Chicagoan Bill Murray.
“Probably it will take me a really long time to truly grasp what I was able to accomplish with Bill this week,” said Points, who has earned nearly $1.5 million already this season and trails only Wilson on the PGA money list. “I grew up on the 17th hole of my local country club in Illinois and both of my parents played and taught me the game, and to win on the PGA Tour, and especially at Pebble Beach and especially with Bill Murray, gosh.
“I don’t think I could even dream it up. I don’t think I could even dream it that well.”
Speaking of dreams, both Points and Wilson will see theirs come true when they head down to Augusta in April to compete in the Masters for the first time.
To say they are pumped would be the understatement of the year.
“I’m so excited,” Points said.
“I get goosebumps thinking about it, to be honest with you,” Wilson said. “Part of me feels like I don’t belong, so I’m going to have to get over that hurdle and be ready to play that week.”