He was tasked with re-working Arnold Palmer-designed TPC Twin Cities course to make it suitable for the PGA Tour once the course was granted the chance to host the 3M Open.
RELATED: After stunning win as a rookie in 2019, Matthew Wolff returns to 3M Open as defending champ
van Rooyen saw his first significant action on the PGA Tour in 2019, breaking through with an 8th place finish at the PGA Championship.
"It's really special," van Rooyen said of returning to play in Minnesota. "I've received a ton of text messages from people from around this area, fellow golfers, people that are Gopher fans. We played this golf course a ton when I went to school here. Played the back nine yesterday and all those memories came flashing back, so it's really special for me to be here."
He's also on the verge of earning his permanent Tour card this year, with a top finish of third at the WGC-Mexico back in February. Hvan Rooyen currently stands 43rd in the Official World Golf Rankings.
"(Playing on the PGA TOUR) has been a goal since I was a kid, reason being you see the best players in the world playing out here. It's not so much a goal being a full-time PGA TOUR player as it is a goal of wanting to compete against the best in the world. However, the best in the world play here. So that's why I want to get my PGA TOUR card.
"We also live here now. My wife's from Minneapolis, from here, so we live in the U.S., we want to raise our family here, so I think long term it just makes sense. But again, I see myself as one of the best players in the world and I want to compete on that level and that means I'll play here. It's definitely a goal of mine. It's been on my mind throughout these last few months, but it will take care of itself. I know that I'm a good enough player, so if I put the scores up, it's going to happen."
Flanagan is playing as an amateur this week at the 3M Open, which is his first PGA Tour event appearance. He was granted a sponsor exemption during the trophy ceremony after winning the Minnesota PGA's Minnesota Open two weeks ago. Flanagan eagled the 18th hole in the final round to set a course record at the Royal Club in Lake Elmo. He had intended to try to make it into the 3M open via pre-qualifer and qualifier tournaments, but was handed an express ticket into the event by Royal Club founder and 3M Open Executive Director Hollis Cavner.
"It's a different life in doing all of this," Flanagan admitted in his pre-tournament press conference. "I'm really, really enjoying it and it's all a learning experience and that's pretty much what I'm taking this week. If I play well? I play well. And if I don't? I've got two or hopefully four days of learning experiences and the whole week as well. Definitely, I'm looking forward to it."
Flanagan is entering his fourth year at the University of Minnesota this fall and is a former Big Ten Conference champion. He intends to soak up every moment of this weekend's experience.
"There's so many guys that I kind of wanted to meet. I think a lot of guys have been like "who's this kid" because I'm 21 but I look like I'm 15. So they're probably wondering, 'Who's this guy, like is he one of the guys' sons?' or something like that."
"Sunday night I was out here practicing and I was on the range and I was talking to Russell Knox, and I've looked up to Russell because he's from Scotland, my dad's from Scotland as well. Then DJ (Dustin Johnson) turns up on the range and starts hitting balls next to me and I was just like, wow, I had to pinch myself a bit and say, 'Is this real'?"
"open" - Google News
July 23, 2020 at 06:09AM
https://ift.tt/2ZQkwsX
Gophers past and present prepare for 3M Open - KSTP
"open" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3bYShMr
https://ift.tt/3d2SYUY
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Gophers past and present prepare for 3M Open - KSTP"
Post a Comment