The field for the Stadion Classic at UGA, a Web.com Tour event that begins Thursday, is filled with stars from yesterday and stars of the future.
Among the 157 players competing are three major championship winners — John Daly, Todd Hamilton and Lee Janzen. There also are nine players who won multiple times on the PGA Tour and 22 of the top 25 players on the Web.com Tour. Also included are current or former Georgia Bulldogs golfers, including defending champion Hudson Swafford.
John Daly
1991 PGA Championship, 1995 British Open
PGA Tour this year: Daly has made only $19,072 on the PGA Tour this year, missing the cuts in five of the seven tournaments in which he’s played. He shot 81 in the second round and missed the cut in the RBC Heritage on April 21 in Savannah.
Web.com appearances: Daly has played in two Web.com events this year, including last week’s South Georgia Classic in Valdosta. He shot 4 over par and finished in a tie for 53rd.
He said it: “It makes me feel good that (tournament organizers are) happy. What makes me feel better is if I play good golf. It’s been a struggle, but I found some things in my swing last week, and hopefully it will carry over this week.”
Todd Hamilton
2004 British Open
PGA Tour this year: Hamilton’s only PGA appearance this year was the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February, and he missed the cut at 2 over par.
Web.com appearances: Hamilton has played in four events this year and earned $7,513. He missed two cuts, but finished 21st in the Panama Claro Championship. He was 5 over and missed the cut in the South Georgia Classic last week in Valdosta
He said it: “Obviously the money’s not as good as it is on the PGA Tour. But if you do well out here, you can get to the PGA Tour. And it looks like the only way to the PGA Tour is the Web.com, even if you go through qualifying school. … This is probably your best option for getting back on the tour.”
Lee Janzen
1993, ’98 U.S. Open
PGA Tour this year: Janzen has missed the cut in four of the six PGA tournaments he has entered, earning $25,482. His best finish was a tie for 61 in the Valero Texas Open in early April. He turns 49 in August and is biding his time until the Champions Tour.
Web.com appearances: Janzen has played in one event this year, missing the cut in the WNB Golf Classic in Midland, Texas. He played in 15 Web.com tournaments last year and made nine cuts. He shot 16 under and finished second in last year’s Stadion.
He said it: “I’ve won big tournaments, but it’s strictly on the guy who is shooting the lowest score. I have to look at it with the right attitude. I’m looking at it as a fun challenge to get my game back to where it once was. I’ve worked really hard physically so that I can hit it as long as some of these young bucks.” — to ESPN.com
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