Derek Fathauer Heads Back To Tour
Derek Fathauer last played a full season on the PGA Tour in 2009. In that season, he competed in 25 events while making the cut just eight times and finishing 201st in the FedExCup standings. As a result, he was relegated to the Web.com Tour where he would have to earn his way back to the big leagues.
5 years and 69 events on the Web.com Tour later, the Jupiter resident is making his return to the PGA Tour for the upcoming 2014-2015 season after winning the Web.com Tour Championship on Sunday at TPC Sawgrass Dye’s Valley Course.
“This is unbelievable,” said Fathauer, still trying to understand the significance of the win. “I was trying to force it for the first few events. I did a better job of staying patient this week and not looking too far ahead.”
Not only did the win earn him enough money to qualify for the upcoming PGA Tour season, but it was also his first win as a professional and Fathauer couldn’t have picked a better time to get it. The win earned Derek $180,000 which was enough to earn him the top spot on the money list from the four event playoff series. As a result, not only did Fathauer earn his PGA Tour card, he is fully exempt for the upcoming season meaning he can enter as many regular Tour events as he wants in addition to his automatic invitation to The Players Championship.
While Fathauer admits that he wasn’t ready the first time around on Tour, he says that his game is much better now and he is up for the challenge.
“It was tough my first year. I’m not sure I was ready for the TOUR,” he said. “I think my all-around game is better now but I’m mentally tougher. I’m ready to give it another try.”
Fathauer wasn’t the only Florida golfer to punch his ticket to the PGA Tour this weekend either. Derek will be joined in some facet this upcoming season by fellow Jupiter residents Daniel Berger, Tom Gillis, and Ryan Armour, Jacksonville residents Bud Cauley, David Lingmerth, and Steve Wheatcroft, Port St Lucie resident Jim Herman, and Tequesta resident Jon Curran.
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About Dan Hauser
As an avid golfer and sports enthusiast, Dan has had a passion for sports starting at a very young age. Dan’s other passion has always been writing. Since the time he could write, he has always enjoyed sharing information with people and telling stories through writing. In middle school he combined his two loves by joining the school newspaper in the sports department.