With Tiger Woods sidelined for the second time in the five-year history of the AT&T National, there is a lack of star power in a tournament designed to showcase the most luminescent man in golf.
When the event tees off Thursday at Aronimink Country Club in Newtown Square, Pa., the highest-ranked player in the field will be No. 15 Nick Watney.
But the player who may draw the most interest is 19-year-old amateur Patrick Cantlay. The Californian, who is entering his sophomore year at UCLA, shot a 10-under-par 60 in the second round of the Travelers Championship. In his bid to become the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour since Phil Mickelson in 1991, Cantlay faded in the final two rounds from first place to a tie for 24th.
With his finishes in the Travelers and the previous week in the U.S. Open, Cantlay would have won more than $130,000 if he were a professional. But he insists he wants to stay in school and get his degree.
Perhaps it is time to reconsider.
At age 22, Rory McIlroy already has played 100 events on the PGA and European tours and now appears on the verge of stardom. If Cantlay sticks to his plan, he will just be entering professional golf at McIlroy’s current age. Will he be as prepared for success? Highly doubtful.
While Cantlay’s stance could cost him plenty of money, it’s also refreshing in an era when many young athletes jump too soon for the money.
There’s something else to like about Cantlay — his grown-up view of Twitter.
“I won’t be joining Twitter ever,” Cantlay said. “That’s just not for me.”
