Former PGA prodigy qualifies for U.S. Open
For former PGA Tour prodigy Ty Tryon, the 12th hole at Woodmont North on Monday in the U.S. Open sectional qualifying, was his golf career in a microcosm.
His approach on the par 4 struck the pin so solidly that it ricocheted 60 feet off the front of the green. Instead of celebrating a slam-dunk eagle or a tap-in birdie, Tryon had to grind for an up-and-down par save.
These days, as Tryon labors away in mini-tour events and Monday qualifiers, he is trying to salvage a career that held such promise when he made the cut at the 2001 Honda Classic as a 16-year-old amateur, then turned pro and qualified for the PGA Tour.
Tryon’s crash landing — 38 missed cuts in 49 tournaments over the next three years — was well documented as he tumbled from the PGA Tour, to the Nationwide, to oblivion, all before he reached age 21. Cushioning the blow was a multi-million-dollar contract with equipment manufacturer Callaway, which was anxious to uncover the next Tiger Woods. Tryon wasn’t even close.
Tryon shakes his head when reminded of his status as a too-much, too-soon cautionary tale. He doesn’t feel at all scarred by the experience.
“I enjoyed a lot of other things in life. I was a thrill-seeker in many other areas,” Tryon said. “And part of me didn’t want to connect. I was a little shy about being a good golfer.”
These days, Tryon measures his progress in smaller increments and with a major dose of perspective. So Monday at Woodmont when he qualified for the U.S. Open for the second straight year, shooting a 6-under par 135 (71-64) to earn one of 10 slots in a field of 112, Tryon shrugged off the accomplishment.
“Actually there’s more at stake for me this week in Raleigh,” Tryon said of his first Nationwide Tour event this season. “If I do well there, I can get into more tournaments.”
Tryon reached the final stage of Q School in December, but struggled to a tie for 114th, earning conditional status on the Nationwide, which has yet to get him into any tournaments. He will play the Nationwide Rex Hospital Open this week in his hometown on a sponsor’s exemption.
Tryon spent all last week in Washington after attempting to qualify into the Prince George’s County Open. He missed a putt on the last hole and fell a stroke short, allowing him several days of preparation at Woodmont.
Next Thursday when Tryon tees off in the U.S. Open, it will be with a combination of excitement, reasonable expectations, and less performance anxiety.
“It’s pro golf, nothing is entitled. You can have a hot year and have it disappear,” Tryon said. “I love golf now. I needed to see the other side. Before, I was a little too connected to results. I didn’t have a real appreciation for it. Now I do.”
