In a way, Christmas came early for Derek Tolan this year.
When the Denver native, a two-time winner of the HealthOne Colorado Open, was in the process of moving out of his house last month, he made a discovery that may change his career.
The day before leaving for the second stage of Web.com Tour qualifying, Tolan found a C-Groove putter that he had used during his senior season at the University of Colorado and in his first year as a playing professional.
Talk about opportune timing.
“I hadn’t been happy with my putting,” Tolan recounted in a phone interview last week. “I never felt great going into a round.”
That being the case, Tolan took his newfound putter with him to Kingwood, Texas, and wasted no time placing it into competition.
The discovery and decision paid immediate dividends. Even though Tolan didn’t hit the ball very well in the second stage of Q-school, his putting carried him as he earned a spot in the final qualifying stage for the first time in five tries. The result is that the Highlands Ranch resident will have a Web.com card in 2014 for the first time in his career.
“That feels good, but it’s not the end goal,” the 28-year-old noted, leaving unsaid that he’s eyeing the PGA Tour. “It’s nice to control my own destiny, though.”
Tolan will be one of 152 golfers competing in the final stage of Q-school at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif., Thursday through next Tuesday (Dec. 12-17). Also in the field are Mark Hubbard, who grew up in Denver, and Sam Saunders of Fort Collins, Arnold Palmer’s grandson. Hubbard earned a Web.com Tour card thanks to finishing in the top five on the PGA Tour Canada 2013 money list, but he’s hoping to improve his status by playing in the final stage of Q-school.
Likewise competing in La Quinta are Steven Fox, who won the 2012 U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills Country Club, and Scott Pinckney, who claimed the 2010 Trans-Mississippi Championship at Denver Country Club.
Much depends on how players perform at the Q-school finals. The top 45 finishers and ties after 108 holes will have much better status — and thus more tournament starts — than the rest of the field, which will receive conditional Web.com Tour status in 2014.
But in many respects, the biggest hurdle has already been overcome. Had Tolan not gotten through second stage — as was the case in 2011 (by one shot) and 2012 — he would have been without status on any of the major U.S.-based tours.
That’s why Tolan’s putting performance last month in Texas was so crucial. He finished the 72-hole event with 18 birdies, leading to an eighth-place finish in the 79-man field.
“I hung in there real well,” he said. “I did it while missing almost every fairway. I was kind of lucky, but I took advantage of (good putting).
“It’s not only my opinion but (those of) other guys I’ve talked to: The second stage is the toughest pressure you’ll ever have to face. There’s limitless benefit if you play well, but if you don’t play well, you get nothing. Nothing versus limitless. Getting your foot in the door is huge. I gained monumental confidence there.”
Up this this point — 4 1/2 years into his professional career — Tolan has competed in three PGA Tour events and six Web.com tournaments. The most notable of the bunch was the 2002 U.S. Open, when he was 16 years old. His best showings are 32nd on the PGA Tour (2012 Puerto Rico Open) and 15th on the Web.com Tour (2011 Stadion Classic at UGA).
“It’s so crucial to play well (in La Quinta),” he said. “If you do, you can set your schedule (for 2014). Just because you’ve gotten to finals, you can’t hang your hat on that. You’ve got to continue to play well.”
The one disappointing aspect of Tolan’s performance at Q-school is that it came in the first year in which there are no longer PGA Tour spots available through the process. Now the ultimate prize that can be reached through Q-school is full status on the Web.com Tour.
“That’s one of those deals where it could be frustrating, but I did have four (previous) years to get that done (earn PGA Tour status through Q-school),” Tolan said. “The only person to blame is myself. The new system caters to the more consistent golfer, so while in the short term it may not be as good (for me), in the longer term it’s best.”
Whatever the case, Tolan feels he’s much more prepared to compete on the Web.com — or PGA — Tour than he was very early in his professional career.
“I definitely do,” said the winner of the 2009 and 2012 Colorado Opens. “I keep getting better and better.
“I expect to do well (in La Quinta). My game feels good and I feel comfortable. I enjoy playing on bigger stages, so I’m excited for it.”
