Peter Uihlein was on a path to professional golf success from the time he was a star at Oklahoma State.
He was the world’s No. 1-ranked amateur and he chose the Brooks Koepka path when he turned pro — he headed for the European Tour.
Uihlein experienced success abroad — he won on the European Tour and established a degree of consistency there.
He back to the states to find his way on the PGA Tour and thus far it’s been a struggle. He won on the Korn Ferry Tour, got his card but life on the PGA Tour has been one giant struggle.
Last fall he missed the cut in Houston and finished T72 at Harbor Town (RSM).
He missed the cut at The Farmers and Pebble Beach.
Uihlein got off to a good start Thursday at the Puerto Rico Open. His 66 at the Grand Reserve Country Club put him just two shots behind first round leader Kyle Stanley.
Credit Uihlein’s putter. He hit 11 greens but used just 23 putts — and the flat stick can turn a players fortune around quickly.
This is one of those “opposite field” events for the players who aren’t qualified for the WGC events. The money difference is huge. They’re playing for nearly $11 million in Mexico while the purse for “the other guys” is $3 million.
Sure, the money sounds skimpy but it’s the two-year exemption they’re playing for.
This event remains the only win on Tony Finau’s resume and he’s now just outside the world’s top 10, coming in at No. 13.
So there’s momentum, and an exemption motivating this field.
