Big time golf returns to Norman
Offering familiar faces and low prices, $1 million purse Korn Ferry Tour event begins today
Note: This is not really an Oklahoma Columnist column. Instead, I’m helping out my old newspaper this week, covering the Korn Ferry Tour’s Compliance Solutions Championship. Owned by the PGA Tour, the circuit is one step below the PGA Tour and, though big money is on the line, attending costs very little and I figured readers here might be interested and might even want to check it out. Like, a parent and a child can get in for $10 and on Saturday you can even see Jack Nicklaus. Seriously. Check it out if you’re interested. Perhaps I’ll see you there.
NORMAN — For at least one more summer, this one, and this weekend, fantastic professional golf is available to witness right here in Norman.
It is the Compliance Solutions Championship, beginning today at the Jimmie Austin Golf Club, or what old timers may still remember as a very different course most commonly referred to as “University.”
It is the 15th event of the Korn Ferry Tour season, the circuit existing one step below the PGA Tour, which is also owned by the PGA Tour.
Next year, the tour has announced, the event will take place in Owasso, at The Patriot Golf Club, where for the first time it will be one of the tour’s six “playoff” events.
Just now, it remains a second-half-of-the-season tour event capable of propelling golfers like KK Limbhasut, who finished up his collegiate golf in 2019 at Cal, into the playoffs, where competitors must be to finish in the Korn Ferry’s top 30, the threshold determining instant promotion to the PGA Tour.
Following the Compliance Solutions Championship, seven tour events remain before the end-of-season four playoff events begin.
“You kind of have to press the gas pedal down and just keep going because you never know who’s going to win out here,” said Limbhasut, who currently ranks 66th on the tour’s money list at $70,811, yet 77th in points at 180.79.
“Winning just gives you so many points that you can skip over people, so you just never know … you just have to keep making birdies.”
Beginning today, the course will be dotted by former Sooners of recent vintage, a couple of them riding high near the top of the tour’s standings.
Max McGreevy, who finished up at OU in 2017, ranks seventh in both money ($271,836) and points (849.814). Quade Cummins, who finished up at OU in 2021, ranks eighth in both money ($263,778) and points (808.900).
Other ex-Sooners in the field include Logan McAllister, who qualified for last week’s U.S. Open; Blaine Hale Jr., who, though he’s yet to make a cut in 11 events, has spent most of his golf season this year on the PGA Tour rather than the Korn Ferry; also Patrick Welch, Garrett Reband and, playing on sponsor exemptions, Grant Hirschman and Ben Lorenz.
A blast from the past, Andre Metzger Jr., one of the best golfers to ever come through Norman High and the 2004 Westwood Invitational champions, is also the field on a sponsor’s exemption.
A couple of changes to the course could make it play more difficult, but also more exciting.
Normally the 425-yard 16th hole on the course, but No. 15 this week, a new championship tee has been added well left of the original tee box making the hole a much more difficult 460 yards.
Where once, a strong drive might clear the top of the fairway and run fast downhill toward the green, it is now much more likely to remain at the top of the fairway, making for a significantly longer approach.
That hole is No. 15 this week because what’s normally No. 10, the short 322-yard drivable par 4, is now No. 18, which makes the 586-yard par 5 that’s typically No. 18 now No. 17, which means for players of tour caliber, not only might an eagle finish come into play, but an eagle-eagle finish.
“I think this makes for a lot more exciting finishes,” Limbhasut said. “You can make up some ground on 17 and 18 to catch a leader. But also, are you going to take those risks and risk making bogeys?”
As fans and players familiar with the course know well, No. 10 — No. 18 this week — offers a very difficult green upon which to keep a ball.
The winner’s share of the $1 million purse is $180,000.
General admission entry price is a mere $10, 18-and-under children of ticketed adults get in free, as do college students and those able to present military identification.
General admission for the whole week is only $25.
Also, Jack Nicklaus — yes, the Jack Nicklaus — will be on hand Saturday, hosting a “shootout” once the third round is complete.
Big time golf, right here in Norman.
Nice write up. Maybe run into you there and we can talk baseball and stuff.