Air Force graduate Tom Whitney enjoying start to PGA Tour career | Golf Insider
Tom Whitney watches his tee shot on the second hole of the South Course at Torrey Pines during the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament, Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Gregory Bull
Air Force Academy graduate Tom Whitney won’t complain about playing the game of golf for a living.
After the 34-year-old PGA Tour rookie graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2010, he served his four years of active duty. During that time, he rose to First Lieutenant while assigned to the 319th Missile Squadron at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming. He also served as a nuclear missile operator.
He first turned pro in 2014 after his Air Force duty. He played in a couple of PGA events as a qualifier but has now reached the tour after a strong Korn Ferry Tour season in 2023.
Whitney missed the cut in his first tournament of the season at The American Express but followed that up with a tie for 13th at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines.
“Golf is kind of plain and simple,” Whitney told CBS Sports Sunday after the final round. “I have the perspective that I’m very blessed and I’m very fortunate to get to play this game for a living.
“I could be at a location where I don’t want to be.”
Whitney’s story has come to light during the opening weeks of the PGA Tour season. His brother, Bob, committed suicide four years ago and Tom honors him by marking his ball with Bob’s dog tags.
“I use his dog tag and I’ve been using that since he passed away and it’ll be marking my ball for my entire career, however long that lasts,” Whitney told CBS Sports.
Tom is not in the field this week at Pebble Beach and currently ranks 67th in the FedEx Cup standings.
“There’s just a lot of real-life things that I’ve been through, and it makes a bad day on the golf course really not that bad,” Whitney said.
***
What I’m reading
One of the biggest stories in golf last week was the news of Anthony Kim seeking a return to golf — either on the PGA Tour or with LIV.
Kim was a talent and exciting personality who won three PGA Tour events before the age of 25. From 2006-10 he won three events, played on a Ryder Cup team and President’s Cup team.
He holds the record with 11 birdies in one round at The Masters. He took down Sergio Garcia at the 2008 Ryder Cup. But then it was all over in 2012 due to an injury. It was rumored that he had a $10-12 million insurance policy that kicked in due to his injuries.
Golf Digest’s Joel Beall looked at Kim’s career as he readies for a return. Beall discusses how Kim was a tremendous talent but not a great golfer. He was a good golfer who never completely reached his potential.
Kim is now 38 years old and facing a much younger game of golf. Where he ends up is still a mystery.
***
What I’m thinking
This week the PGA Tour heads to Pebble Beach Golf Links with a new format. The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am is considered a designated event, so all of the big names are playing.
And it is exciting to see the best players in the world play one of the best courses in the world.
The PGA Tour has had a strong start, but the winners have not been big names. Nick Dunlap’s win at The American Express was historical.
But this is a week where a big name should take home the trophy and that’s why this event is a must watch.
***
This week in golf
PGA TOUR
AT&T PEBBLE BEACH PRO-AM
Site: Pebble Beach, Calif.
Courses: Pebble Beach GL (Yardage: 6,972. Par: 72) and Spyglass Hill GC (Yardage: 7,041. Par: 72).
Prize money: $20 million. Winner’s share: $3.6 million.
Television: Thursday-Friday, 1-5 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. (Golf Channel), 1-5 p.m. (CBS); Sunday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. (Golf Channel); 1-4:30 p.m. (CBS).
Defending champion: Justin Rose.
LIV GOLF LEAGUE
LIV GOLF MAYAKOBA
Site: Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
Course: El Camaleon GC. Yardage: 7,116. Par: 71.
Prize money: $20 million. Winner’s share: $4 million.
Television: Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (CW app); Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (CW Network).
Defending champion: Charles Howell III.
EUROPEAN TOUR
BAHRAIN CHAMPIONSHIP
Site: Al Mazrowiah, Bahrain.
Course: Royal GC. Yardage: 7,261. Par: 72.
Prize money: $2.5 million. Winner’s share: $416,667.
Television: Thursday-Friday, 3-6:30 a.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 2-6:30 a.m. (Golf Channel); Sunday, 1:30-6:30 a.m. (Golf Channel).
Defending champion: New tournament.
***
Skins game
Odds to win Pebble Beach Pro-Am
Rory McIlroy +800
Scottie Scheffler +800
Xander Schauffele +1200
Viktor Hovland +1200
Max Homa +1600
Patrick Cantlay +1800
***
FedEx Cup standings
Through Jan. 31
| Points | Money | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Chris Kirk | 753 | $3,729,806 |
| 2. | Matthieu Pavon | 599 | $1,914,778 |
| 3. | Byeong Hun An | 570 | $1,713,700 |
| 4. | Grayson Murray | 500 | $1,494,000 |
| 5. | J.T. Poston | 415 | $1,203,475 |
| 6. | Sahith Theegala | 404 | $2,179,080 |
| 7. | Xander Schauffele | 388 | $1,401,850 |
| 8. | Jordan Spieth | 350 | $1,360,000 |
| 9. | Nicolai Hojgaard | 300 | $981,000 |
| 9. | Christiaan Bezuidenhout | 300 | $1,512,000 |
| 11. | Scottie Scheffler | 298 | $822,800 |
| 12. | Brian Harman | 294 | $796,602 |
| 13. | Sungjae Im | 280 | $754,480 |
| 14. | Keegan Bradley | 272 | $835,230 |
| 15. | Collin Morikawa | 250 | $690,500 |
| 16. | Kevin Yu | 237 | $939,350 |
| 17. | Akshay Bhatia | 221 | $629,921 |
| 18. | Patrick Rodgers | 219 | $624,145 |
| 19. | Eric Cole | 208 | $572,505 |
| 20. | Adam Hadwin | 205 | $631,050 |
| 21. | Stephan Jaeger | 196 | $603,556 |
| 22. | Jason Day | 190 | $575,780 |
| 23. | Harris English | 187 | $548,905 |
| 24. | Tyrrell Hatton | 168 | $473,385 |
| 25. | Max Homa | 166 | $476,786 |
| 26. | Patrick Cantlay | 162 | $490,794 |
| 27. | Sepp Straka | 150 | $450,000 |
| 28. | Jake Knapp | 148 | $493,932 |
| 29. | Nate Lashley | 145 | $477,000 |
| 29. | Justin Thomas | 145 | $635,600 |
| 31. | Emiliano Grillo | 144 | $439,088 |
| 32. | Tony Finau | 143 | $463,730 |
| 33. | Taylor Pendrith | 143 | $445,825 |
| 34. | Russell Henley | 134 | $428,000 |
| 35. | Carl Yuan | 123 | $373,500 |
| 36. | Erik Van Rooyen | 121 | $303,751 |
| 37. | Sam Burns | 119 | $423,800 |
| 38. | Michael Kim | 119 | $376,763 |
| 39. | Taylor Montgomery | 113 | $328,571 |
| 40. | Matt Fitzpatrick | 113 | $320,250 |
| 41. | Ludvig Aberg | 108 | $343,001 |
| 42. | Si Woo Kim | 108 | $260,643 |
| 43. | Ryo Hisatsune | 108 | $307,026 |
| 44. | Beau Hossler | 101 | $327,455 |
| 45. | Andrew Putnam | 99 | $319,280 |
| 46. | Ben Griffin | 98 | $298,851 |
| 46. | Keith Mitchell | 98 | $298,851 |
| 48. | Nick Taylor | 96 | $315,258 |
| 49. | Luke List | 96 | $259,420 |
| 50. | Viktor Hovland | 85 | $220,000 |