Vanderbilt Golf sensation Gordon Sargent has taken a significant stride towards achieving PGA Tour stardom, and in doing so, he has etched his name in the annals of history. Concluding the 2023 NCAA Golf season as the top-ranked individual player in America with an impressive rating of 66.84 across 12 events, Sargent demonstrated his prowess by securing a remarkable 46-23-5 record against Top 25 opponents. However, despite his accomplishments, Sargent found himself humbled when he was mistaken for a young child upon his arrival at Augusta National for The Masters.
Representing the United States team at the World Amateur Team Championships in Abu Dhabi this week, the 20-year-old Vandy golfer has already made history. Sargent has become the inaugural recipient of PGA Tour membership through the newly implemented PGA TOUR University Accelerated program, reaching the required 20 point threshold. By participating in the World Amateur Team Championships in Abu Dhabi, Sargent clinched the final point needed to secure his PGA Tour membership via the PGA TOUR University Accelerated program.
In an article I penned last November, I discussed the significance of the PGA TOUR University Accelerated program, highlighting its potential as a vital tool in warding off LIV Golf Invitational’s attempts to poach top young talent. However, with the impending merger on the horizon, it appears that the Accelerated program serves as a more expedited avenue for channeling elite talent from college to the PGA Tour, bypassing lower-tier tours and minimizing reliance on sponsor exemptions.
To attain his PGA TOUR card through this innovative program, Sargent had to accumulate a total of 20 points. Athletes accrue points by triumphing in and participating in prestigious events, including winning major college golf awards such as the Haskins Award, Hogan Award, D-I Nicklaus Award, and D-I Outstanding Freshman Award. Additionally, athletes can earn points based on their ranking in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), tournament victories, and participation in national team competitions like the Walker Cup, Palmer Cup, and World Amateur Team Championship.
When Sargent teed off in Abu Dhabi, he automatically secured his 20th point, thus guaranteeing his PGA Tour membership upon the conclusion of the 2024 NCAA season.
Here is a breakdown of how Gordon Sargent earned his first 19 points, according to the PGA Tour:
– October 18, 2023 – Represented the United States at the World Amateur Team Championships (1 point)
– September 2, 2023 – Competed for the United States at the Walker Cup (2 points)
– July 7, 2023 – Made the cut in a PGA TOUR event at the John Deere Classic (1 point)
– June 16, 2023 – Made the cut at a major championship, the U.S. Open (1 point)
– June 15, 2023 – Started a major championship, the U.S. Open (1 point)
– June 8, 2023 – Represented the United States at the Arnold Palmer Cup (1 point)
– April 6, 2023 – Started a major championship, the Masters Tournament (1 point)
– February 15, 2023 – Reached the top spot in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (5 points)
– August 31, 2022 – Represented the United States at the World Amateur Team Championships (1 point)
– July 1, 2022 – Represented the United States at the Arnold Palmer Cup (1 point)
– June 1, 2022 – Won the 2022 NCAA Division I Outstanding Freshman Award (2 points)
– May 30, 2022 – Emerged as the individual medalist at the NCAA Championship (3 points)
Sargent gained widespread attention during this year’s US Open after a gut-wrenching missed putt. Unfortunately, this served as the golfing world’s initial introduction to his exceptional talent.
Looking ahead, it is not far-fetched to envision Sargent ascending to become one of the top five golfers globally in the near future. Currently occupying the second spot in the global amateur rankings, Sargent received an invitation to The Masters this year, although he failed to make the cut, finishing at +9.
Nevertheless, he did secure the distinction of being the low amateur at the US Open, ending the tournament at t39. Moreover, Sargent’s flawless performance during the Walker Cup, where he achieved a perfect 4-0 record over the weekend, contributed significantly to the United States’ triumph over Great Britain and Ireland, with a four-point margin.
According to the Source brobible.com