Of course, it’s not comfortable being a touring professional gbbolfer and there’s a golf tournament taking place just down road but then you’re not eligible to tee-up.
I guess it’s a scenario for many, many golfers including the likes of the Scottish-born duo of Russell Knox and Scott Jamieson who each live within minutes of this week’s host Players Championship course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra, Florida.
Knox was no stranger to sleeping in his own bed during Players Championship week as he’s done so on nine occasions from 2014 to 2023 he qualified to contest the PGA Tour’s flagship event and with a best showing of T6th in 2022.
Though there was his bitter disappointment at the 2016 Players when Know was well in contention on day three, only to put three balls into the water at take a ‘9’ at the infamous island green par-3 17th
It was then the third highest score at the famed 17th.
Knox speaking in at the 2019 Players said: “I have played here at TPC Sawgrass so many times I cannot remember and I played 71 holes good enough to win here back in 2016.
“So, I know I can do well here as the golf course is right up my alley and being a home week it’s a big one but you have to play well also.”
Disappointingly the affable Scot forfeited full PGA Tour membership at the close of the 2023 season so hopefully, Knox can win back his PGA Tour card and get back to competing in a tournament where he gets to stay in his own bed that week of the event.
Jamieson and his American-born wife, Natalie and their children Zoey and Oscar moved in mid-2017 to Ponte Vedra in Florida to be closer to his wife’s family while their residence naturally is just a short drive TPC Sawgrass.
Though the closest Jamieson has been to competing in a PGA Tour tournament anywhere near TPC Sawgrass was in Kentucky, and actually last year (2024) when he chose to contest the DP World Tour/PGA Tour co-sanctioned Barbasol Championship at Nicholasville.
Jamieson often will use the practice facilities at TPC Sawgrass and more so since the arrangement now in place with the PGA Tour as the leading 10 players at year’s end on the DP World Tour will be handed full PGA Tour membership.
Jamieson said: “There is a lot up for grabs than previous years as we’ve seen with the chance to earn your PGA Tour card at the Scottish Open and the chance to do the same at year’s end.
“Earning a PGA Tour card has always been a target of mine but for the last how many years, my situation it’s been like a rock in a hard place. I’ve always supported the DP World Tour rather than get my card on the Korn Ferry Tour, as I feel that would be a step backwards.
“When you have a young family and you have bills to pay, you need money (smiling).
“It’s why every time I drive in the front gates at TPC Sawgrass, I do find myself dreaming of one day driving-up to the clubhouse as a member of the PGA Tour, and teeing-up in the Players.
“It’s the home base of the PGA Tour and that would be mighty cool to be driving there as a Tour member but there’s an awful lot of golf to play, so that’s why it is some opportunity on offer this year for the DP Tour World players”.
