At simply 20 years previous, Vanderbilt’s Gordon Sargent secured his PGA Tour card in historic vogue.
Sargent is the primary participant to graduate from the PGA Tour College’s Accelerated program, which is ironic since Sargent is infamous for his superior swing speeds of 185 mph — pun meant.
As quickly as he teed off within the first spherical of the World Novice Group Championship on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi, Sargent happy the 20-point requirement by means of this new accelerated program.
The Commodore golfer will give Ludvig Aberg firm as these two children look to take over the skilled golf realm.
“Since successful the NCAA Championship as a freshman, Gordon has constantly confirmed himself as one of many prime amateurs within the recreation, and he’s very deserving of changing into the primary underclassman to earn PGA Tour membership by means of PGA Tour College Accelerated,” mentioned PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan per a press launch. “We stay up for welcoming him to the PGA Tour after he concludes his collegiate profession at Vanderbilt.”
He gained’t change into skilled instantly however can take up his full PGA Tour membership after the NCAA Championship concludes in Could. Sargent will probably be eligible for open, full-field occasions for the remainder of the 2024 season and the next one.
Sargent is No. 2 within the World Novice Golf rankings. He entered this week with 19 factors and earned the twentieth as soon as he started competitors as a member of the U.S. Group.
Just some months after Aberg turned the primary PGA Tour College member to earn full-time standing, Sargent made historical past as the primary underclassman to take action. Since Aberg earned full-time standing, he has posted 4 top-5 finishes in his first 10 begins as a professional. He additionally gained the DP World Tour’s Omega European Masters.
The younger Swede is on a meteoric rise in skilled golf. However he probably is not going to be alone as soon as Sargent turns professional subsequent 12 months.
PGA Tour Accelerated Program
The PGA Tour accelerated program was introduced final November as a method for high-achieving underclassmen to earn a Tour membership. Golfers earned factors based mostly on their accomplishments in faculty, beginner {and professional} occasions. If a participant makes 20 factors by the tip of their third 12 months of NCAA eligibility, they will change into eligible for membership.
Sargent earned his first three factors on Could 30, 2022, when he gained the person NCAA title. He gained two factors on June 1, 2022, when he was awarded the 2022 NCAA Division I Excellent Freshman Award. Sargent earned one other level competing for america within the Arnold Palmer Cup final July.
One other was awarded to him Aug. 2022 for competing on the World Novice Group Championships.
The 20-year-old earned 5 factors for being the No. 1 ranked beginner on Feb. 13. He performed within the Masters Championship at Augusta Nationwide, selecting up some extent there as properly. One other Arnold Palmer Cup look acquired him to 14 factors.
He made his second main championship begin on the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Nation Membership to earn one other level. Sargent made the lower that week and earned low beginner honors, inching himself nearer to that 20-point mark. He made one other PGA Tour lower on the John Deer Traditional to present him 17 factors.
When he went 4-0-0 and helped Group USA win the Walker Cup earlier this fall, it put him at 19 factors. That put him on the precipice this week in Abu Dhabi.
The Vandy sophomore has already had collegiate battles in opposition to Aberg. Fairly quickly, they’ll battle it out on the largest phases weekly.
Sargent is the following up-and-coming star for the PGA Tour. He has already proven he can deal with the strain. Now, he has locked up his card. Who will win a PGA Tour occasion first — Aberg or Sargent?
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By. You may comply with her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports for extra golf protection. You should definitely try @_PlayingThrough too.
