In late April we were introduced to Michael Visacki, a mini-tour golfer who got emotional on a phone a call with his dad after qualifying for his first PGA Tour event since turning pro in 2013.
A few days later he went out and started that event in incredible fashion. While Visacki didn’t make the cut at the Valspar Championship, it was very cool to see someone achieve a dream that meant so much to him.
Visacki’s story helped get him an invitation to last weekend’s annual PGA Tour stop at Colonial for the Charles Schwab Classic. He missed the cut after rounds of 77-72 but before he left he shared an awesome moment with Justin Thomas, who handed him a check to help him out with his career.
Being a mini-tour player can be very expensive and those expenses can weigh on a player as they try to climb their way to the PGA Tour.
This was awesome:
— Rick Gehman (@RickRunGood) May 31, 2021
Visacki spoke at the Valspar about how expensive it is to be a mini-tour player. From CBS Sports’ Kyle Porter:
“It’s extremely hard,” Visacki said. “Sometimes entry fees are $400-$600, and if you don’t win or come second, I mean you barely break even. Then it’s not like every week is a free entry fee that we’re just playing for a prize. Like if you miss two or three cuts and each cut, each tournament costs you $500 then in two, three weeks you’re down $1,500 just in entry fee, not alone practicing, having to worry about paying rent, phone bill, electricity, gas, hopefully the car’s not going to break down.
“Even with all my success, it’s still very, very, very hard to make a living. If I was having to pay rent I would probably still wouldn’t be able to play professional golf as much as I’ve won in the past.”
Good on Thomas, the No. 2 player in the world, for helping him out. And what a sweet reaction from Visacki and his pops.
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