Tag: Michael Visacki

A mini-tour player had such a sweet reaction to Justin Thomas giving him money to help with his career

What an awesome gesture by Justin Thomas.

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:

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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‘I made it:’ Journeyman Michael Visacki never quit, will live out his PGA Tour dream at Valspar Championship

“I made it,” said journeyman Michael Visacki, who will live out his PGA Tour dream this week at the Valspar Championship.

Michael Visacki never once thought about quitting.

Not after all the missed cuts and low finishes playing 30-to-45 mini-tour events and other tournaments every year the past six years on the back roads of professional golf throughout the country.

Not as the tens of thousands of miles – some 170,000 or so – piled up on the odometer of his 2010 Honda Accord.

Not after all the times he had to stretch a dollar or pinch a penny.

Not even after he missed earning status on the Korn Ferry Tour two years ago when he lost a ball in a tree on the 17th hole of the final round of the second stage of Q-School.

“I know I have the game to compete out here,” the 27-year-old Visacki said. “I said I got to keep going, I’m not getting any younger, so just keep on fighting.”

There was a dream to chase, after all. And this past Monday, Visacki, playing about an hour north of his home in Sarasota, Florida, was in a playoff of a Monday qualifier to earn a spot in this week’s Valspar Championship on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Golf Resort in Palm Harbor.

And then he was behind a bush after his drive on the first playoff hole that forced him to punch out, but he then got up and down to move on. And then he was 100 yards short of the green on the second extra hole before knocking his approach to 20 feet – 20 feet from a dream fulfilled.

“If I make this putt I’m playing, I’m going to be playing in the Valspar,” he said he remembered thinking. “But after that I was like, OK, I got to not think about that.

“I’ve got to think about putting the best stroke possible, picking out a good line with me and my caddie and we picked out a great line and I hit the spot and it went in the hole.”

Yes, Visacki rammed home his 20-footer and tears started to flow as he picked the ball out of the hole. After playing in just one Web.com Tour event since turning pro seven years ago, Visacki will be playing in his first PGA Tour event starting Thursday alongside the likes of world No. 1 Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Paul Casey, Gary Woodland, Viktor Hovland and others.

Hello, big leagues.

“I made it,” Visacki told his dad in an emotional phone call, video of which has gone viral on social media. “You did it,” his father, Mike, replied. “Oh my goodness. I’m crying. Congratulations.”

“Pops was emotional, never seen him cry so much,” Visacki told reporters on Tuesday. “We’re not very much of a crying family, but this is the first time in a long time I think that we all cried because we knew how much work and effort, blood, sweat, tears, has gone into me trying to make it and to finally be able to do it, it’s a dream come true.”

Visacki recalled many of the sacrifices his parents made as their only child continued his journey toward his lifelong goal, including passing on meals so their son could eat or not paying the phone bill. And it was his father’s steadfast confidence in his son that helped Visacki push on.

“My dad pushing me because he knew that I had it,” Visacki said when asked what kept him going. “If he knew that I didn’t have it, I don’t think he would have been pushing so hard, but he saw the talent, he kept on saying keep your head down, keep grinding, because I’ve seen what you’re able to do.

“I’ve been playing some pretty good golf and he said just keep knocking on the door and you’ll step in and I finally stepped in.”

It’s a nice place to be. Visacki’s best financial year was in 2018 when he made roughly $70,000; this week’s purse is $6.9 million, with $1.242 million going to the victor. Visacki’s not thinking about that at the moment; he just wants to do the best he can and see what happens. And if things don’t go his way, the Honda Accord will be ready to go to the next mini-tour event.

“I think it’s just trying to get 1 percent better every day,” Visacki said about the fine line between playing on the PGA Tour and getting there. Starting Thursday, Visacki will be looking to add that 1 percent.

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