Michael Kartrude recently celebrated a huge achievement in his golfing life. It just so happened that he won this dramatic little playoff, which earned him an attribute for the upcoming PGA Championship. The series starts on May 15 with the first tournament at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. In the National Stunt and Show portion, Kartrude will battle other top professionals to prove their finesse! Consider this victory the first of many — it will be the first time Kartrude, an assistant at The Bear’s Club, competes in the storied major.
Though a nervous playoff to decide the championship was to follow, Kartrude had already shown ample skill and determination. After chipping to 4 feet he had a birdie putt remaining that would prove to be the one that sealed his victory. During the course of the tournament, he seemed to find his groove. He was feeling good at 2 under as he headed to the pivotal par-5 16th hole. The tension escalated as he hit his tee shot way right. He threw his driver that day as it landed up in the trees out of pure frustration.
As the tournament continued, Kartrude was put under even more duress on the 18th hole. He took a bogey that briefly had him doubting his prospects for moving on. “I thought that was going to cost me a place,” he confessed, looking back on the razor-thin margins of the round. Through it all, he was still able to push his way back into the top 20 race.
Kartrude’s resolve was rewarded as he moved on in the playoff when Brad Lardon missed a 12-foot par putt to advance. This surprising twist gave Kartrude the chance she needed. She had made a similar chip to 7 feet earlier in the playoff but had missed that putt in an early playoff hole.
He expressed his excitement following his victory, stating, “The best moment of my golfing life, for sure.” This expression really sums up the importance of his victory not just for his personal story but for his career goals.
Outside of Kartrude’s upset victory, Tyler Collet was the news, putting together a strong run all week long. He noted, “My mindset the whole week was not to move backward,” which reflects the competitive spirit prevalent among the participants.
As the excitement for the PGA Championship grows, so does the excitement of watching Kartrude on this new chapter of his career. His qualification is a testament to his prodigious talent and an inspiration to junior golfers of all ability around the world.
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