Justin Harding has come a long way in the past two years – his (five) wins are well known, his Masters finish well credited and now he’s on the verge of a PGA TOUR card, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
The Stellenbosch star, who played in every Major in 2019, made his Korn Ferry Tour debut a week ago at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship. He finished T7 to put himself in just one top-40 finish in the last two events away from joining the biggest league there is.
And then for the first time, it seemed that there might be the slightest hiccup in the fairytale as he opened this week’s Albertsons Boise Open with a 71 – which left him well outside his desired spot. Instead, it left him fighting to make the cut.
If it was a fight then it would be best described as a first-round, or even first-punch, knockout. He opened with three straight birdies and added two more on 16 and 17 before a late drop. Still, he was four under and safely inside the cut.
Birdies at both of the front side’s par fives had him climb the board steadily and then gains at the 6th and again at his closing hole helped Harding to a 63, a share of the low round of the day and, more importantly, a rise of 69 places to share 10th with two rounds to play.
It’s certainly not job done but like his journey over the past year and a bit, it’s another big step in the right direction.
Who would bet against him finishing off the job over the next two days?
