Justin Harding is one (more) solid week away from gaining his PGA TOUR card as he prepares for the Albertsons Boise Open presented by Kraft Nabisco.
It’s been one hell of a ride for the Stellenbosch pro, now ranked 52 in the world. In the last two years, he has won five tournaments in four different countries on three different tours, played in all four Majors, and has seen his world ranking jump up 370 spots.
He fared well on his Korn Ferry Tour debut a week ago at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship, finishing T7 to get within striking distance of a PGA TOUR card. Any finish in the top 40 in the last two Finals events would virtually guarantee the South African a spot in The Finals 25.
‘It’s certainly been a pretty good journey,’ said Harding.
‘Every tour that I have been involved in has been both rewarding and a learning experience in itself.’
But Harding knows not to get too far ahead of himself with the quality of competition teeing it up in the Finals.
‘I’ve had a couple of my mates play out here for quite some time,’ he adds.
‘I’ve known for a while that the guys can certainly play … the guys are really, really good and trying to play for their livelihoods.’
The 33-year-old is familiar with competing on the biggest stages; he’s featured in three World Golf Championships and in all four Major championships over the past year. His best, a T12 at the Masters, booked him a return trip and that was all down to holing a pressure-packed birdie putt on the 72nd hole.
Harding is ready to compete on TOUR every week and test his game against the best competition in the world.
‘It’s just an ultimate goal for any golfer growing up. It’s where all the big boys and the high-profile stars play and apply their trade. It’s only natural that you want to go out and try and compete against those guys on a weekly basis.’
One more week and it will be a dream realised.
