Brandon Stone has played in two PGA Championships, but not a regular event on the American circuit. That will change on Thursday when he tees up in the CareerBuilder Challenge, his first bid to crack the PGA Tour nut.
The 23 year old had a watershed season in 2016 that included European Tour victories at the SA Open and Alfred Dunhill Championship. He finished the season ranked 50th in the Race to Dubai after playing 25 events.
He received an invitation to compete at PGA West TPC Stadium Course and duly made the trip from South Africa to California with his father in tow.
FINALLY in Palm Springs … wow but California is far away from SA ✈️?? #PGATour
— Brandon Stone (@BrandonMStone) January 17, 2017
The Coachella Valley includes Palm Springs, where Stone played a round before heading down the road to the La Quinta region for this week’s $5,8-million tournament.
Palm Springs is something else … pic.twitter.com/Jhefuynv5d
— Brandon Stone (@BrandonMStone) January 17, 2017
The area is famous for sunny, clear weather but the forecast for this week is rain. It will level out the advantage of local knowledge.
Stone will surely be hoping for a good result this week and his ability to stay relaxed in tense moments is a huge bonus. In his first European Tour start – the BMW International Open in 2014 – Stone shared 10th place.
Last year while marching to victory at the Alfred Dunhill Championship he popped a ball onto the deck at the 15th hole and hit driver. He then scratched the stomach of a leopard statue next to the 16th tee box on his way to a two-stroke victory over Charl Schwartzel.
The young gun knows he can beat world-class players on home soil, but this week he’ll need to adapt to the PGA Tour, where players are capable of making birdies on cue.
If his previous attitude is anything to go by, then Stone should fit right in.
