By Lee Davis
Most PGA players don’t win a tournament in their rookie seasons.
Even fewer win their fifth start.
Vestavia Hills graduate Smylie Kaufman did both last week.
Firing an epic 10-under par 61 in the final round, Kaufman shot a four-day total of 268 to win at the TPC Summerlin Course in Las Vegas on Oct. 25. He started the day seven shots behind the leader.
Kaufman, who played college golf at Louisiana State University, played the final 11 holes in nine under with an eagle and seven birdies. He closed in fine style, sinking a 20-foot birdie putt on the final hole.
“The greens were firm and I was putting the ball down the fairway,” Kaufman said just days after the victory. “The pin placements were to my advantage. I thought I had an opportunity to play really well.”
Kaufman said he never felt any real pressure during the final day. “When I walked off the 17th green, the tournament leader was on probably the sixth hole so there’s no way I could know what was going to happen,” he said. “All I could do was watch the leaderboard and wait. I didn’t have that big of a gallery – just my grandparents, my girlfriend and a few other people, so there was never any pressure because I had already finished for the day.”
Several golfers – including Tuscaloosa native Patton Kizzire – finished with a total of 269, giving the victory to Kaufman by one stroke.
Kaufman said the hours and days immediately following the tournament have been a whirlwind of activity, including receiving congratulatory messages from family, friends and acquaintances from everywhere.
“It’s been kind of wild,” he said. “I’ve still got about 150 text messages that I need to return.”
The fruits of victory are sweet for Kaufman. In addition to a first place prize of more than $1 million, he is guaranteed playing spots in the 2016 Masters, the 2016 PGA Championship and the 2016 Tournament Players Championship.
Kaufman said he had no plans for his newly won prize money.
“Nothing really,” he said. “Maybe I’ll buy a new car. I won’t change. I’ll be the same Smylie.”
Maybe so, but Smylie Kaufman is definitely smiling now.
