Part-Time Uber Driver Qualifies for This Week’s U.S. Open

4.99-rated Uber driver Berry Henson will make his debut at 6:45 AM PDT in the U.S. Open at 43 years old. The journeyman has had a unique career in golf, bouncing around several different tours like the Asian Tour, DP World Tour, and a little on the PGA Tour. It has been a journey, no doubt, but Berry is doing things his way and loving it down to his locker room inside the U.S. Open Venue, Los Angeles Country Club.

Welcome to the @usopengolf pic.twitter.com/r1dBtCC38k

— Berry Henson (@BerryHenson) June 12, 2023

Henson’s professional golf career had been challenging to start. After several near misses to secure a PGA Tour Card and DP World Tour Card, Henson took a shot at the Asian Tour in 2011, where he spent $5,000 to be able to compete. When Berry Henson made his debut on the Asian Tour in 2011, he showed quickly that he belonged. He won twice in three weeks on the Asian Tour that year but, surprisingly, has not won since. He has made a total of 168 appearances on the Asian Tour with twenty-three Top-10 finishes. 

Why did Berry end up becoming an Uber driver? In 2016, Henson had some wrist injuries and was looking for something to do and also raise money for charity in Thailand. Berry speaks a bit of Thai and has a great appreciation for the culture there, in addition to the way of life, which are a couple of reasons why he supports the country. That year in 2016, in Palm Springs, Henson decided to start a new adventure called Uber driving. He realized in the process of ubering that he thoroughly enjoyed it, so he continued to do it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by βᕮƦƦY HᕮΠ㈃⊖Π (@berryhenson)

Fast forward a few years later, Henson still is teeing up on the Asian tour and doing well. Two of those twenty-three Top-10 finishes have come this year in 2023, with a T-2nd and 6th place finish. It’s no secret his game and head are in a great place right now. When Berry Henson was at one of the 12 final qualifying sites on June 5th (Summit, New Jersey), things did not start well. He made a double bogey to start, but he did not let it derail him in the slightest way.

He strongly bounced back quickly, carding seven birdies and an eagle to turn in a score of 64. Hensen stayed steady in his second round, turning in a 71, finishing two strokes within the cut line for one of the five advancing spots to the U.S. Open. Only one player finished better than Henson, Michael Thorbjornsen, who wowed the crowds last year at the Travelers Championship, finishing 4th place at 20 years old as an amateur. 

In his 20th year as a pro and his 12th year on the Asian Tour, @BerryHenson is finally making his first Major appearance at the @usopengolf this week ⛳😍#USOpen pic.twitter.com/S9NNGmJ6Vr

— Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) June 13, 2023

Henson is excited for his first opportunity to play in a major, he had this to say to CNN’s Dan Moriarty: 

“So many emotions have been going on the last seven days. So many things to be thankful for, so many things to be humble for. To put in the work that I’ve put in the last few years and reach a goal that has been a dream, I don’t know if I can summarize it right now. I’m just living a day at a time. I feel like I’m leading a golf tournament every day. New emotions, new feelings, but I feel like I’m getting through it pretty good.”

Another U.S. Open that never fails to bring incredible storylines like this one.

Cover Image Via Twitter