Patrick Cantlay Cherishes First PGA TOUR Win

Potential is one of the most combustible things in the world. A player could have the potential to be one of the best at what he does but so many things could derail that potential.

Patrick Cantlay knows all about how unstable potential can be. Just five years ago, Cantlay was the rising star of golf in 2012 after winning the Jack Nicklaus Award and Fred Haskins Award while becoming an All-American at UCLA. Cantlay also set the collegiate golf record for being the top ranking in the World Amateur Golf Rankings for 55 weeks before making his debut on the PGA TOUR in 2012.

And the hype train wasn’t just running because of his collegiate game. Cantlay made his debut in the 2012 Traveler’s Championship. This was the same championship that he had competed in as an amateur in 2011, shooting a second round 60, still the lowest ever by an amateur on the PGA TOUR. While he didn’t win that tournament, he led as an amateur for 36 holes. Cantlay also tied for 21st at the U.S. Open that same year.

Patrick Cantlay poses with the winner’s trophy after winning the…

Patrick Cantlay poses with the winner’s trophy after winning the Shriners Hospitals For Children Open at the TPC Summerlin on November 5, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

Things started to change for Cantlay, however, in 2013 when he was forced to withdraw from the Colonial with a back issue. He then returned in the fall for Hotel Fitness Championship but after that, he was only able to make six PGA TOUR starts in three years. He is now healthy, however, and was able to capture his first PGA TOUR win this past weekend at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

Even though Cantlay’s first title was supposed to come much sooner, Cantlay is cherishing his playoff victory over Alex Cejka and Whee Kim. “I feel like getting your first one can sometimes be the toughest one to get,” Cantlay said, “Hopefully, I can start getting some more wins. I hope they pile up.”

It is obvious that the skill is still there for Cantlay and he is still young enough to make a strong career. Maybe now that he is finally healthy, Cantlay can tap into his potential and compete with the likes of Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas for the top ranking in the world like he was supposed to years ago.

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