Why don’t we hear on TV or read in print the money list or the winner’s share on the PGA Tour more often? The TV networks seem to shy away from talking about money…they may think it’s coarse, or not classy to discuss peoples salaries…but to me, more than anything else… the money list is a way to track how a guy is doing. I relate to earnings more than Fed Ex points. I guess to some it’s crass, but I think it builds drama. We all know the worth of a dollar and when a guy is on 18, putting for 4th place, or a 5 way tie for 5th…it’s fun to try to guess what a miss will cost them. So, I say, let’s talk about it.
It might be fun to review who the all-time PGA money winners who have local connections…they either grew up here, or went to the U of A.
546. Homero Blancas $670,000
We here in Tucson, we know and love Homero. All through the 80’s he was the head pro at Randolph. Now he’s 81…lives in Houston where he went to college. Played for the University of Houston…and to this day…holds one of the most amazing records in golf history. In a match in college…he shot a 55 on a par 70 course. To this day…it’s he lowest round ever shot on a course of 70 or more during a serious golf competition. The feat used to be in the Guinness Book of World Records, but has since been pulled, because they changed the standard to a course that is 6500 yards or longer. The course he scored his 55 on was on a course with less than 6000 yards. Homero won 4 times on tour and had 18 holes in one.
450. David Berganio $1,700,000 – U of A grad.
428. Nate Lashley $2,200,000 – U of A grad in 2004…led his team to finals of NCAA Championship. Recent winner of the Rocket Mortgage Classic.
392. Willie Wood $2,700,000 – and over $3,000,000 on the Sr. tour, including a second place finish at the Cologuard Classic in Tucson in 2019.
Willie qualified for the 2019 Senior US Open, but failed to make the cut. The Sabino HS grad went to golf powerhouse Oklahoma State after tearing up courses here in Tucson during his junior golf years.
379. Dan Pohl $3,100,000 – U of A grad.
377. Ronnie Black $3,100,000 – Golf pro at San Ignatio in Green Valley.
365. Don Pooley $3,300,000 – Former U of A star, Don also won $6.5 million on the Sr Tour, including the Sr. US Open.
222. Ricky Barnes $8,400,000 – former U of A star.
214. Michael Thompson $8,500,000 – The Rincon/University high grad and US Open runner up has already qualified for the 2019 season ending Fed Ex tournament competition with earnings over $1,000,000.
210. Robert Gamez $8,700,000 – The former Wildcat won twice on tour, including the Honda Classic…the one where he hit the ball in from the fairway on 18, on the last day, to beat a crestfallen Greg Norman by one.
28. Rory Sabbatini $31,000,000 – starred at the U of A, played for Rick LaRose. Had 6 PGA tour victories…not including the Southern Arizona Open…married a Slovakian, hopes to play on their Olympic team.
4. Jim Furyk $70,000,000 – U of A grad has won 17 times on the PGA tour. All America twice and won the schools only national championship in 1992. Shot a 58 and a 59.
