Kevin Streelman looks to add to his underdog story going into this week’s US Open
LA JOLLA, Calf. (BVM) — Kevin Streelman looks to keep a positive momentum going into this week’s US Open at Torrey Pines as he makes his 27th career major tournament start.
Streelman has made the cut in his last four starts, including a tie for eighth at the PGA Championship last May and a tie for 13th at the Memorial Tournament two weeks ago. He currently ranks 54th in the World Golf Ranking and 56th in the updated FedEx Cup standings.
Streelman is a resident of Wheaton, Ill.and graduated from Wheaton Warrenville South High School in 1997. He played golf at Duke University and turned pro after his time there in 2001.
The uprising from collegiate golf towards the professional level was unlikely for Streelman once he graduated from Duke.
“When I graduated from Duke, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I thought I’d give this professional golf thing a shot,” Streelman said in an interview last year. “I played golf from mini-tour to mini-tour, I’d spend $10,000 then make $10,000 and keep that going for a little bit.”
The journey to the professional level for Streelman is as unique and treacherous as many other professional golfers. He pointed out the Western Open in 2004 at Cog Hill in Palos Park, Illinois as a turning point in his golf career where the ability to compete was seen.
“I was given $400 to try and Monday qualify against 180 people for four spots. I made a huge 20 foot putt for a 67 and ended up qualifying,” Streelman said. “The next day, Mike Weir, who had just won the Masters, is in our practice round with us. He gave me advice on where you can and can’t be on the course and so on.”
After that practice round, Streelman felt like he had the ability to compete on the PGA Tour.
“I have a lot of work to do, but I think I can hang,” Streelman said. “I could see myself doing what he’s doing with the proper work ethic and that was a big turning point.”
After six tries in Q-School, he was able to finally earn his full-time PGA Tour in 2007 and now has two wins on the tour at the Tampa Bay Championship in 2013 and the Travelers Championship in 2014.
Many dark days of uncertainty were in Streelman’s past, but now this week he will be making his 27th major tournament appearance at 42 years of age at Torrey Pines. This comes after his first career top ten finish in a major tournament and highest finish since his tying for 12th at 2015 Masters Tournament.
As Streelman is in the middle of his 20th season on the PGA Tour, he has also made frequent visits to his hometown of Wheaton where he has attended his former high schools golf matches at Arrowhead Golf Club, and done as much to donate golf bags and golf balls to the boys and girls golf teams at Wheaton Warrenville South. With the connection to Wheaton, Illinois, the town will be looking to cheer him on for another solid performance at a major in this week’s US Open.
