MONDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2017
With Jonathan Byrd‘s win at the Web.com Tour Championship two Sundays ago, he will return to the PGA Tour, where the 39-year-old Clemson graduate has won five times, including a hole-in-one playoff clincher at the 2010 Justin Timberlake Shriner’s Hospital for Children Open. It’s a comeback win for Byrd, who has spent the last two seasons playing mostly on the Web.com Tour. We asked him about the changes such a victory brings. (Photo: Jennifer Perez/PGA TOUR)
What doesn’t change
“Things that won’t change are some things I learned over the last couple years and especially from the last week—how important it is for me to pursue more freedom on the golf course, not get so bound up thinking about my golf swing, and trying to be so perfect. It’s not so much trying to be so perfect, it’s trying to get everything just right in order to play well, and having a little more fun on the golf course, playing a little more aggressive, more athletic.
“A lot of things stay the same just because I’ve been on tour for so long. This isn’t new. A lot the guys coming off the Web just got their card for the first time, so it’s all new to them. To me, I’m probably more comfortable on the PGA Tour than I am on the Web.com Tour. I definitely am. I’m familiar with the golf courses and the tournament directors. I have more friends probably on the PGA Tour than the Web.com Tour, some closer friendships, longer friendships. So it’s comfortable returning back to that.”
What changes
“I would think some of the things that do change is some appreciation probably, perspective changes. I appreciate the PGA Tour a little more. I appreciate some events that I maybe used to not get as excited as much for. After you’ve been on the Web.com Tour for a couple of years, every event’s awesome. I appreciate the opportunities that are out there every week—the financial opportunities, the opportunities for my family to travel, child care, a little more flexibility with my schedule. There’s just so many things to appreciate.”