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For two black golfers, path to PGA tour is rocky
HARDEEVILLE, S.C. â Tim OâNeal watched carefully, head down, as his pitch from just off the green rolled perfectly into the cup on the ninth green at Tradition National Golf Course last month. âT-O. That was great," cheered playing partner David Robinson at the eGolf Professional Tour event. OâNeal smiled back, a nice shot on a good day. There just havenât been enough of those moments for OâNeal to reach his ultimate goal. Tiger Woodsâ phenomenal rise and accomplishments seemed destined to lead to a wave of talented minority golfers, a new generation topping leaderboards throughout the country. OâNeal and Stephen Reed, two African-American pros, can tell you how tough it is just to break onto the PGA Tour. âIâm the youngest out of probably about five or six good minority players in this country," the 27-year-old Reed said after playing a group behind OâNeal at Tradition National. âAnd theyâre all struggling." Woods is now the only player with African-American heritage on the PGA Tour. Meanwhile, as with many players of all racial backgrounds, OâNeal and Reed have struggled with the need for sponsorships, coaching and money as they fight to earn a tour card. In a nation where whitesâ household median income is $21,000 more than blacks, both OâNeal and Reed think just keeping financially afloat is a major barrier to minority players. âYou have guys that can play at this level," OâNeal says. âBut they just donât have the finances to go do it." OâNeal played college golf at Jackson State and turned pro in 1997, the same year Woodsâ won his first Mastersâ title. OâNeal secured backing from celebrities like actor Will Smith and Wade Houston, the former University of Tennessee basketball coach and father of NBA star Allan Houston. He appeared ready to deliver on his promise in 2000 at PGA Tour Qualifying School. However, on the final hole of the eventâs final round, OâNeal didnât realize he only needed a bogey to gain his card, took unnecessary risks and made double to miss the tour by a stroke. âIt was kind of a screw up on my part," he said. OâNeal had a chance at redemption four years later, needing birdie on the last hole to qualify. He knocked his approach within 8 feet, yet missed the putt to get him in. He played on the Nationwide Tour the past four seasons, his best showing coming in 2006 when he had five top 10 finishes and earned $150,250. OâNeal slipped off the Nationwide after last year. He tried for exempt status on the Asian Tour earlier this year, finishing tied for 41st. Only the top 40 qualifiers gained cards. So he keeps teeing it up wherever he can. The week after playing in South Carolina, OâNeal tied for 50th at the SAIL Open in New Dehli, India. âItâs one of those things that Iâve always done," OâNeal said. âI feel like that I just so happen to be a minority trying to chase a dream like everyone else." Reed is the son Houston golf pro Paul Reed and took to the game early on. He won a Texas state title in high school, and in 2000 became the first black golfer since Woods to win an American Junior Golf Association event. He excelled at Texas A&M, and graduated ready to take on the PGA Tour. Reed found that unless he won immediately, or had a bank vault full of money, his progress was going to take time. âItâs just really easy for people to renege on things," Reed said. He, like OâNeal, has played a variety of tours on several continents looking to break through. OâNeal hasnât had a sponsor since 2002 and must provide for wife Melody and their two children. He thinks more and more about how much longer he can pace courses, trying to string together enough well-struck shots to break through. His near misses at Q-school push him forward. âThose are tough pills to swallow," he said. Reed said heâs got about $80,000 for the year. With equipment, travel, housing and lessons âthatâs still not enough," he said. Some of Reedâs focus goes to launching an upcoming venture called Destiny Golf. The goal, he said, is pairing corporate support with rising young golfers whoâll need mini-tour experience before embarking on the PGA Tour. âWeâre not running a short quarter race," Reed said. âWeâre running a marathon." Itâs something few came to see at Tradition National. Neither OâNeal nor Reed made the 36-hole cut, so they were not around for a chance at the FairwayStyles.com Openâs $30,000 first prize. Despite his disappointment, Reed hasnât surrendered his dreams. âI donât like missing cuts. I hate it," he said. âAt the same time, if I have something thatâs going to last past my golf days, Iâm writing my own chapter either way." â AP
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