By:Andrew Coen
The 41-year-old Thomas, who has been head pro at Lawrence for the past seven years of his 10 years there, is one of the few ÒqualifiersÓ competing for the 86th PGA championship. Most of the tournamentÕs competitors played their way onto the roster during the PGA calendar or were otherwise exempted. The championship will be played on the Whistling Straits course in Kohler, Wis., on Lake Michigan, this weekend.
This will be the first major for Thomas, though he has participated in six PGA Tour events, including the Greater Hartford Open in 1991 and the Buick Westchester Classic in 1991, 1993 and 2001.
The sportÕs three other major tournaments are the Masters, the U.S. Open and the British Open.
ÒItÕs just a matter of getting comfortable and not getting overwhelmed by seeing the likes of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els on the [practice] range,Ó said Thomas.
This wonÕt be the first time a golf pro from the Lawrence Village club has played at golfÕs highest level. Former head pro Mark Mielke, ThomasÕs old boss, competed in the U.S Open.
Thomas earned his chance to play in the seasonÕs last major by tying for 11th in the National Club Pro Championship in Columbus, Ohio, in which the top 25 players qualified for the PGA Championship, in June. Before the nationals, Thomas had to place in the top 20 out of nearly 150 golfers in both the local and regional Club Pro Championships in order to move on. ÒItÕs a very long process,Ó he said.
Thomas won the 2001 Metropolitan PGA Club Professional Championship and the 1998 PGA National Senior-Junior Championship. He finished sixth in this yearÕs New York State Open on the treacherous Bethpage State Park Black Course, site of the 2002 U.S Open. Also on ThomasÕs golf resume are five holes-in-one, including three in competition.
While Thomas will be competing against the worldÕs best golfers, he is not content just to be a part of the event. ÒIÕm not going out there just to make the cut,Ó he said. ÒIÕm going out there to play my best golf and hopefully fare well.Ó
Thomas tees off in Kohler on Thursday morning, on a course thatÕs far different from LawrenceÕs.
For starters, the par 72 course measures 7,597 yards, the longest course in major-championship history. Whether the courseÕs 1,400 bunkers is also a record is unknown.
But he can feel secure in knowing heÕll find nothing in Kohler as treacherous as the tough par threes found on the inward nine at Lawrence.
No matter how he fares in his first major, he is planning on a full weekend in the Midwest. ÒI am looking forward to the experience,Ó he said.
