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Quest for a Tour card: Dollar$ and $en$e
By Jordan Holley
Special to GolfWRX
Jordan Holley, 28, is a mini-tour player pursuing his dream of earning a PGA Tour card. He graduated from Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla., where he was an NCAA All-American and a member of the Cleveland Golf Academic All-American First Team. He qualified for the U.S. Amateur in 2008, and since turning professional has played on the NGA Hooters and eGolf tours, as well as other minor league tours.
Hey golf fans!! It’s Jordan Holley again with a little perspective on what kind of life the Tour hopefuls lead from week to week. As much as I would love to say that I spend every waking moment out on the course or on the range, the truth is that when you are playing a rich man’s sport with a poor man’s wallet, you have to make allowances. I have always found a way to be as best prepared as possible heading into any given tournament, but when you are playing on your own dime and without sponsors, you stack the already huge odds just a little bit bigger against yourself. That being said, let’s take a look at an unusual week for me.
Monday — I received a return phone call from an informal audition I did last week for a Dicks Sporting Goods commercial. After I drove an 1.5 hours south from my apartment (and spent $30 in gas), I reached the driving range to find more than 15 golfers ready for a second audition. The guys lined us up in front of the camera and had us hit some beat up range balls and pretend we just hit the best feeling ball ever made — pretty hard to do with very little acting experience. Long story short, I got the job but after food, gas, etc. I’m down $65 for the day.
Tuesday — I signed up for the Minor League Golf Tour’s stop at Ironhorse Country Club. I brought a good friend of mine to help navigate the course (I didn’t play a practice round as they were $75). The event cost me $220 and although I went out with every intention of winning my third event in the last two months (I’ve played six times these last two months) I didn’t do what I wanted to do and shot 73. I did made four birdies and an eagle on the back nine to close on a positive note! I made $87 on the day, but after the entry fee and buying lunch for my caddy I’m at a net loss of $155.
Wednesday — I was invited to a pro-am at Old Palm Country Club and played with an amateur partner in their annual Pro-Member tournament. I shot 68, won nothing, but spent nothing (and got a free lunch). After the round, I met with the owners of Planet Golf in Miami and they were blown away by a new product I use and endorse, a Piretti putter. I became involved with this high-end boutique putter company this summer and have taken over as the Southeast representative for Piretti golf. The guys at Planet Golf put an order in for eight putters and have become the first of many golf shops to carry the product in Florida … check them out if you’re in the area!! So, after the meeting, my commission and the four hours of driving I made $135 on the day.
Thursday — So I got the job for the commercial and drove down to Weston Hills Country Club in Weston, Fla. (another 1.5 hour drive). I had to leave my house at 4:30 a.m. to get there for a 6 a.m. line up and breakfast. After more than 12 hours, five location changes and countless takes and re-takes later, we left the set only to find out the $800 I was set to make wouldn’t be sent to me for another 60 days. Bummer, I was down $50 on the day.
Friday — I practiced all morning and got an offer to bartend for a wedding in downtown Miami. I accepted and drove the two hours south to the city. I was there from 4 a.m. until 1 a.m. bartending for a huge Indian style wedding. Yes, there was a lot of curry and fantastic looking Indian dresses. By the time I got home around 3 a.m., I hit the sack with a $150 profit.
To recap:
I made more than I spent, but not by much. Each week is different and when I am playing golf every day (tournaments or just gambling games), I’m making more money. The problem always comes down to how much of an already depleted bank account am I willing to risk in events that can cost more than $1200 even when I know my game is good enough to win. Decisions come down to gut feelings. I will be getting out on the road with the guys soon, as the first eGolf event started this week.
People may have a misconception of the life a professional golfer lives, and although this may not apply to all the guys in my shoes, I know my passion for competition, my love of the process, and the ultimate goal of playing the PGA Tour all drive me to continue beating one ball after another down life’s fairways, always trying to avoid the rough.
I’ll be qualifying for the Honda Classic this week so keep an eye out!
Click here for more discussion in the “Tour talk” forum
Keep following me on Twitter @j_holley6under or on www.jordanholleygolf.com.
GolfWRX is on site this week at the Memorial Tournament, with both Alistair Cameron and Tour Photographer Greg Moore on the ground in Dublin, Ohio, where a strong field is assembled to pay homage to the Golden Bear.
In addition to WITB galleries, we’ve already been treated to an in-hand look at Tommy Fleetwood’s new TaylorMade Spider putters.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
WITB Albums
- Jason Day – WITB – 2026 The Memorial
- Chris Gotterup – WITB – 2026 The Memorial
- SungJae Im – WITB – 2026 The Memorial
Pullout Albums
- Jason Day’s 1off Payntr golf shoes – 2026 The Memorial
- JT Poston’s TaylorMade Spider – 2026 The Memorial
- Cameron putter – 2026 The Memorial
- Tommy Fleetwood’s TM Spider putters – 2026 The Memorial
- New Mitsubishi Chemical 1K Pro Orange shaft – 2026 The Memorial
Around the world, the golf wheel spun this final week in May of 2026. From New Jersey to Austria, with stops in Korea, Texas, and North Carolina (don’t let me route your next trip) the world’s finest put their golf games on display. There were three playoffs, some known commodities and some new talent. It was the sort of week that we hope to have at this point in the seasons. June and July afford double-digit major events, and perhaps, one of this week’s champions will use this success as a springboard to new heights. Time to run it all down, tech style, in this week’s Tour Tech Rundown.
Thanks to WITBHub, Today’s Golfer, GolfWRX, and Inside Tour Golf for initial research into equipment.
PGA Tour @ Charles Schwab Challenge: Heroic Henley denies Cole
Eric Cole did nearly everything that a fellow can do, to secure a first PGA Tour title. He stayed one shot clear of Ryder Cup player Ben Griffin. He kept US Open champion Gary Woodland and wunderkind Michael Brennan two shots distant. He posted 70 on day four to reach twelve under par. And then, Russell Henley revealed his Dr. Strange cloak. Henley made 47 feet of birdie putts on holes 16, 17, and 18, to jump from minus-nine to twelve-deep, and secured a spot in a playoff with Cole. The duo returned to the final tee, and put on a stripe show.
Both golfers found the fairway off the tee, and Henley improved on his regulation play with an approach to four feet. Cole did himself proud, tucking an iron to a dozen feet, but he was unable to convert the putt for three. Henley is one of the best putters on tour, and he proved it once more by draining a putt for a fourth consecutive birdie, and a sixth PGA Tour title. For Eric Cole, that first victory should come, and soon. He has done everything necessary to earn the chalice lift.
Henley’s Suitcase
- Driver: Titleist TSi3 at 10 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70g 6.5 TX
- Metal: Titleist TS3 at 16.5 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX
- Hybrid: Titleist TSi2 at 21 degrees. Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT hybrid 100 TX
- Iron: Titleist T250 4-iron. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
- Irons: Titleist T100 5-6 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
- Irons: Titleist T100 7-9 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
- Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 48 and 50 degrees. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue X100
- Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 54 and 60 degrees. Shaft: rue Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue S400
- Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron T5 Tour Prototype
LPGA @ Shoprite LPGA: Welcome back, Celine!
Soo Bin Joo had her eyes on a maiden LPGA title. She held the lead after two rounds, then hit a red light at the intersection of can-I and how-To. Joo posted plus-two on day three in New Jersey, and dropped to a T4 finish, which was still a career-best for the young Korean golfer. Instead of a new face, a familiar face returned to the top of the podium.
Celine Boutier was the It Girl in 2023. She collected four victories, including a major title at Evian. Boutier reached world number one status, then simply faded into the background. No wins came her way over the next 30 months. On Sunday, she collected LPGA victory number seven, at the same trace as LPGA victory number two.
Day three saw Boutier manage the windswept Seaview Bay course with six birdies and a bogey. She was challenged in the end by Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol, who signed for a 66 of her own. Yubol came up one shot shy of the top ladder rung. Finishing in third place at -7, two back of the winner, was Ireland’s Lauren Walsh.
Celine’s Suitcase
- Driver: PXG 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 at 9 degrees. Shaft: Graphite Design AD IZ-5
- Hybrid: PXG 0311 Black Ops at 19 and 22 degrees. Shaft: KBS Hybrid Prototype
- Hybrid: PXG 0311 Gen5.
- Iron: PXG 0311 P Gen 4 5-9 irons
- Wedge: PXG 0311 T Gen 4 PW
- Wedges: PXG 0311 Sugar Daddy II at 50, 54, 58 degrees
- Putter: Bettinardi Studio Stock 3 DASS
DP World Tour @ Austrian Alpine: KK? KK!
Kota Kaneko has a rhythmic name. It has strong vowels and a run of voiceless stops in its crunchy K sounds. On Sunday in Austria, Kaneko put a stop to a challenge from Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia and everyone else, and claimed a first-ever title on the DP World Tour. Gouveia did well to reach 16-under par over four days, but Kaneko held firm, two shots in the clear.
Davis Bryant of the USA also forged a strong challenge for the win. He ended in a tie with Gouveia for second place. Kaneko began and finished his final round in a bit of a malaise, but he caught fire midway through. Birdies at 10, 12, and 13 provided the necessary cushion to cruise to the finish line without breaking a serious sweat.
Kaneko’s Suitcase
- Driver: Ping Max G440
- Metals: TaylorMade Qi4D at 15, 16.5, 21, and 24 degrees
- Irons: TaylorMade P760 5 and 6 irons
- Irons: TaylorMade P7TW 7-9 irons
- Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design at 46, 52, 56, and 60 degrees
- Putter: Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser Arm Lock #7
Korn Ferry Tour @ UNC Health Championship: Improbably Alvaro
Alvaro Ortiz may have had a bit of scare on the outward nine on Sunday, but he came through in clutch fashion in the end. Ortiz began the day bogey-double, and added another double bogey at the 11th hole. He was mired in a downward trend, spiraling away from the top of the leader’s board. Ortiz found hope at the 14th, where his first birdie of the day tumbled home. Inspired, he closed with birdies and 17 and 18 to catch Ross Steelman at 10-under par, and the duo returned to the 18th deck for overtime.
The extra session concluded in brief time. Ortiz, buoyed by his newly-retrieved confidence, hit the fairway with driver, then approached to six feet and drained the putt. Gobsmacked, Steelman could do little more than smile and applaud, as his run at the top came to a close. The victory was the first for Ortiz on the KFT, and will implant him squarely in the chase for a PGA Tour promotion.
Alvaro’s Suitcase
- Driver: Ping G430 MAX driver at 9 degrees loft
- Metal: Ping G430 MAX 3W
- Iron: Ping iDi Driving Iron
- Irons: Ping Blueprint S irons
- Wedges
- Putter: Scottsdale TR Piper C
A party on the green!
Alvaro’s time comes in Raleigh with his first win @UNCHealthChamp ? pic.twitter.com/2dmtZdbSzk
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) May 31, 2026
LIV @ Korea: Me llamo Joaquin
Chile’s Joaquin Niemann had been away from the LIV winner’s circle throughout all of 2026. This week in Korea, he reminded us that he is still a force to consider. Niemann chased down Taylor Gooch over the closing holes at Asiad Country Club, then claimed victory with a hole-one birdie in extra time. Bryson DeChambeau claimed solo third, one shot in arrears at minus-eleven. Dustin Johnson finished on fourth, one putt farther back.
Niemann’s Suitcase
- Driver: Ping 440 LST
- Metal: Ping G440 Max at 15 degrees
- Metal: Ping G425 Max at 21 degrees
- Hybrid: Ping G430 at 25 degrees
- Irons: Ping Blueprint S 5 through PW
- Wedges: Ping S159 at 52, 56, and 60 degrees
- Putter: Ping PLD Anser
Driver: Titleist TSi3 (10 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70 6.5 TX
3-wood: Titleist TS3 (16.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX
7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Project X Denali Black 80 TX
Irons: Titleist T250 (4), Titleist T100 (5-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold AMT (4-6), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (7-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F @47, 50-08F @51, 54-10S @55, 60-04T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (48), S400 (47)
Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom X5 Tour Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
Russell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
Photos from the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
CJ Cup Byron Nelson Tour Report: Koepka and Kim’s newest putters finally get hot
Charles Schwab Challenge Tour Report: MacIntyre, Åberg and Spaun all switch putters, TaylorMade launches new Spider
Details on J.J. Spaun’s surprise putter switch
GolfWRX Launch Report: 2026 Titleist GTS drivers
Photos from the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
PGA Championship Tour Report: Fitzpatrick, Koepka among big-name putter switches for Aronimink
Photos from the ShopRite LPGA
Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
Eric Cole WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: PXG Lightning Tour Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft:...
Si Woo Kim WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
Wyndham Clark’s winning WITB: 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
Nic
Apr 18, 2012 at 3:35 pm
Good Luck Man. Anytime your in the Birmingham Area hit me up. I would love to do what you are doing but with a wife a child that dream is up to guys like you.
Jordan Holley
Feb 22, 2012 at 2:41 pm
I can’t thank you guys enough for the feedback, both positive and negative. I am learning on the fly with what I am writing and can always use some constructive criticism (on and off the course). @stevejones I want to especially thank you because I know you are most likely not the only reader who feels this way. That being said, I feel that I have some interesting insight into a very small section of players who aren’t playing off of their parents/grandparents dime.
I just wanted to mention something I think would benefit anyone reading these articles. The keys to success aren’t given away or sold to the highest bidder. In every walk of life they are earned. The most effective method of practice I have found, as it relates to improved performance is not practicing what you are good at, but instead spend the majority of your tine trying to make yourself comfortable in uncomfortable situations (whatever you struggle with…long bunkers, lag putting, etc). This is where you find out what kind of awesome power the brain has!!
I’ll give a quick example: I began taking lessons for the first time last fall with Mike Adams (Medallist Golf Club). I have always been an above average ball striker and a solid putter. My weakness was always the short game. The weird thing is it was never the hard shots, but always seemed to be the simple, straightforward ones that I would find a way to screw up!! I never wanted to practice them because I felt like it wore on my confidence (by far the most important aspect of the game). What Mike was able to instill in me were not only some technical things, but the idea that if I truly committed myself to the changes and put in the time necessary to make them routine, that I would transform an uncomfortable weakness into a strength. I feel like it was not only a lesson on the golf course but something I could take with me off it as well!!
Anyway, enough ranting for now! Good luck guys and keep an eye out for the next piece!!
Ryan
Feb 22, 2012 at 10:16 am
I’d be interested in a series of these. I’ve often wondered what it took and what kind of path a life of professional golf would entail.
Keep it up!
jerry bollinger
Feb 21, 2012 at 8:17 pm
This is a great place for the article. How many new 3 woods & $ 350 putters does one golfer need to look at ?
Good luck on your journey !
Brent Mann
Feb 21, 2012 at 6:09 pm
@Stevejones I doubt Jordan thinks he is the only mini tour player out there. This is a perfectly acceptable place for this article. From an aspiring players stand point, I found the article interesting. Best of luck Jordan!
russ
Feb 21, 2012 at 5:03 pm
Steve Jones, let’s try and keep it positive. You’re right, he’s not the only guy out there on his own dime (you assume)…but he is taking the time to make some posts and give people some insight on the day-to-day grind that is mini-tour golf. Nice to be able to put a story to a name on the leaderboard, and if he picks up some backing as a result, I don’t see it as a bad thing.
Keep chasing it Jordon…best of luck from someone who knows the grind and now watches from a cubicle!
Tony Mangler
Feb 21, 2012 at 4:56 pm
@stevejones hate hate hate hate hate hate hate…
Steve Jones
Feb 21, 2012 at 4:23 pm
Your not the only mini tour golfer who is looking for backers and is playing on their own dime….I feel this type of article should find a different place, seems like it is only here because this man hopes that someone will donate or sponsor him