Eric Cole finds it difficult to envision taking a week off, even right now.
The 35-year-old rookie on the Tour attempted to get to this point for the better part of ten years. He has participated in numerous mini-tour events, the Korn Ferry Tour, the PGA TOUR Canada, and the PGA TOUR Latinoamérica.
With the ultimate goal of competing on the PGA TOUR one day. Despite finishing in the top 50 of the FedExCup, Cole hasn’t slowed down, even if it gave him the first sense of security in his 14 years as a professional.
In order to make his third consecutive start at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP, he took a cross-continental flight to Japan, where on Thursday he blasted an opening round 5-under 65. One shot behind leader Collin Morikawa, he is tied for second.
Cole has not taken a week off this autumn, in contrast to most players inside the FedExCup’s top 50. At the Fortinet Championship, he placed fourth; at the Sanderson Farms Championship, he placed 35; and at the Shriners Children’s Open, he placed third following a final-round score of 62. It was after the last round that he disclosed his schedule.
“I played for many years despite being unable to compete on the PGA TOUR. I’m grateful for the opportunity to compete in tournaments whenever I get one, and I’m having a great time playing here. To be honest, I enjoy playing as much as possible as long as I’m well.” Cole stated at TPC Summerlin on a Sunday afternoon.
He has played the most rounds on the TOUR. His 119th round of the season contained six birdies to one bogey in his opening round at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP. This marks his 36th start of the 2022–2023 campaign. He leads the Tour in par three performance (23-under), rounds in the 60s (67), subpar rounds (80), and total birdies (512). After the May Charles Schwab Challenge, he hasn’t missed a cut.
A break is about to occur. After the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP, he plans to take two weeks off before concluding his season at The RSM Classic.
However, there is still a lot to be gained. Cole’s long-term TOUR status would be guaranteed by a victory, which would also make for one of the season’s best narratives. Cole needs to finish in the top 50 worldwide rankings in order to earn a spot in the Masters. Right now, he is 53rd.
Of course, there is the financial gain. Over $800,000 has been earned by Cole in three events this autumn. The most Cole collected in any of his 56 Minor League Golf Tour wins was $40,000. He made $4500 in eight KFT events in 2020. Cole’s earnings for this PGA TOUR season have now eclipsed $4 million.
A Rookie of the Year trophy is another to aim for. Cole acknowledged that it has provided inspiration. “That’s something you can only win once. I would like to win it because it would be a great honor,” he said.
In February, he made history at the Honda Classic by finishing second in a playoff against Chris Kirk. Most people first heard his narrative at that point. About how Cole is the son of former LPGA pro-Laura Baugh and PGA TOUR winner Bobby Cole, the winner of the Amateur Championship. Or how Cole spent more than ten years winning on the mini-tour after playing golf for Fort Lauderdale’s Nova Southeastern University, a Division II school. And even on how Cole thought he would never make it to the biggest stage in golf after suffering a back injury.
He would want to share a fresh tale. So far, his season has done a commendable job of it. The Rookie of the Year trophy would be a worthy conclusion to Cole’s most recent endeavor. And the same goes for winning the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP this week.
As he has done so frequently this year, he has made it through one round.
