Membership professional on unbelievable run may clinch PGA Tour Champions card

Jason Caron isn’t any stranger to Tour life.

The 52-year-old spent the early 2000s bouncing between the PGA and Korn Ferry excursions earlier than beginning a profession as a membership professional in New York’s Metropolitan part. Caron has been the pinnacle golf skilled at Mill River Membership in Oyster Bay, N.Y., for the final decade, working alongside his spouse, Liz — a former LPGA Tour participant.

After beginning their household in 2013, the Carons doubtless thought their tour days had been behind them. However for the previous 5 months, Jason has been on an unbelievable run that simply might earn him a coveted card on the PGA Tour Champions.

It began when Caron certified for 2024 Senior PGA Championship and completed T4 — the perfect outcome by a membership professional since 2002.

In June, Caron acquired into the sector of the American Household Insurance coverage Championship as an alternate, ending T31.

Subsequent up was the U.S. Senior Open, which Caron had gotten into by way of a neighborhood qualifier. He missed the minimize however had the prospect to tee it up once more simply over a month later at August’s Rogers Charity Basic, the place he once more acquired into the sector as an alternate. That week, Caron was T3 — a end that acquired him straight into the next week’s Ally Problem discipline, the place he was T47.

In October, Caron acquired a sponsor’s exemption to play the Constellation Furyk & Pals, the place he once more capitalized, ending T4, and incomes one other entry into the next week’s event, the SAS Championship, the place he completed T47.

In simply seven tournaments, Caron had earned sufficient Charles Schwab Cup factors to qualify for the Charles Schwab Cup Championship’s playoff sequence, which started with final week’s Dominion Power Charity Basic. Caron completed T26 to settle at No. 53 on the factors listing — simply excessive sufficient to get into this week’s Simmons Financial institution Championship, which is open to the highest 54 gamers on the listing.

With $446,734 in earnings this 12 months, Caron’s story could be spectacular if it ended right here. However after firing a gap spherical of seven-under 65 at Nice Valley Nation Membership in Little Rock, Ark., on Friday, Caron is simply three strokes off the lead. If he can handle to hold on in his present place at T3, Caron is projected to launch himself from No. 53 all the way in which to No. 35. The highest 36 gamers on the factors listing on the finish of this event not solely earn a full exemption on the PGA Tour Champions for 2025, additionally they earn entry into the Charles Schwab Cup Championship at Phoenix Nation Membership in November — the season finale that awards a $1 million bonus payout to the highest finisher.

That’s heady stuff, however Caron says he isn’t fascinated by what might be.

“I’m not attempting to think about an excessive amount of on the market, to be sincere,” he mentioned after his spherical. “I’m not attempting to get too far forward of myself. I do know that is form of like — I don’t need to say it’s a free week, however form of feels that manner slightly bit as a result of there’s actually nothing to lose for me regardless. Everybody most likely is aware of that’s been watching golf of late, I imply, I’ve a job at Mill River, so I really feel very lucky there. That is simply form of like a bonus. We’ll see what occurs.”

With a gradual job he loves and two younger daughters at dwelling, Caron could also be one of many few gamers within the discipline who doesn’t really feel the strain of incomes a possible senior Tour card this week.

“I already know my deal,” he mentioned. “My deal is I’ve a job and that’s No. 1. I’ve two younger ladies and I need to be round to look at them develop up. This additional stuff out right here is only a bonus for me.”

Relying on how issues go this weekend, that bonus might be larger than anticipated.