Golf fans, get to know Marcus Byrd. Over the next month, you’ll be seeing a lot more of him.
Last week, Byrd was named the 2023 Charlie Sifford Memorial Excemption for the PGA Tour’s upcoming Genesis Invitational. He celebrated his victory by winning the APGA Farmers Insurance Invitational at Torrey Pines.
After opening with a 1-over 72, Byrd won the first round by five shots. He then won the final round by scoring a 3-over 75. Byrd, a former star at Middle Tennessee State and 2019 Conference USA Golfer-of-the Year, finished at the top of the APGA’s Farmers Insurance Fall Series standings back in November. He now has three APGA Tour victories.
Byrd stated that “the conditions today were extremely challenging, but that’s really all we want as players.” We want to be compared against the best. It is extremely satisfying to be able birdie the last two holes to win this event. This is a great way for me to begin my season.
Byrd won Sunday’s event with a $30,000 cash prize and an exemption from the PGA Tour Honda Classic, which will take place in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, February 23-26. After his debut at the 2022 Corales Puntacana Championship, Byrd will make the Honda Classic and Genesis Invitational, his second and third career starts on PGA Tour.
“My goal is to become a sponge. Byrd stated that he is going to be around some of the best players in the game so he wants to learn as much as he can, get their advice, and see how a player can improve. “I feel like the game is mine. The most important thing is that I have to learn. Many of these guys have been around for many years. I will take advantage of these opportunities and learn as much I can. The game is in a favorable place to allow me to play well and perform well over the next few weeks.
The APGA Tour was founded in 2010 as an independent non-profit organization. Its mission is to promote diversity in the game of golf. In 2023, the Tour plans to host 18 tournaments with nearly $1 million in prize money.
