PHOENIX – Rob Labritz completed the Phoenix Country Club course in just two hours and 45 minutes, opening the Charles Schwab Cup Championship with a score of 2-under.
While he was able to play fast during the first round of the PGA Tour Champions Season Final, it took him nearly two decades to get on the senior circuit.
Labritz was the 36th man on the field and played alone (markers no longer allowed) because Steve Stricker had withdrawn from the field the day before, resulting in an odd number players. But Labritz didn’t seem to mind.
He said that he used to be able to play 18 holes with a golf cart at GlenArbor in Westchester, New York.
Labritz, a club professional for over 32 years, is now a full-time pro golfer. There was a brief attempt at a PGA Tour, but it wasn’t meant be.
After his round on Thursday, he stated: “I attended Q school 3 or 4 times, played in 8 PGA Championships and won tons of State Opens. Everything in the Met Section.” To be honest, as a director, I got bored pretty quickly. After 32 years, I began to feel a little …”. Before he could finish his thought, he revealed an old goal.
“I made the decision 18 years ago to try and get on the Champions Tour. “I started manifesting it,” said he. Every night, I would sit in my bedroom for five minutes before going to sleep and visualize it. I did it for 18 years. “And here we are.”
Rob Labritz and his caddie stand on the first green during the first round at the 2023 Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Phoenix. Christian Petersen/Getty Images. Photo: Rob Labritz.
Labritz said that his life was just what happened, without a trace regret for the decisions he had made.
“I always knew that I was only a part-time golfer because I worked full-time. I felt close to being a professional, but I never thought I would be. “As a director for golf, I spent more than 1,400 hours per year, or 60-80 hours each week, in my job.
When you have three children, a wife, and a mortgage it is hard to say, “OK, I will go to practice.” You have to figure out how much money you need. ‘”
Labtriz, who is in his second season on the Champions Tour, has earned over $1.1 million. What he is doing, however, validates the nights that he imagined a bright future.
“I’m in dream heaven right now.”
You don’t have to worry about the long workweeks anymore. You won’t have to worry about finding time to practice. As a player, you can go full-speed ahead.
He said, “It is all about getting that ball into the hole now.”
