Tidland Counts His Blessings After Finally Earning PGA Card

Chris Tidland is exhausted. His back hurts. His neck hurts. He’s mentally and emotionally drained.

But he has never felt better in his life.

Tidland, a graduate of Valencia High in Placentia, finished a grueling six days Monday when he finished 21st in the final stage of the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament at PGA West in La Quinta and earned playing privileges for 2001.

But that wasn’t what had Tidland feeling so good. His 13-month-old son, Jackson, started walking last week. So even if Tidland hadn’t finished in the top 35 and earned his playing privileges, it would have been a good week.

A year ago, Tidland and wife Amy held daily vigils at a hospital, praying for Jackson’s life. The baby arrived 10 weeks premature last October, weighing 2 1/2 pounds. Tidland put his golf career on hold helping Jackson fight through 73 days in intensive care.

So when Jackson toddled toward his dad on the 18th green Monday, Tidland’s first thoughts had little to do with becoming one of the newest members of the PGA Tour.

“I looked at Jackson and thought, ‘It’s amazing what a difference a year makes,’ ” Tidland said. “This time last year I was sitting in a hospital trying to watch that baby grow and survive. Now he’s started walking. It’s been a big week for all of us.”

It’s the first time in five attempts that Tidland has made it through the qualifying tournament. Twice he played well enough to get a Buy.com (formerly Nike) Tour exemption, but has not made it to the big show.

He has played in four U.S. Opens and several other PGA Tour events, but becoming a full-time member carries a lot more weight.

“I’m not satisfied yet,” Tidland said. “My goal is to be successful. I want to make a career out there. I want to win out there. I’ve just earned the opportunity, now I’ve got to make something happen.”

Midway through the six-round finals, Tidland’s prospects weren’t looking good. He shot 74-67-73 in the first three rounds and was in 99th place. But a scorching fourth-round 63, which included going 11 under par over the final 10 holes, put him in 38th place.

It would have been the low score of the day had David Gossett of Tennessee, the 1999 U.S. Amateur Champion, not shot 59, but it served as a momentum change for Tidland nonetheless.

He finished with 68 and 69 in the final two rounds and made the cut by three shots.

“That fourth round was my tournament,” Tidland said. “I was on the outside looking in, but shot 63 and got right back in the game. I had been playing OK up until then, but I wasn’t getting much out of my rounds. I just needed a few putts to drop.”

When they started dropping, they didn’t stop. Starting on No. 9, he made five consecutive birdies followed by an eagle. After a par on the 14th, he finished with four more birdies.

“I definitely don’t think this was a fluke,” Tidland said. “I’ve been playing well this year and I had confidence coming in here and I have more coming out. It’s always been a goal for me to get to the tour. I’ve worked all my life to get here and now I’m finally there.”

He said it hasn’t sunk in yet, but when he gets back home to Stillwater, Okla., where he attended Oklahoma State, rests and recovers, it might.

“It’s just been a tough week, a long week,” Tidland said. “Every stroke meant so much. I made it by three shots and I could point out six or seven that I saved. That’s a fine line for shots to mean that much.”

SENIOR CLASSIC TICKETS

Tickets for the Senior PGA Tour Toshiba Senior Classic are available through the tournament office.

One-day tickets, good any day of the tournament at Newport Beach Country Club, are $14 when purchased before Feb. 26. Tickets purchased during tournament week will be $15 Feb. 26-March 1 for practice rounds and $18 March 2-4 for competition rounds.

Week-long passes are available for $50.

Information: (949) 515-4840.

ACTIVE SENIOR

Hank Woodrome of Brea has been named the Southern California PGA Senior Player of the Year.

Woodrome, who teaches at Fullerton Golf Course, had a strong finish this season and earned 699.5 points. Tom Schauppner of Corona del Mar, head pro at the Long Beach Golf Center, was second with 564.8 points.

Woodrome won the SCPGA Champion of Champions Nov. 6, finished second in the Senior Section championship and earned a berth in the 2001 Senior PGA Championship when he finished 27th at the Senior Club Professional Championship.

Steve Sear of La Quinta won the overall SCPGA player of the year.

BRUIN-TO-BE

Breene Murphy of Los Alamitos High has signed with UCLA, Los Alamitos Coach Al Gragnano said. Murphy was runner-up twice in AJGA events over the summer.