Reed Hughes became the oldest golfer since Gary Player to compete in a PGA Tour event as he teed it up at this week’s Sanderson Farms Championship.
The 71-year-old earned his way into this week’s 132-man field after winning the Gulf States E-Z-GO Section Championship last year, making him the oldest player to start a PGA Tour event since Gary Player at the 2009 Masters aged 73.
Hughes has previously played eight times on the PGA Tour, most recently at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in 2007.
His first professional start came in the 1984 Danny Thomas Memphis Classic, 12 years before current World No.1 Scottie Scheffler was even before.
Despite defying his age to qualify for the event, Hughes could not repeat the trick to become the oldest player in PGA Tour history to make a cut.
After shooting an opening-round 76, the veteran player carded a six-over-par round of 78 to leave himself at +10 for the tournament and well below the projected cut.
Despite that, Hughes still managed to make five birdies across the two days and hopes his efforts will inspire golfers of all ages to stick with the game.
‘I’ve got a lot of people pulling for me. That’s the biggest thing,’ Hughes, who lives in Mississippi and works at Grenada Golf and Racquet Club, told Golf Channel.
‘I hope I keep inspiring them to keep playing. Golf is something you play for your lifetime. It’s been fun, all my students I’ve had in the past, wishing me luck, that’s pretty good.’
Reflecting on his performance, the American said his biggest trouble came with adjusting to the pace of play given he usually plays 18 holes in three hours with the help of a golf cart.
‘Pretty special, especially at my age,’ he added. ‘I’ve had a lot of fun. It’s nerve-wracking for sure.
I can’t believe I’m doing it. It’s hard for me because I’m used to riding in a cart and playing in about three hours. My round would have ended at home about No. 9, so that would have been a good day.’
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