Hanover County - They may not have the notoriety of a Phil Mickelson yet, but the players who will come to the Federal Club in October for the Korn Ferry Tour Championship live the game just as much.
Maybe more so because they have yet to prove themselves on golf's biggest stage.
Tournament and Henrico County officials welcomed Davis Lamb to the Federal Club where he will take part in the final event on the Tour's calendar this year. The top 20 players will automatically earn their PGA Tour cards, getting exempt status and realizing a life long dream.
"Everyone on this tour specifically wants to do this (play golf professionally) for the rest of their lives" Lamb explained. "The vast majority of this tour is just giving themselves some time, but sometimes it's not a forever thing."
"These guys are out here grinding for their career, for their livelihood" added tournament director Steve Schoenfeld. "They live this day in and day out trying to earn their PGA Tour card."
This event effectively replaces the Dominion Energy Charity Classic which brought the PGA Tour Champions to CCV's James River course every fall for the past decade. It's a descendant of the former Nike Dominion Open that was played at the Dominion Club in Wyndham back in the 1990's and 2000's, also sending the next generation of golfers onto the big time.
Lamb, a Bethesda, Maryland native, is currently 17th in Korn Ferry Tour points, and has already clinched his spot in the season ending event. This tour in particular has not had any Mid-Atlantic events before now, giving Lamb something of a home field advantage which isn't often seen in his sport.
"It's an area I'm very familiar with" Lamb explained. "It's a grass I'm very familiar with. In a season with a lot of volatility and playing in many different places, to get something that's comfortable is a really unique experience."
Golfers on the Korn Ferry Tour can be compared to athletes playing for the Flying Squirrels or Richmond Kickers, younger players on their way up with quite a bit to prove.
"These guys will form relationships with the people around these events that can be lifelong friendships" Schoenfeld said. "Those happen at events like this. If you jump in on the ground floor of tomorrow's Scottie Schefflers and Rory McIlroys, get to know them a little bit, you'll root for them for years to come."
This year's Korn Ferry Tour Championship will run from October 5-11 at the Federal Club in Hanover.
