How Doc Redman’s wild week in Detroit earned him PGA Tour status

Doc Redman’s week began in Lethbridge, Alberta on the Mackenzie tour. His week finished with special temporary PGA Tour status—and a lot more. Not bad for a 21-year-old Monday qualifier.

Of course, Redman is no ordinary 21-year-old dreamer. The former Clemson standout won the 2017 U.S. Amateur and turned pro last summer, but didn’t earn any status on the PGA or Korn Ferry Tours. Instead, he’s been playing the third-tier Mackenzie tour in Canada, where he finished T34 last Sunday in the Lethbridge Paradise Canyon Open.

Things got quickly more exciting from there. Redman flew to Detroit Sunday night and found a bundle of birdies in Monday’s qualifier, shooting 62 to make his way into the Rocket Mortgage Classic. Then he opened with rounds of 68-67-67. Nate Lashley ran away with the victory, but a strong Sunday showing left Redman in need of an up-and-down at No. 18 to secure solo second place — and he knew it.

“Yeah, I knew solo second would be huge and not a three-way tie for second, or even four with Patrick [Reed] coming down the stretch.” Not that the pressure fazed him on the final five-footer. “It was an easy uphill putt and I just tried to focus on putting a good stroke on it, and I did that and it went in.”

So — to the spoils. Redman walked away with a paycheck for $788,400. His top-10 earned a spot in next week’s 3M Open in Minnesota. He fended off Rory Sabbatini to earn the second of two spots available for the Open Championship’s qualifying series, made available to the highest finishers (in the top 8) who were not already exempt. Had Redman bogeyed 18, that spot would have gone to Rory Sabbatini. Instead, he’ll make his first major start as a professional (he missed the cut at the 2018 Masters).

Best of all, the finish earned Redman special temporary PGA Tour status, which means he can accept unlimited sponsors’ invites for the remainder of the 2018-19 season. He earned 300 points in Detroit, which combined with his T18 at the Wells Fargo Championship to give him 344 total. Last year, 377 points was the benchmark required to retain complete PGA Tour status; if Redman hits that equivalent this season (equal to No. 125), he’ll earn complete status for 2019-20.

“It hasn’t sunk in, but in the next few hours it definitely will,” Redman said after the round. “It’s a great feeling.”

Redman’s Mackenzie tour mates will likely miss him at next week’s Windsor Championship in Ontario. But we think they’ll understand.