Former Rebel Earns Experience Of A Lifetime

By Kim Ling,

Associate Director Athletics Media Relations

“That’s golf.”  Former Ole Miss player Chris Rogers spoke those words moments after his birdie putt on the ninth hole (his 18^th) missed the cup by an inch, leaving him one shot back of the cut, in his first ever PGA Tour event, the Stanford St. Jude Championship.

“About an inch, and I would be here for the weekend; that’s a lot of money,” the Franklin, Tenn., native said.  I learned a lot this weekend which I am going to take and run with.  It was a little emotional; I just struggled down the stretch today.”

With former Ole Miss teammate Brice Bailey as his caddy, the two came to the ninth hole knowing he needed birdie to make the cut, which was +5.  He hit his second shot to about 12 feet and missed the putt by one roll of the ball, in front of a gallery that included his parents, his girlfriend, friends and former teammates.  He finished 6-over.

“It was an easy putt, dead straight inside the right lip,” Rogers said. Brice gave me the perfect read.  My ball actually ended up about an inch short inside the right lip.  I just didn’t hit it hard enough. As soon as I hit it, I knew it was short.  It’s golf, that’s all I can say.  It’s not the first time, and it won’t be the last time.”

Despite not making the cut in his first ever PGA Tour event, Rogers, a member of the Hooter’s Tour, was all smiles walking off the TPC Southwind Course.

“I am satisfied with my play,” he said.  I did a good job considering the conditions.  Most tournaments you go to, 72-74 is not a great score.  Out here I think it’s a good score.  It’s wasn’t quite good enough.  I belong out here.”

You couldn’t write a script any better than this. Rogers was born in Memphis, grew up in Franklin and then played college golf just an hour away (at Ole Miss).  He decided just two weeks ago to attempt to qualify, and then with a 68-67 in the qualifying, he made the field.

Even though he didn’t make the cut, he played among the likes of Sergio Garcia, Vijay Singh, Stuart Appleby and Davis Love III.  He posted a better score than two-time U.S. Open Champion Retief Goosen and local favorite John Daly (a two-time major winner), among other tour veterans.

"He has nothing to be ashamed of,” Bailey said. “It was a tough putt. But I’m proud of him. I thought he did great. He performed on the highest level and was so close to making the cut. That can only help his confidence.”

Getting to this point almost didn’t happen for Rogers.  After turning pro in the fall of 2007, Rogers spent some time on the Tarheel Tour and then progressed to the Hooter’s Tour Winter Series, before playing fulltime on the regular Hooter’s Tour.  Struggling to find his game, he wondered if he had a future in golf.

About a month ago Rogers was playing in the Tennessee State Open when things started to change.

“I shot 76 in the first round of the state open. My whole year up until that point had gone really slow. I had struggled.  After that round, I really took some time to think about if this is what I need to be doing, not just because of that round, but the previous four months.  I went out the next day, fought back and shot 70 to make the cut.  In the final round I shot 66 and got a check.  After that things started coming around with my game.  As I tell everybody, a little bit of confidence can go a long way.  All it takes is one good round or one good tournament.” 

With his play this week in the Stanford St. Jude, Rogers definitely gained confidence, and that makes him want to keep doing it.

“It was a blast.  I can’t describe how much fun it was.  I would love to be out here every week.”

For now, it’s off to Rogers, Ark., for the next stop on the Hooter’s Tour, and then on to Oklahoma the following week before returning to Nashville.  Perhaps, a few more PGA Tour events are in the cards this year.

If so, maybe the ball will roll in next time.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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