Venezuelan looks to bounce back on Tour after shoulder surgery
Jhonattan Vegas played in only three PGA Tour events last year before surgery to repair a shoulder tendon ended his season. In the 2013-2014 PGA Tour season, Vegas will play under a Major Medical Extension and needs to earn $595,483 in 21 events to keep his card.
That’s a figure he can easily reach if he rekindles the form he displayed as a rookie in 2011, when he won the Bob Hope Classic (now the Humana Challenge) in just his second start as a fulltime PGA Tour member, becoming the first rookie to win in the 52-year history of that tournament. The publicity that came with the victory enabled golf fans to learn his incredible story of leaving his native Venezuela in 2002 for better opportunities in the U.S.
“I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to leave at an early age and come to the U.S. and study,” Vegas said during an exclusive interview with California Golf News before competing in the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open at TPC Summerlin. “It was a very tough time for golfers in our country when I left.”
Fortunately, swing coach Franci Betancourt, a three-time World Cup participant for Venezuela, brought Vegas over to the U.S. to live with Betancourt and his wife Alba in Texas. The move helped Vegas dramatically improve his golf game and English skills. A quick study, Vegas earned a scholarship to the University of Texas, where he had another guardian angel in the form of Texas real estate developer Dick Kemp. Kemp became the legal guardian of Vegas to help with expenses during his college years.
Now, back on the PGA Tour with a healthy body and renewed spirit after sitting out nearly all of last season, Vegas is ready to prove himself again.
Well, everyone makes goals at the start of the season and you have a very specific one with making enough money for your medical exemption. Does that help with the pressure?
That’s actually not my goal for the year. I have to play the golf that I know how to play and after that all good things will come and then I don’t have to worry about anything else. Just get stronger and my game will decide everything.
If you get to the money exemption quickly, do you have other goals for the season in mind?
I’m really not thinking about it. I don’t know even know what the amount is, to be honest with you. I’m really focused on getting better, it’s been eight months since I’ve been on Tour and I really want to get stronger so that I can play week to week. That’s the main thing.
Do you still have to be careful with your shoulder or are you at full speed?
I’m not one hundred percent yet, but I’m really close and I’m at least at ninety percent and the rest will come with time. I’m doing everything I can to get back to full speed and there’s really nothing that is holding me back right now.
Previous to the start of this season, you played theWeb.com final events to try and get your card that way, and there was some feedback that players with medical exemptions shouldn’t be playing. What was your thought on that situation?
I know there was some controversy on who plays and who doesn’t, but I didn’t have full status this year and I wanted to improve my number and that’s why I played. I do see what the other guys were saying, that if some of us who had some Tour status would take away another player’s chance, but at the end of the day it’s golf and if you’re allowed to play within the rules then you should play.
Outside of your shoulder rehab, what else did you work on for the new season?
I think my game is in really good shape and I’m hitting the ball well. It’s just putting rounds together and that’s what I really need to start doing better. You can hit the ball well and still not put good rounds together, that’s the key for me. That’s my focus and that will come with more tournament play.
This new start of the season worked out perfectly for you. What do you think of the new format?
Well, to be honest, a lot of us would be playing this time of year anyway. I think it give a lot guys the opportunity to get a quick jump on their year. I think it’s a good thing even if it sounds a little crazy to start the year in October. But it will give some guys FedEx Cup points and give them a better chance to make next year’s playoffs a little easier.
You had such great success during your rookie year and you won right away. Does that seem like a long time ago, or can you still use that first year as motivation?
I use that energy every single day. Knowing that I’ve done it and had success on the PGA Tour just makes me want more. It really helps and motivates you to have more success.
Why do you think young golfers are having early success?
Well, young golfers have been successful throughout their career at the junior level, college and Web.com, and they know how to win. Then when they get on Tour that really makes it a lot easier because the road to the Tour is much tougher now and when you get there you really feel like you belong there.
What was the political climate in Venezuela that really left you no choice but to move to the U.S.?
The leaders were not behind growing the game and there was just not any opportunity. They didn’t support golf and didn’t want to have anything to do with it. The climate now has changed, but we still have a way to go.
You also had considerable help at the University of Texas when Dick Kemp became your legal guardian so he could help you financially without violating NCAA rules.
That was an absolute blessing. When you come to a new country and you really don’t know anyone, he made my transition that much easier. I am very thankful to him and his wife and of course my swing coach. They all made it easy for me and I’ll always be thankful to them.
Your brother Julio also came to the U.S. with their help.
Yes, he did the same path that I took. He won a national championship at Texas and he had the same people that I did around him and supporting him as well. He’s got a lot of talent.
Where is he professionally, now that he’s graduated?
He’s currently at Q-school for the Web.com Tour and he’s on his way. Hopefully he can get through and maybe it might be a little easier to get on the Web.com now that they’ve changed the rules a bit, but he’s on his way up.
One of the events that you and your brother are both looking forward to is the 2016 Olympics.
As golfers you never really think about being part of an Olympic team. Just being part of the whole Olympic spirit is really going to be huge. Playing for yourself and your country and having the chance to win a medal will be something you remember forever.
You have another Longhorn that played pretty well this year. What is your relationship with Jordan Spieth?
Yes, I’ve spoken to him several times and he had such a great year and I’m just really happy for him. He’s such a great young guy and it’s good when younger guys do well on the Tour.
What did you miss most last year when you were off the tour?
I missed absolutely everything about the PGA Tour. When you’re sitting at home and watching the guys play it gets you fired-up to get back out there. The PGA Tour is so much fun and meeting people and traveling around the U.S. is great.
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