Chasing the U.S. Open — and a PGA Tour Win
Ricky Barnes still seeks his first win as a professional after almost breaking through at the 2009 U.S. Open.
By Jim Dover
Ricky Barnes would be the first to tell you he had a tough time parlaying his success as the 2002 U.S. Amateur champion and 2003 Masters low amateur into a fast start as a professional.
Barnes, from Stockton, Calif., turned pro in 2004, but didn’t earn fulltime status on the PGA Tour until 2009. Despite his stellar amateur career and 2003 NCAA co-Player of the Year honor at the University of Arizona, Barnes has yet to win his first Tour event as high expectations continue to surround him.
Now playing in his fifth season on Tour, Barnes hopes to make another attempt at the U.S. Open June 13-16 at Merion. At the 2009 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black, Barnes had his best chance to date to earn his first professional victory, leading the rain-soaked championship going into the final round. But a 76 on the weather-delayed Monday finish left him tied for second place, two strokes behind champion Lucas Glover, and prevented him from becoming only the 12th player to win the U.S Open and U.S. Amateur.
California Golf News & Travel spoke with Barnes in an exclusive interview from the HP Byron Nelson Championship to ask about attempting to qualify for this year’s U.S. Open, his current game and the pressure to succeed on the PGA Tour after being such a celebrated amateur player
This year has been a little bit of a roller coaster with the missed cuts and then lately some really low rounds followed by some high scores. How would you sum up your year so far?
It’s obviously been a little frustrating, because you practice so hard and put in those long hours and the results aren’t there. Using the tournament in New Orleans (Zurich Classic) as an example, I felt like I was playing my best golf of the year and I still finish 40th. I still have seen some really good things the last few weeks and I do have some renewed confidence.
You made a comment earlier in the year that you spent a lot of time with your coach just making sure you were practicing the right things. Are you still confident that your practice time is focused on what you need to work on?
Yeah, definitely. I’m seeing some results in my rounds and specifically my short game. Earlier this year I was doing everything I could think of when I was missing cuts. I was talking to everybody and putting in double practice sessions. My coach then came out with me for several weeks straight and I got some stuff ironed out.
Leading into the U.S. Open, can you prepare for one of the qualifying tournaments you may need to play this year to make the field, or is it just one of those days that you just have to go through?
It’s actually not preparing for the course as much as getting mentally ready for a 36-hole day. We did those in college, but now that is pretty much just once a year. They’re long days and the first 18 holes can go by pretty quick. But the last nine holes seems like it takes forever because you’ve already been out there for 6 or 7 hours.
You certainly made your biggest impact at the 2009 U.S. Open at Bethpage finishing second to Lucas Glover. What’s your memory now of that week?
I know I finished second. (laughs) But I have nothing but good memories of that week. I wish I could do it again and maybe looking back I would have changed some club selections, but I’ll always remember that competition and being in the moment.
Even though you had that tough last day you really hung in there and still had a chance on the last hole.
The disappointment was the start with the bogeys, but I somehow calmed myself down and on a very tough golf course I played the last 6 holes in one-under and I had two lip-outs including the 18th. I sometimes think about what would have happened if I played the first nine holes at 2-under and then had a string of bogeys coming in. That might have been tougher to live with.
It must have been nice to finally have a different storyline to your career other than your U.S. Amateur and Masters success.
I think more so just as a professional golfer. I was tagged as being such a big amateur golfer and I had worked so hard to get on the PGA Tour and it was nice to show that hard work paying off. And it happened on a big stage which was also nice.
As someone who was tagged as “the next big thing” was that difficult or fun or did you even know it was happening?
It was a little bit of everything. It was flattering, it was a little tough and nerve racking at times. That being said I had higher expectations for myself than anyone could put on me. It was eating at me more than people know when I was not getting on the PGA Tour.
You did an admirable job not really complaining to the press or letting your frustration show.
Our game is something that gives you the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. I think that every player including Tiger and Phil will have some humbling moment in their career. I tell my friends and family that hopefully that was my humbling experience and it happened in my twenties.
How much has college golf changed since you were playing for Coach Rick LaRose at Arizona, and how much did Coach LaRose help you with your amateur success?
(College golf) has changed immensely. These kids are coming out now only playing one sport for eight or nine years. Their maturity level is also a lot higher I think. (LaRose) has seen so much throughout his time at Arizona and he knows what it takes to win. When he spoke to us you just needed to be a sponge and really listen.
Tell us about your Ricky Barnes Foundation.
Well, what I’m passionate about is promoting activity with kids. I was overweight as a kid, but I was still actively participating in sports. We wanted to start a foundation in our area where we grew up (San Joaquin Valley) and also working with the First Tee because it’s a great way for kids to get out and just hang out with each other. Get kids talking to someone they wouldn’t necessarily interact with at school or the playground. We just want to get kids active and be supportive of overweight kids and help them anyway we can.
