Johnny Keefer is one of the hottest players on the planet – and just entered the PGA championship

For divided second, Johnny Keefer did not think it was real.

E-mail, which popped in received mail at 12:49 CT on Monday, contained a line line: John Keefer, you are invited to compete at 107. PGA championship. He almost erased.

“It almost looked like something that could be spam,” Keefer told Monday afternoon from his home in San Antonio. “But then I saw the upper header and I was like:” Hey! “

Not yet last Wednesday, Keefer is even aware of the possibility that he can flow him in his first championship next week in the predominant club in Charlotte, North Carolina. He shared a pro-am group with some associated with PGA America at the last week’s championship of the Tulum, Anniversary Korn Ferry Tour Stop in Mexico, and he asked a man, “I see you in a cavity?” Keefer, confused, I thought myself, What is in Prepeal hollow? Then he is enlightened by the fact that the field of PGA championship is traditionally filled with players ranked inside and just outside the TOP 100 in the world’s golf ranking.

To no. 92 In last week’s ranking of the world rank (No. 93), Keefer, unknown to him, was essentially locked for receiving calls.

Other players around the top 100 bubbles that are not in the field yet include: Keith Mitchell (90), Gary Woodland (94), Sottsen Donja (107), who announced her on the social media that he received his PGA invitation. Amateur Luke Clanton is no. 103 In the world, although PGA does not historically invite amateurs based on world rank.

It is rarely full of KFT players earn in PGA, although the team whids did so last season.

Keefer’s Faculty coach in Baylor, Legendary Mike McGraw, said Keefer last year that when Keefer qualified for his first major, to save him a ticket because he wouldn’t miss him.

“I just didn’t think that would happen quickly,” McGraw said.

No Keefer.

Not even 12 months earlier, he found himself on the outer side looking at the top 25 on the PGA Tour University Rangings with only the NCAA playing championship. But T-11 finishing in Omni La Costa, Keefer moved to 25 on his nose, who earned the final PGA Tour Americas card.

“If I finished one hit up, I could theoretically play Apts (all Pro tours of the events) right now,” Keefer said.

Instead, Keefer went to Canada for the summer without the concept, or as Keefer described, “in Shambles.” Still, he made one of the most impressive seasons north of the recent memory – one victory, four seconds and easily conquer the name of points, where he published four best shows, including victory two weeks ago Veritex championship in Dallas.

If he lost any momentum from last June, it was because he quelled the stomach virus in Tulum and was forced to withdraw on the fourth box for Tee on Saturday, because he was a violent colonel.

“He felt like yesterday I was in Canada, and now it’s a greater time,” Keefer added. “I can’t really describe it. … I think I couldn’t expect anything like that.”

Keefer, who was born in Baltimore, but he grew up in Texas, and he doesn’t know a little about the Quail Hollowhing, but his long-standing instructor, he recently told Keefer, “you’ll like it.”

Keefer’s game took off his fifth year in Wacou. He decisive for double business management management, instead of receiving his MBA in accounting, Keefer had more time to dedicate golf. He invested in the launch monitor and picked in his backyards, especially with clips. Prior to that, it was not uncommon for Keefer to target 30 feet from the flag from 130 meters out.

Keefer has improved these days in just every aspect. He is ninth at KFT in the total ride, no. 22 In the countryside, they hit the Regulation, six in the staggering and no. 26 In putting average. Everything is added to the Keefer with a sitting second in points, behind Hank Lebiod, even though he will have to miss the tournament next week in Kansas City to play PgA.

Only 20 guys earns PGA Tour cards through KFT this year, so Keefer has less margins for a mistake than the previous year. But it is also a good problem, especially considering Keefer believes he can play well.

Finally, because the rotation of Pro, Keefer fired an incredibly 17 rounds 64 or better in a sanctioned PGA competition. To compare, Scottie Scheffler has 11, Ludwig Åberg eight and Rory McIlroy three.

“I just watched Scottie Shoot 31 under a pretty good course,” Keefer said. “I know that no. 1 in the world looks. I know how Rory looks like when he is engaged. But he doesn’t really scare.

“Just go out there, try and have fun, try and hope a little low number and we hope you have really time for the weekend.”