Justin Lower Completes Inspiring Path To PGA Tour

Justin Lower reacts after earning his PGA Tour card at the Korn Ferry Tour Championship. Photo: James Gilbert, PGA Tour via Getty Images

If you are looking for a new player to root for as the PGA Tour season picks up again next week in the wine country of Northern California, Justin Lower deserves to be at the top of the list.

The 32-year-old Ohioan has trudged through tragedy and 11 nomadic years of professional golf playing in front of sparse crowds. But last week at the Korn Ferry Tour Championship when he clipped a 30-yard pitch shot to perfection on the final hole – setting up a tap-in par that secured the 25th and final PGA Tour card available at Victoria National – Lower walked down the stairs of the clubhouse into a beer shower celebration some fellow players had waiting for him.

That was the first time Lower knew of his fate. He didn’t look at a leaderboard all week. Despite admitting that he tends to be on his phone longer than he should, Lower didn’t open any apps that could have given away where he stood. He even ...