Being Daniel Brunson

BRUNSWICK, Ga. - Bearded and dressed in all black, with the exception of his dark gray cross trainers and out-of-place pastel belt, Daniel Brunson sips on his second Terrapin IPA as he recalls playing alongside Graeme McDowell during his days at the College of Charleston.

McDowell, who spent his collegiate career at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, exceeded his own wildest dreams in 2010, winning the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and securing the decisive point for Europe in th eRyder Cup. Brunson, who just turned 30, doggedly continues the pursuit of his dreams in much more pedestrian corners of the world. 

In 2002, the seeds of Brunson's professional ambitions were planted when he earned individual medalist honors at the Southern Conference championship, firing an 11-under 205 at Furman University Golf Course.

The local press in his hometown of Greenville, S.C.,publicized his victory and potential, which enabled him to procure a healthysum of cash ($40K in a few days) from area businessmen to finance his immediate future. It took only one trip to Q-School to earn status on the Canadian Tour,and off he went like a bullet toward the border.

“Conquer Canada,” Brunson recalled. “That was the idea.”

Brunson solidified his suspicions that a pro career was possible when he survived the cut in his first-ever Canadian Tour event. But that feeling had a short shelf life. Canada became more of a college road trip than a serious commitment to competing at a high level. He wouldn't play another weekend that summer, and returned home low on cash with shaky confidence.

“I was thinking I was set for at least a few years to figure out how to do this,” he said. “That wasn't the case. I realized I might need to go work for a while. That shocked me. It was definitely a confidence deflator.”

Golf became less of a priority in the subsequent stages ofBrunson’s life. Without reservation, he describes this exploratory, coming of age period as more Phish tour than PGA Tour. He didn’t abandon the game altogether, playing occasionally on the “dirt tours” as he warmly refers to the Tarheel, Hooters and local circuits.

Upon returning from the Great White North, Brunson’s nomadic worldwide rambling began in Florida in 2003 where he played on average 6-8 lower level tournaments each year. He was working on his game at Lake Nona, rubbing elbows with Annika Sorenstam, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Sergio Garcia.

Watching how some of the world’s best players prepared and practiced was a good gig, but playing Mini Tour events on lackluster courses left a lot to be desired.

“You’re riding in carts, playing a lot of bad golf courses,” Brunson said. “In Canada we played on some great golf courses. Now playing these Mini Tours I thought this is S^!t. I don't really want to play these pitch and putt golf courses. I had a chip on my shoulder and didn’t take time to understand that everyone was playing the same course.”

Brunson’s travels would take him to Asia in 2005. He arrived in Malaysia on Christmas Day. The following day, the deadly Indonesian tsunami hit. He racked up a significant number of birdies, but posted too many big numbers, and failed to qualify for the Asian Tour.

He returned to the States and worked a number of odd jobsbefore settling in Jackson Hole, Wyoming where he worked as an assistantprofessional at Snake River Sporting Club. Brunson rededicated himself to golfand discovered some of the form and confidence he took for granted as a youngman zipping his way across Canada.

The next step was a stint in South Africa from the fall of2009 to February 2010, where he would compete in a number of events on the Sunshine Tour. Brunson experienced the biggest breakthrough of his abbreviated professional career, qualifying for the European Tour’s Joburg Open. It was only his second72-hole event in 3-4 years. He missed the cut, but his confidence swelled.

“This is the stage I like,” Brunson remembered. “Darren Clark, a hero of mine, was two groups behind me for the first two rounds. I felt like I belonged. This is more like it. I can get used to this.”

But a few weeks later, financial reality forced Brunson to leave South Africa, even though he had qualified and earned status on another professional tour. The overall uncertainty in the economy made disposable dollars more difficult to come by, and investors weren’t as willing to cover his expenses.

Upon returning from South Africa, focus turned to a last ditch attempt to hook golf’s biggest fish – a PGA Tour card. All of the necessary elements were lining up to make a run at Q School – maturity, confidence, opportunity and money.

“One-hundred percent, no question,” Brunson said to confirm that this is the most prepared he’s ever been to compete on an elite level. “I think I've been a bit of procrastinator in a lot of things I've done. You don't realize it while you're doing it. I didn't realize I wasn't preparing at a highlevel. I just always thought talent and my mind on the golf course would prevail. The more you grow up, the more you learn. This is definitely the most prepared I’ve been; not just on the golf course, but committed to it off the course.”

Yet, here he sits on a bar stool at Toucan’s Ale House in Brunswick, Georgia, listening to a stranger in his 70s named Larry lecture about the importance of the short game after a failed attempt to Monday qualify for the PGA Tour’s McGladrey Classic.

Brunson dropped five birdies against one bogey Thursday toshoot 67 in the pre-qualifier, but struggled to find an early rhythm when it mattered. He started slow, but finished strong to shoot a 1-under-par 70 four days later. That 67 on Thursday would’ve been good enough to get into a playoff for the final two spots in the McGladrey field.

A tee time in a PGA Tour event is such a coveted opportunity. A single round, or weekend can change the course of your life. Dean Wilson, ranked 118^th in the world, doesn’t have PGA Tour status and had to Monday qualify for his spot in the McGladrey Classic field; he did so by shooting 66. He had a chance to avoid playing his way in altogether.

Wilson, playing on a sponsor’s exemption, opened the 2010 RBC Canadian Open with three consecutive rounds of 65, but watched his four-stroke lead disappear when Carl Pettersson posted 60 on Sunday. A two-year PGA Tour exemption slipped through his hands, but the consolation prize of $709,170 affords him certain luxuries guys like Brunson, who crashes with friends when possible and loses caddies to weddings on weekends, just don’t have access to.

Mention the name of Arjun Atwal to Brunson, and he getsfired up. Atwal won this year’s Wyndham Championship by a stroke at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C., to become the first Monday qualifier to winon Tour in 24 years. A week before Atwal’s unlikely victory, he was working on his game at the International Institute of Golf in Asheville, N.C. Brunson was also there working with an instructor.

Considering the amount of current Tour players Brunson has teed it up with over the years, and encouraging results in recent months, it’s nearly impossible for him to bury his dream. Unlikely winners like Atwal makeit difficult to avoid thinking, “Why not me?”

“It's inspiring to see guys like that do it,” Brunson said.“You have to say why not me. Obviously there is a little luck involved that needs to fall into place, but every week we’re looking for that to happen. It doesn’t matter where you are or on what tour; if you’re practicing great or not playing well. You might not be clicking on all cylinders and get into a tournament and play great. That’s golf for you. It’s a crazy game.”

Despite “not having won a proper golf tournament in eight years,” Brunson hasn’t found reason this year to believe that his task is insurmountable. He’ll drive his Volkswagen Passat to Richmond, Indiana to visit his girlfriend, who has embraced his passionate pursuit, and then begin preparationfor the first stage of PGA Tour Qualifying School.

He is scheduled to play in the first qualifying stage Oct.26-29 at Latana Golf Club just northwest of Dallas. Should he survive and advancethrough the first two stages, he’ll be shooting for the top 25 Dec. 1-6 at Orange County National outside of Orlando.

Life on the PGA Tour’s crowded waiting rooms seems very unsettled. It can sour relationships and strain finances. Right now, everyround Brunson plays is an audition for his financial backers. It’s addicting,and it’s difficult to get out. What else would you do?

“Sometimes I do think about a little bit of normalcy, butI’m not one to enjoy normalcy,” Brunson told me the first time we spoke. “If I have those thoughts they, normally don’t last long.

“That's kind of the beauty of it,” he said of his life chasing the PGA Tour dragon. “It's not for everybody.”

Editor’s Note: Daniel went down in Dallas. He entered the first stage of Q School with high expectations and a boatload of confidence, but his opening round 75 wasn’t the start he envisioned. He finished with an aggregate score of 8-over-par 296 – not nearly enough to finish in the top 23 and ties. The dream isn’t dead though. Daniel is kicking around the idea of returning to Asia and qualifying for another professional tour.