Last year’s Barbasol Championship left University of Kentucky golfer Cullan Brown with one distinct impression.
“I remember it was a great golf atmosphere,” said Brown, a former Kentucky state high school champion and two-time runner-up for Lyon County. “It was great for Kentucky to have such a great PGA (Tour) event. Everybody, including myself, was just really excited.”
Now Brown is even more excited about this week’s Barbasol Championship at Keene Trace Golf Club in Jessamine County because he will be playing in the event on a sponsor’s exemption when it starts Thursday.
“I figured at some point as I got closer to graduating or early in my professional career maybe I could earn a spot in the Barbasol,” Brown said. “I did not expect it to happen this quick. It’s just a great opportunity. I was surprised when I got the invitation and getting all the logistics figured out has been a little overwhelming. I think it’s just going to be a ton of fun with great people.”
Brown came to last year’s Pro-Am to watch his long-time friend, LPGA player Emma Talley of Princeton. He got an emergency call from her on his way to the course asking him to bring cash for her and her boyfriend to pay their caddies that day.
“She did hit me to bring some cash,” Brown laughed and said.
Brown doesn’t have to worry about hiring a caddy. His father, Rodney, will be caddying during the practice rounds and Pro-Am. Barry Kight of the Golf Complex in Paducah where Brown takes lessons will be his tournament caddy.
“I will just keep my own notes during the practice rounds and it will all be fine,” Brown, who was ninth in the SEC Championship as a freshman, said Sunday.
College golfers carry their own bags in tournaments. Same for high school players.
“That’s his normal to carry his bag,” Emily Brown, the UK player’s mother, said. “I hope Barry will maybe help loosen him up a little bit and they will have a good time.”
Brown actually caddied for Talley a few weeks ago during the LPGA Tour stop in Arkansas. The two have often played golf together and she’s been an inspiration for him. Talley finished 11th Sunday in the most recent LPGA event and talked to Brown not long after he got his spot in the Barbasol.
“She talked to me a couple of times,” Brown said. “It was more just to say congratulations on the opportunity than anything else. There’s really not some magical secret she can tell me to help me play better. She said just go have a good time and see what comes along with that.”
That will include playing nine holes with a team in the Pro-Am on Wednesday.
“I am going to shake hands and just enjoy playing with some folks,” Brown said.
His parents hope to enjoy the experience as well but his mother admits it might be a little nerve-wracking for her. She said before they left for Lexington Sunday that folks were telling her to wish Cullan good luck and she expects several local fans to make the journey to Jessamine County to watch him play.
“People have been so supportive,” Emily Brown said.
She never considered last year he might play in this year’s event, especially since he had a hand injury and no one was sure when he would even play golf again. He missed UK’s fall season but returned for the spring season and insisted Sunday he’s 100 percent now.
“I am going to be nervous. No need to sugar coat that,” Emily Brown said. “He’s got nothing to lose. This is just a free shot for him to show what he can do. Hopefully he plays Thursday through Sunday (which means he would make the 36-hole cut).”
Brown doesn’t have any “set expectation” for himself. However, he wants to give a “perfect effort” and see what happens.
“I want to play aggressive and hope and pray it all goes well,” Brown said. “I am here to enjoy the week. If great golf comes along, that will just be great.”
He’s not thought about what it will be liked when he’s introduced Thursday on his opening hole to hit his first shot in a PGA Tour event.
“I just know it will be a cool deal to get announced like that and I want to enjoy every minute of it,” Brown said.