John Keefer, representing Baylor, finished 11th at the NCAA Championship in late May 2024. This was a great way to cap off a five-year campaign.

The Korn Ferry Tour player has only played 17 rounds at 64 or higher in sanctioned PGA Tour play since then.

Keefer, who had three top-five finishes by 2025, shot a total of 254 (63-61-66-64) at 30 under par to win his first professional title in Arlington, Texas, two weekends earlier. He soared to No. He was ranked 92 (now 93) in the Official World Golf Ranking, but he had no idea what that ranking meant.

Keefer, 24, received an invitation via email on Monday to attend the 107th PGA Championship in Charlotte, N.C. Schauffele will defend his major championship title as Keefer tees off on May 15.

Keefer didn't know that his Top 100 ranking would essentially guarantee him an invite to the second major of golf in 2025.

Keefer, a late bloomer, needed to save every stroke of his 11th place finish at the NCAA Championship in order to get the final PGA Tour Americas membership. Last summer, he went to Canada and had eight top-10 finishes. He also won the Fortinet Cup in Canada as the number one player. The No. 1 finisher of the points race. This earned him a promotional to the Korn Ferry Tour where he continued his dominant playing.

Keefer is ranked sixth in scrambling on the Tour, ninth in driving total, 22nd for greens in regulation, and 26th in average putting.

Keefer is a confident man.

Keefer said, "I watched Scottie Scheffler shoot 31 under par on a good course." "I know how to play No. "I know what No. I know how Rory (McIlroy), when he is on, looks. It doesn't scare me. The best golf will play well at any level: Korn Ferry Americas, PGA Tour signature events, major Championships. I am really looking forward to playing against them, and against a major Championship course since I have never played on one.

"Go out there and try to have fun. Shoot some low numbers and hope you can have a late tee-time on the weekend."

Field Level Media

(source: Reuters)