It seemed like a long way to fall for Robert Garrigus, all the way from the PGA Tour to the Scottsdale-based Grey Goose Gateway Tour.
Except Garrigus wasn’t being demoted from the major league to the minors, as this tournament appearance was all about “playing a little golf, and seeing some old friends.’’
“I’ve been having a blast,’’ said the Gilbert resident, who spent the last two weeks at home before returning to “the Show’’ this week at the BellSouth Classic in Atlanta.
“I don’t look at playing (on the Grey Goose) any differently than playing on tour. I still want to play good golf and win.’’
Garrigus, a former All-American at Scottsdale Community College who grew up in Portland, is in his rookie season on the PGA Tour. But last week playing in the Grey Goose on an “off week’’ – his number wasn’t high enough for the Players Championship -- he finished third and earned $5,393.50.
“And I enjoyed every minute of it,’’ the 28-year-old said of the homecoming.
By comparison, Garrigus has made $110,045 on the PGA Tour by making three cuts in six events. He finished 19 th at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, and 28 th at the Buick Invitational.
Small strides, some might say. But comparatively speaking, he’s right on track with other Q-School and Nationwide graduates after spending the past three years bouncing around.
“The good news is, I got my reshuffle number up from No. 20 to No. 11,’’ he said of the crucial ranking that falls below the top 125 money winners from the prior season and determines who gets in an event and who doesn’t.
“Normally, if you would have won that much money, it would be more like No. 20 to No. 3. But the young guns have been playing well this year.’’
Garrigus’ reference was to the likes of FBR Open winner J.B. Holmes, Camilo Villegas, Nathan Green, Bubba Watson, Henrik Bjornstad, Jeff Gove, Greg Owen, etc. Yes, it’s been a very strong rookie and Nationwide class he’s competing against.
What most people don’t know about Garrigus is that he can go long with the best of them. He currently ranks No. 6 in driving distance, averaging 305 yards per pop.
“It’s been everything I thought it would be and more,’’ said Garrigus of his rookie season. “It’s cooler, in that you’re accepted by some of the great players. And it’s definitely more prestigious.
“I mean, you tell someone you’re playing on the Nationwide, and it’s like ‘whatever.’ But if you tell them you’re playing on the PGA Tour, they go nuts.’’
In some ways, it’s like “living a dream,’’ Garrigus said. And it’s a dream he never would have realized without a lifestyle change, he added.
“Three years ago in April I gave up partying. I checked in to Calgary Ranch in San Diego, which is a Christian rehab center that doesn’t use medical doctors; it’s just God’s work. Once I did that, things got a lot better for me.’’
Last fall, Garrigus, who is self-taught and never had a lesson, finished ninth at the PGA Tour’s qualifying school. He was the only player besides Holmes to shoot all six rounds under par.
“I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season,’’ Garrigus said. “Really, I’m so lucky to have the opportunity to make this kind of money.’’
Which doesn’t mean for one second that he sneezed at the $5,393.50 he earned on his recent trip home.
“I took a lot of razzing from the guys (on the Grey Goose). They kept saying; ‘Why are you coming out ‘slumming’ with us? But a tournament is a tournament, to me.
“Besides, I love being home with my wife (Ami) at our new home in Gilbert. Remember, I grew up in Portland, so I love the Arizona sun.’’
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