Cantlay to make pro debut at Travelers Championship

Having made the cut in seven out of eight PGA Tour events he has competed in as an amateur, including three major championships, in the last 12 months, Patrick Cantlay has decided it's time to make the jump to the pro ranks. The 20-year-old from Los Alamitos, Calif., will make it official this afternoon during a 3 p.m. press conference at the Travelers Championship, the PGA Tour stop in Cromwell, Conn., where he'll make his pro debut this week.

During the press conference Cantlay is expected to announce that he's signing with Excel Sports Management and be represented by Mark Steinberg.

After the Travelers, an event in which he shot a second-round 60 as an amateur last year en route to a T-24 finish, Cantlay will play in two other PGA Tour events in the next month—AT&T National and The Greenbrier. He is then eligible for three more sponsor's exemptions into tour events (he used one in February when he played in the Northern Trust at Riviera CC) unless he earns enough money in his starts to receive special temporary member status on tour ($411,943) and be able to accept unlimited exemptions.

By turning pro now, Cantlay forgoes the exemption into next month's British Open that he earned for being the No. 1 ranked amateur in the world last September.

Two weeks ago, Cantlay closed out his sophomore year at UCLA by helping the Bruins get to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championship at Riviera). Last weekend he finished T-41 at the U.S. Open. After his final round at Olympic Club, Cantlay said that he had not made a decision on his pro plans but intended to discuss his options with his family.

"He's excited about making the move to the next level," said Jamie Mulligan, Cantlay's long-time swing instructor. "This has been a dream of his and something he's worked very hard for."