The Loop
Stanford's Patrick Rodgers to turn pro after NCAA Championship
Stanford junior Patrick Rodgers, the No. 1 player on the current World Amateur Golf Rankings, announced Monday via Twitter that he would be wrapping up his amateur career after this spring semester.
Excited to formally announce My intentions to turn professional after the NCAA Championship this spring
— Patrick Rodgers (@PRodgersGolf) March 3, 2014
In his two-plus seasons to date with the Cardinal, Rodgers has won seven individual college titles -- most recently last month at The Prestige -- tying him with Joel Kribel for the second most wins in school history. Rodgers will need four more to catch Tiger Woods atop the career victory list.
The two-time U.S. Walker Cup team member does, however, holds an edge on Woods in career scoring, sporting a 70.55 mark to Woods' 70.96 average, and giving him plenty to play for in his last few months.
"It would mean a lot, especially over a guy like Tiger, who set so many remarkable records in the game," Rodgers told GoStanford.com of maintaining the career scoring mark. "It would mean a heck of a lot more to leave here with a national championship for the team. That's always been my focus."
Rodgers said his plan is to try to gain sponsor's exemptions into PGA Tour events this summer "and hopefully make the most of those opportunities." It was a plan that proved fruitful for one of friends and former amateur rivals, Jordan Spieth.
While the odds of earning a PGA Tour card are slim, the experience is something Rodgers will benefit from and would ready him for either European Tour or Web.com Tour qualifying school should he need to play them in the fall.
Rodgers has played in three PGA Tour events as an amateur, finishing T-15 at the John Deere Classic in his lone made cut.
*__Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images
__*