RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Brad Dalke has admitted his disappointment after finishing last at the Rocket Classic, but insisted that he would love to see the event remain on the PGA Tour beyond this year.
There was plenty of intrigue ahead of Dalke’s appearance at Detroit Golf Club.
While he has largely made his name on YouTube, there is no question that he is an extremely talented golfer.
Dalke previously played in The Masters and the US Open. Collin Morikawa is among those to have lauded Dalke’s ability , with the pair playing a lot of golf together as youngsters.
Brad Dalke reacts to his performance at the Rocket Classic
He did impress at the BMW International Open on the DP World Tour last month, with the American going into the weekend in Germany very much in contention. He ended up finishing tied for 30th.
Unfortunately, he was unable to make a similar impact on his return to the PGA Tour .
Dalke posted scores of 81 and 75 to finish at 16 over par after two rounds. That left him at least four shots adrift of anyone else in the field.
The 28-year-old has now taken to Instagram to reflect on his week in Michigan.
He also commented on the future of the event, with this year currently set to be the final edition of the Rocket Classic.
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
He posted: “ I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t extremely disappointed with the outcome of this week at the Rocket Classic. Knowing how well I can play and what I am capable of and getting dead last on the biggest stage just honestly sucks… a lot.
“ The great thing is that I still know how good I can be and I just need to learn how to be better when I don’t have my best stuff. It was also nice to get more much-needed reps under the gun in competitive golf after a long break .”
He went on to add: “ And lastly to the Rocket Classic, Mark Hollis, and everybody behind the scenes. Thank you for inviting me and giving me this opportunity. Y’all run an unbelievable golf tournament and I really hope that somehow, someway, this is not the last Rocket Classic. Thank you so much @rocketclassic. “
Why the PGA Tour must continue to embrace players such as Brad Dalke despite his struggles in Detroit
Dalke’s comments do suggest that he intends to continue playing at the highest level when the opportunities present themselves.
Of course, some will probably have a problem with his involvement because he has not gone down the traditional route. And in truth, his performance this week has done little to justify the invite he received.
However, YouTube golf is incredibly popular. So while sponsors have the ability to invite players with a large profile, they are absolutely right to reach out to figures such as Dalke.
Perhaps we got too carried away by his display in Germany. Ultimately, his putting got him out of a lot of trouble.
But events such as the Rocket Classic will benefit from inviting people like Dalke to their tournaments, particularly in the Fall when the fields are weaker.
The novelty of inviting him will disappear if he continues to finish adrift at the bottom of the leaderboard. However, there is now the potential for a real redemption story that the PGA Tour should be prepared to embrace.
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