Hickok savouring taste of the big time
Mackenzie Tour regular takes positives away from big payday at Canadian Open
When the dream is to play on the PGA Tour, living that dream for just one week is all the incentive an up-and-coming golfer needs to keep on grinding.
Especially if he plays pretty well in that one week.
So Kramer Hickok is definitely running on recharged batteries after finishing T19 last week at the Canadian Open. The No. 3 player on the Mackenzie Tour’s Order of Merit shot 14 under on the big circuit, including 67-69 over the weekend, for a cool $75,000 payday.
“It was spectacular; the fans and the crowds were unbelievable,” said the 25-year-old from Dallas, who finished three shots behind Dustin Johnson and seven off the lead. “The goal for me that week was to just test my game against the best. I wanted to be able to play well. I’ve had three previous (PGA) starts, but I never felt I played well or let myself play well because I was putting a lot of pressure on myself.
“This week I felt comfortable coming off a few weeks stretch on the Mackenzie Tour. I was in contention in a couple of those events, so I knew my game was in good shape. And I played well. It was bittersweet to be able to put up some good numbers in front of some big crowds.”
Now it’s back to the Mackenzie Tour to try to make that weeklong experience something he can enjoy full time.
“I drew a lot of positives,” he said. “As well as things I need to get to work on because those guys are so good out there.”
People have always said the top players on the Mackenzie Tour could easily play on the PGA Tour, but until he saw it for himself Hickok could never really be sure. Now he is.
“It was a lot of validation for me,” he said. “Everyone always says that to me, ‘You’re good enough, you’re good enough,’ but you don’t actually know it until you go out there and prove it to yourself.
“We’ve had seven, eight, maybe 10 guys who played PGA events and made the cut this year. It does prove that the better players on this tour can absolutely compete with the best guys in the world.”
BIG IMPRESSION
One day. That’s how long it took late great Edmonton Oilers enforcer Dave Semenko to make a lasting impression on Taylor Hancock.
The two were paired in the celebrity pro am last year and it was such a memorable experience that when the 24-year-old from Florida heard about Semenko’s sudden passing, he wrote and posted a tribute that the Oilers actually presented to Semenko’s family.
“I’m a bit of a hockey fan, but I didn’t know who Dave Semenko was,” said Hancock. “When I found out I was playing with him in the pro am, I had to look him up. So I’m YouTubing videos of Dave Semenko and there was like 60 fights on there. I’m like ‘Oh God, who am I about to play with?!’
“I was all intimidated. Then you walk up and meet him and he’s a giant.”
A few hours later, Semenko had him feeling the way he made everyone feel: like one of his best pals.
“He was just the nicest guy,” said Hancock. “I had such a great time with him. We were out there having a great time. He was such a nice person. It’s just a shame what happened. I was really looking forward to playing with him again.”
GO LONG
Former two-time World Long Drive champion Jamie Sadlowski finished 1 under and sits tied for 38th on the strength of four birdies and three bogeys Thursday. A couple of short missed putts down the stretch cost him a much better position, but he’s playing well.
“It was fun, my first tournament out here on the Mackenzie Tour,” said Sadlowski, who is in his first full season as a pro.