Steve Jurgensen always knew what he didn’t want to do in life.
His father, an accountant, worked long hours, with the sole purpose to make a living and support his family.
“My dad worked to earn money, not be happy. I realized I couldn’t do the 9-to-5 thing,” Jurgensen said. “Living a normal, conventional life didn’t appeal to me.”
So, Jurgensen did what any other person who chooses not to lead a normal life would do. He entered a profession–golf–that keeps him on the road nearly every week. Since January, Jurgensen, who plays on the PGA Tour, has seen his Newport Beach, Calif., home a total of two weeks.
“I love playing. I’d rather be tired and on the road than be at home bored or unproductive,” Jurgensen said after earning a spot in the Motorola Western Open during Monday’s qualifier at Village Links of Glen Ellyn.
Jurgensen and 169 other golfers were gunning for one of four spots in the Western field.
By shooting a 6-under-par 65, Jurgensen accomplished his goal and will tee off Thursday in Lemont in the first round of the Western, the PGA’s oldest tournament.
Chris Smith and Joey Guillion also carded 65s, and Chris Perry, who shot a 66, earned the final spot with a birdie on the second playoff hole.
“This was the longest day I’ve ever had in golf,” said Perry, who arrived at the course at 6 a.m. for his 6:46 tee time. Perry, the son of former major-league pitcher Jim Perry, was finished by 11:30, but he had to stick around to see if he would be in a playoff.
“When you have days like this, when you come out eight hours later to play, it’s tough to get your rhythm,” said Perry, who just missed the cut at last weekend’s Greater Hartford Open. “I’m just glad to make it (Western field). Hopefully, I can do some good.”
