Étienne Papineau achieved what few Quebec golfers have done before him: obtain his place on the Korn Ferry circuit.
He did so by finishing the PGA Tour Canada season ranked fourth overall in the Fortinet Cup. Only the five highest-ranked players could advance to the second-largest circuit in North America.
The Korn Ferry circuit is in a way the school club of the PGA Tour. This is the last step to take before joining Rory McIlroy and company. Several players have passed through the Korn Ferry circuit in recent years. Scottie Scheffler, Sungjae Im and Adam Hadwin are among them.
The day after his 24e position at the Country Hills Golf Club in Calgary ensuring him a place among the select group of five players, Papineau was relieved. The player, native of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, will celebrate his 27th birthday on September 13. So he couldn’t have wished for a better gift.
From his hotel room in Stampede City, Papineau reflected on the journey since leaving the university ranks less than two years ago.
It’s a big step in my career and it doesn’t happen overnight.
Etienne Papineau
The West Virginia University alum has undergone two knee surgeries in recent years. This season again, he was forced to deal with “small injuries”.
“I doubted a lot, I asked myself a lot of questions,” he says.
Now holding a conditional card for the Korn Ferry circuit, he says he wants even more. “It’s certainly not mission complete. It’s just another step. My goal is to get as high as possible on the PGA Tour. But it’s a good start. I haven’t even been a professional for two years! »
PHOTO TAKEN FROM ÉTIENNE PAPINEAU’S INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT
Étienne Papineau with his map of the Korn Ferry circuit
In December, he will play a first tournament to try to improve his status. And maybe even get playing rights on the PGA Tour.
Play with certainty
In February 2022, Étienne Papineau hit his first balls on the PGA Tour circuit during the Waste Management Open in Phoenix. A year and a half later, in Calgary, he sat next to four rivals for the surrender of their playing rights on the Korn Ferry circuit.
The ceremony had the feel of a graduation ceremony. Despite a card of 74 and a cumulative score of +3, he ended his day, at sunset, with a smile, because he took another step in the pursuit of his dream.
“I didn’t want to think about that. My goal was to play good golf and win the tournament. Unfortunately, it wasn’t my day,” explains Papineau.
By virtue of his performance throughout the season, “it would have taken a disaster scenario” for the Quebecer to be excluded from the top 5 final.
At the start of the season, he triumphed in Victoria. He also took second place in Manitoba. Only twice on the Canadian circuit did he not resist the cut.
I really had two big performances. That gave me a lot of points and that’s why I got my Korn Ferry card. Above all, it’s consistency. I played good golf.
Etienne Papineau
In his opinion, his victory in British Columbia gave him the momentum he needed to start his momentum. “I was missing a big victory to move to the next level. »
A moment with family
If there are no Quebec golfers on the PGA Tour circuit, it is because time, money, talent and good weather are necessary. On the other hand, Papineau put all his eggs in one basket to achieve his objectives. And this breakthrough could become historic.
“It’s every golfer’s dream, but I don’t put pressure on myself with that. I’m going to go play the best golf I can on the Korn Ferry,” he swears.
He will have all fall to prepare to play on an extremely tough circuit, where all the players are finally starting to see the end of the tunnel. This is what makes “graduating” so hard.
If I play like I’m capable of playing and stay patient, I think I’m capable of getting my PGA Tour card.
Etienne Papineau
At least he is proud to have fully experienced last Sunday’s consecration. His family, his younger brother and sponsors had traveled to the West to experience this moment with him.
“I spent a lot of time with my family on the road when I was younger traveling here and there. I have a great team around me that has allowed me to get to where I am today. They made sacrifices for me. So to share that moment with them was pretty incredible. »
Beyond wanting to evolve in the aisles of the PGA Tour, Papineau is driven by the wish to “share other beautiful moments in the future with the family”.