Craig Davis @CraigeryDavis - Twitter Profile

Jhonattan Vegas’ win at the 3M Open is a good opportunity to recall his incredible route to the PGA TOUR, one that involved sacrifice, risk and an indomitable optimism. Jhonattan was 17 when he moved to the United States from Venezuela, arriving with just his clubs, a bag of clothes and 10 words of English in his vocabulary. He had won the 2001 Venezuela Junior, which earned him an invitation to the Junior World Championships at San Diego’s Torrey Pines. He finished sixth. During that trip to the States, Jhonattan’s father, Carlos, walked into the office of Houston-based teaching pro Kevin Kirk and said, “I’d like to leave him with you.” He did. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was cracking down on golf in the country, and had taken the Vegas’ business from them. Moving to the U.S. was the best way for Jhonattan to pursue his dream. Jhonattan took English classes at a local community college in the morning, then headed to the golf course to practice. He lived in the home of Franci Betancourt, a Venezuelan pro who’d moved to Houston. “There were times, especially during the holidays, you miss your family, you miss your friends, you miss everything about your country,” Jhonattan said. “But I always kept my goal in front of me and knew that I wanted to do this. “That’s why I always stayed positive, worked hard and kept getting better.” Jhonattan passed the TOEFL (English-proficiency exam) and SAT later that year, which allowed him to play for @TexasMGolf. In Austin, he had to ask teammates for rides to and from the golf course. He didn't have a car, cell phone or computer. Eventually, after hearing of Jhonattan’s needs, Austin businessman Dick Kemp stepped in and became Jhonattan’s legal guardian in the States. Jhonattan called Kemp his “American dad” and “guardian angel.” Vegas needed six root canals during his freshman year. The Kemps bought Vegas a well-used Chevy Cavalier for transportation, one that barely fit Vegas’ oversized frame. Texas head coach John Fields remembered watching Vegas walk down the 18th hole at Sawgrass Country Club during his Longhorn debut. Vegas was holding one shoe in his hand. “He got the worst blisters you could ever get on your feet, and the guy never said a darn thing,” Fields said. “He was so appreciative of getting (the shoes), he wasn’t going to say a word about them not fitting. “He’s just so appreciative of everything he’s earned. And if you really are super appreciative, what do you do? You give your absolute best. And that’s what he does, in everything he does.” Vegas overcame incredible odds to become a PGA TOUR winner. It’s an incredible story, one worth remembering after his latest win. (Note: All info from 2011 and 2018 stories I wrote for Golfweek and the PGA TOUR, respectively.)

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