Tom Whitney’s background in the military, golf ability and being a former resident of La Quinta, Calif., made him a logical choice for a sponsor exemption into the CareerBuilder Challenge. And so the Fort Collins resident will find himself competing with the big boys on the PGA Tour this week.
The former Air Force Academy golfer, a 2006 graduate of La Quinta High School, learned a couple of days ago about getting his spot in the CareerBuilder Challenge, which starts Thursday in La Quinta.
“Excited to be back in my hometown and to tee it with some of the best golfers in the world! Thank you for the opportunity!” the 28-year-old said via Twitter.
Whitney (pictured) formerly served as a missile operator at a nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile site near F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyo.
“We’re excited to be able to offer Tom a sponsor exemption into the tournament,” said Jeff Sanders, executive director of the CareerBuilder Challenge. “We all owe a debt of gratitude to our service members, and we’re happy to be able to help a local guy like Tom launch his golf career.”
The CareerBuilder will be the second PGA Tour start for Whitney, who won a Monday qualifier for the Shriners Hospital for Children Open in Las Vegas in October. He missed the 36-hole cut there.
Whitney spent 2017 on the Web.com Tour, competing in 15 events, with a best showing of fifth place in the Lincoln Land Charity Championship in June. He finished 89th on the Web.com season-long money list.
