Kamaiu Johnson lands exemption to Honda Basic immediately after COVID-19 delayed desire of participating in on tour
Two times soon after COVID-19 kept Kamaiu Johnson from his dream of actively playing on the PGA Tour, the Honda Classic stepped forward Thursday to make positive the inspiring Black golfer receives his shot.
Johnson was the top participant on the Advocates Pro Golf Affiliation final year, and the Farmers Insurance policies Open awarded him a sponsor exemption to play alongside some of the finest in the globe at Torrey Pines.
And then he tested optimistic for the coronavirus on Tuesday and experienced to withdraw.
The Honda Classic, to be held March 18-21 in his residence state of Florida, available Johnson an exemption.
“As I claimed when I to start with learned that I would be compelled to withdraw, a fork in the highway normally has an appealing way of leading to new chances,” Johnson said. “It was beyond disappointing not to be capable to engage in at the Farmers Insurance plan Open immediately after all of the assist that Farmers has revealed me and the APGA Tour.
“Now, to discover out that I will however have a probability to satisfy my dream of enjoying on the PGA Tour is nearly overpowering.”
Johnson grew up in the small Florida city of Madison and played on a youth travel baseball group with previous Chicago Cubs All-Star Addison Russell. But he dropped out of the eighth grade simply because he was set in a course for sluggish learners and felt torn down.
Living with his grandmother in a crowded two-bed room condominium close to a golfing system, he was spotted swinging a adhere by the town golf superintendent, Jan Auger. She built him a deal. If he assisted around the club, he could perform for $1 per spherical. For the upcoming five a long time, Johnson virtually lived at Hilaman Park, honing his sport.
“Golf saved me,” Johnson explained to Golf Digest past year. “It gave me a motive to dwell, gave me a purpose.”
The APGA Tour was established 10 several years in the past to prepare Black and other minority golfers to compete and obtain better accessibility across the golf industry.
Johnson completed in the top 10 in the closing 5 APGA gatherings previous year, winning its Tour Championship. He was overjoyed when the Farmers Insurance policy Open termed to present him an exemption in October.
A day just after Johnson experienced to withdraw, he acquired his mother was hospitalized with respiration difficulties from COVID-19.
“This is turning into a nightmare from hell,” Johnson tweeted Wednesday.
He stated Thursday that she was enhancing, and his spirits ended up very superior as well.
Ken Kennerly, the government director of the Honda Basic, claimed he and event director Andrew George ended up acquainted with Johnson from when he attempted to go via Monday qualifying last 12 months at the Honda.
“When we listened to what took place to him at Farmers this 7 days, we felt strongly that we desired to give him a chance to enjoy at The Honda Common. We really feel it is critical to assistance the advancement of golfers from our residence point out,” Kennerly explained. “We have always been about developing the recreation of golf for youthful players, and Kamaiu is this sort of an inspiration for so quite a few of them.”