Playing his Best, Barjon Ready for First Major
9/14/2020 8:24:00 AM | Men's Golf
TCU Alum Playing His Best Heading into U.S. Open
FORT WORTH – TCU alum, Paul Barjon, will make his U.S. Open debut, Sept. 17-20, at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y.
In a normal year, Barjon would have to earn his way through qualifying tournaments. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, those qualifying events did not happen and the U.S. Open chose to take the top five on the Korn Ferry Tour following the WinCo Foods Portland Open Presented by KraftHeinz on Aug. 12.
Barjon finished tied for second in the event and jumped from seventh to fifth place to earn a spot in his first major championship and just his third PGA Tour event.
"It's been really enjoyable to get ready for it," said Barjon, who last played in a PGA Tour event in 2019. "Some people have told me about the course. It's going to be a very tough. You just have to bring your "A" game and see what happens."
The play your best game and see what happens mindset has been a part of Barjon during all the ups and downs of being a professional golfer.
Upon finishing his collegiate career that included three appearances at the NCAA Championship and a runner-up finish at the 2016 Big 12 Championship, Barjon, a 2016 All-American, turned professional immediately and joined the Mackenzie Tour in Canada.
"I had pretty good success there my first year," Barjon said. "I got on the Korn Ferry Tour right away."
The Frenchmen didn't have a good season in 2017 and returned to Canada.
"Financially, it's kind of hard," said Barjon. "You just have to suck it up until you make it. Then it goes very fast. Once you get on the Korn Ferry and have a good stretch, you start to make some money and don't have to worry about it as much as you would on the Canadian Tour."
The MacKenzie Tour pays the top 10 at each tournament unlike the Korn Ferry Tour, which pays everyone who makes the cut.
Barjon dominated the MacKenzie Tour in 2019, making the cut in all 12 starts and recording two wins and eight top-10 finishes. He ended the year No. 1 on the Order of Merit to win the Mackenzie Tour Player of the Year Award and full status on the 2020 Korn Ferry Tour. His 234 birdies led the Tour.
Barjon's second try at the Korn Ferry Tour showed great promise from the beginning. He finished tied for second at the El Bosque Mexico Championship by INNOVA on March 1, 2020, before play was halted due to COVID-19.
"That was a bump in the road to not play for three months," said Barjon, who resides in Fort Worth and is a member at Mira Vista Country Club.
The wait paid off as the 27-year old has recorded three top three finishes after the Tour resumed in June.
"You never know what's going to happen with golf," said Barjon. "Nothing is a done deal. You have to try to best all the time. You just have to wait and see what happens."
Barjon is prepared for a different looking U.S. Open than in past years. Just like the Korn Ferry Tour, the PGA Tour has not allowed fans since its restart at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth.
"Overall, it's going to be an easier tournament because there are no fans," said Barjon. "It's going to be pretty quiet. Just like every week when we are playing on the Korn Ferry. Nobody is going to be there so we are just going to be doing our thing."
After finishing tied for seventh at the Evans Scholars Invitational in Chicago, Ill., on Sunday, Barjon went straight to New York to take on Winged Foot with confidence having played some of his best golf over the past year.
"I've never played a major and I've never played that course so I don't know what to expect," said Barjon. "If I play my best game, I think I have a chance to compete for four days."
In a normal year, Barjon would have to earn his way through qualifying tournaments. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, those qualifying events did not happen and the U.S. Open chose to take the top five on the Korn Ferry Tour following the WinCo Foods Portland Open Presented by KraftHeinz on Aug. 12.
Barjon finished tied for second in the event and jumped from seventh to fifth place to earn a spot in his first major championship and just his third PGA Tour event.
"It's been really enjoyable to get ready for it," said Barjon, who last played in a PGA Tour event in 2019. "Some people have told me about the course. It's going to be a very tough. You just have to bring your "A" game and see what happens."
The play your best game and see what happens mindset has been a part of Barjon during all the ups and downs of being a professional golfer.
Upon finishing his collegiate career that included three appearances at the NCAA Championship and a runner-up finish at the 2016 Big 12 Championship, Barjon, a 2016 All-American, turned professional immediately and joined the Mackenzie Tour in Canada.
"I had pretty good success there my first year," Barjon said. "I got on the Korn Ferry Tour right away."
The Frenchmen didn't have a good season in 2017 and returned to Canada.
"Financially, it's kind of hard," said Barjon. "You just have to suck it up until you make it. Then it goes very fast. Once you get on the Korn Ferry and have a good stretch, you start to make some money and don't have to worry about it as much as you would on the Canadian Tour."
The MacKenzie Tour pays the top 10 at each tournament unlike the Korn Ferry Tour, which pays everyone who makes the cut.
Barjon dominated the MacKenzie Tour in 2019, making the cut in all 12 starts and recording two wins and eight top-10 finishes. He ended the year No. 1 on the Order of Merit to win the Mackenzie Tour Player of the Year Award and full status on the 2020 Korn Ferry Tour. His 234 birdies led the Tour.
Barjon's second try at the Korn Ferry Tour showed great promise from the beginning. He finished tied for second at the El Bosque Mexico Championship by INNOVA on March 1, 2020, before play was halted due to COVID-19.
"That was a bump in the road to not play for three months," said Barjon, who resides in Fort Worth and is a member at Mira Vista Country Club.
The wait paid off as the 27-year old has recorded three top three finishes after the Tour resumed in June.
"You never know what's going to happen with golf," said Barjon. "Nothing is a done deal. You have to try to best all the time. You just have to wait and see what happens."
Barjon is prepared for a different looking U.S. Open than in past years. Just like the Korn Ferry Tour, the PGA Tour has not allowed fans since its restart at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth.
"Overall, it's going to be an easier tournament because there are no fans," said Barjon. "It's going to be pretty quiet. Just like every week when we are playing on the Korn Ferry. Nobody is going to be there so we are just going to be doing our thing."
After finishing tied for seventh at the Evans Scholars Invitational in Chicago, Ill., on Sunday, Barjon went straight to New York to take on Winged Foot with confidence having played some of his best golf over the past year.
"I've never played a major and I've never played that course so I don't know what to expect," said Barjon. "If I play my best game, I think I have a chance to compete for four days."
5. Paul Barjon
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) August 10, 2020
4. @TaylorPendrith
3. Lee Hodges
2. @DavisRiley68
1. @WillZalatoris
The top-five players on the current #KornFerryTour Points List have secured exemptions into next month's @USOpenGolf at Winged Foot! pic.twitter.com/ajmK188rpK
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