Brian Gay unfortunately was heading toward a crossroads.
In his late 40s, with more than 600 starts on the PGA Tour and his job becoming more of a grind than a joy, doubts about his future in golf crept into his head.
Stay on the PGA Tour or head to the PGA Tour Champions?
Then he went to Bermuda.
On the first day of last November, Gay, after missing nine of his last 11 cuts, defeated Wyndham Clark in a playoff to win the Bermuda Championship, his fifth PGA Tour title and first since 2013.
“Crazy game,” he said that day.
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The victory confirmed to Gay that he still had game on the PGA Tour and didn’t need to join the elder set just yet. And about a year before becoming eligible to play the PGA Tour Champions, he had earned exempt status on the PGA Tour through August of 2023.
And the win got him back into the Masters.
Gay, 49, who spent part of his childhood in Louisville, Georgia, about 50 miles south of Augusta National Golf Club, went to the Masters for the first time in 1979 when he was 8. With his father by his side for the Tuesday practice round, Gay, who said he was just beating golf balls around the yard at the time and just catching the golf bug, was hooked.
And then Andy Bean took him out to the tee box on the second hole.
“That was pretty cool,” Gay said. “That’s when I fell in love with the Masters. It’s great to be going back to the Masters. It’s always been my favorite tournament in the world. I’m from the south and I love the southern charm.
“Love that it’s at the same course every year. The back-nine drama. The history. Know all the shots, know certain putts.”
Gay fulfilled a childhood dream by playing in his first Masters in 2010. But he missed the cut. In his only other appearance, he tied for 38th in 2013 and won crystal when he eagled the 15th.
While he loves the course and everything about the tournament, it’s a tough place for Gay to succeed. He’s one of the shortest hitters on the PGA Tour and despite being one of the game’s best putters, he’s never broken par in any round at Augusta National during the Masters.
“It’s tough on the short hitters, for sure,” he said. “It’s a huge advantage if you can hit it long and high there. Hopefully, for me, it will be warm. I’m not so young anymore. Warm weather will help, for sure. If it’s cold I get a little stiff.”
Gay didn’t play the week before the Masters in the Valero Texas Open, instead planning to head to Augusta for a practice round or two ahead of time.
“I’m looking forward to going back there,” Gay said. “Hopefully I won’t put too much pressure on myself. Hopefully, I’ll go there and really enjoy it and feel good about it and play well.”
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