DETROIT (WXYZ) — Wes Gates is almost daring the selection committee to chose him as a sponsors exemption for the upcoming Rocket Mortgage Classic.
Gates, who grew his game on the storied course in Detroit, is chasing his dream of being a professional golfer on tour, and what a way to make a statement by defending his home turf.
“They get three practice rounds leading up to the tournament and like I’ve said, I’ve played thousands of rounds there, it’s almost second instinct going out on the golf course and knowing which way the putts going to break and where to hit the ball,” local mini tour player Wes Gates said.
“I probably know the course better than anybody around the area.”
Gates has been making his rounds in the web.com tour, a proving ground for professional hopefuls where wins at that level can eventually elevate a player to the highest level. But Gates, he almost had to abandon the dream, as a shoulder injury, and surgery, nearly took the game away.
“I was very worried that golf was done, I didn’t totally know how I was going to come back from shoulder surgery, it actually ended up being a blessing to take some time off, work on my body a little bit, get healthy and I have a completely different mindset of playing golf now,” Gates added.
Gates father, John, taught him all he knows about the game. He also happens to be the head pro at DGC. If Gates qualifies or is chosen to play by the tournament committee, the full circle moment with a father and a son, at the course they both grew their games and their relationship, would be special.
“I think it would mean everything, it’s been a dream since I was a child to play on the PGA tour, just like everybody else and I think that my dad has run the golf course for as long as he has, and he’s been my number one fan my whole life and taught me everything I know about golf, to share the moment with him as well as the members and the city of Detroit would be absolutely amazing,” Gates said.
