The Lakers’ very own Austin Reaves faced a tough challenge as he ventured into the world of professional golf, aiming to make a mark in the PGA ranks with his basketball skills.
Unfortunately, Reaves fell short during the preliminary round of the Korn Ferry Tour at Willow Creek Golf Club in Knoxville, Tennessee. Scoring a 76 on Monday meant he missed the mark by 11 strokes to qualify for the Knoxville Open.
Admitting to PGATour.com, Reaves expressed, “It was quite an experience. I must confess – I felt a bit tense. Although the first shot didn’t go as planned, I truly enjoyed the competitive golf environment.”
Reaves had not pursued competitive golf since his high school days until now, leaving many wondering why he chose to explore this new path, especially when he is financially secure in his NBA career.
Out of pure boredom, Reaves reached out to his friend, Trent Swaim, from his couch, to arrange his participation in one of the nearby Monday qualifiers, as he shared with the Los Angeles Times.
As detailed in an ESPN article, Reaves identified his short game, especially putting, as the primary reason for his inability to improve his score. Despite achieving a personal best score of 67 just prior to the qualifier, his performance fluctuated during the event – kicking off with a birdie but then struggling with three consecutive bogeys on the front nine. While he didn’t progress further, Reaves viewed the entire experience as valuable, rating his effort a B-minus.
On a brighter note, his basketball journey continues to flourish. Reaves concluded his third season with the Lakers on a high note, recording career highs in scoring (15.9 points per game), rebounds (4.3 per game), and assists (5.5 per game), despite the team being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the reigning champions, the Denver Nuggets.
