Stuard Begins 11th Year on PGA Tour

PGA Tour player Brian Stuard, second from left, had lunch with Napoleon golfer (far left) Caitlin Lysher, Legends of the LPGA Tour player Elaine Crosby, and Napoleon’s Jacob Beer at the Country Club of Jackson on Thursday. Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

(September 23, 2021 4:40 PM) Every year there are half a dozen new players on the PGA Tour that will be the next Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson.

Each year some play well while a few of the chosen ones fizzle out.

Then there is Napoleon High School graduate Brian Stuard.

He has carved out a pretty good living on the PGA Tour by hitting fairways, greens, and making key putts.

It is his consistency – especially off the tee – that has kept the Jackson native on the tour for 11 years. 

Stuard has been in town this week working with golf instructor Gary Robinson – the duo has worked together for more than 20 years – and taking some time off before the second PGA Tour event in the 2021-2022 season in Mississippi. 

The PGA Tour pro was scheduled to play golf with Legends of the LPGA Tour player Elaine Crosby and two Napoleon golfers on Thursday. Rain, 49 degrees, and Mother Nature took care of that.

The foursome was scheduled to play at the Country Club of Jackson – thanks to an anonymous donation from a successful bidder at the Lumen Christi Auction. Stuard and the other three – Crosby, Caitlin Lysher and Jacob Beer – settled for lunch and an hour of conversation at CC of J. 

“It is too bad we didn’t get to play,” Stuard said. “It gives people a chance to take a peek into my world (as a professional golfer).”

Stuard is beginning his 11th season on the PGA Tour having made more than $11 million in 10 seasons and making nearly 60 percent of cuts during that time frame.

Last year Stuard finished 92nd on the FedEx Cup Series points list and earned more than $1.3 million. 

The top 125 earn playing privileges for the 2021-2022 season and are exempt in most tournaments. Stuard made cuts in four-of-five tournaments in July and August earning top 15s at the John Deere, Barbasol, 3M, and Wyndham tour stops. 

“I felt like I played okay all year, but didn’t feel like I got the results until the last month of the year,” Stuard said of the 2020-2021 season. “It was nice to finally see some results.”

Stuard – at one point late in the season – was hovering near the top 125 line and needed some solid results. But when his back is against the wall, the PGA veteran got it done.

“It was getting down to crunch time … to secure my card was exciting,” Stuard said. “It gets tougher each year as the PGA Tour is getting younger and developing a different game.” 

But Stuard believes there is a place for the consistent golfer like himself.

“There is always going to be a place (on the Tour) for someone who is consistent and straight (down the fairway),” Stuard said. “I feel like I have those five to 10 tournaments where everything clicks together and I get some good results.

“I have been through it enough times to know you don’t have to play great every week.”

Stuard expects to play in seven tournaments during the fall portions of the 2021-2022 season. He has experienced some solid results at courses like Mexico, the Sony Open, Colonial Country Club, and at Hilton Head over the years.