March 4, 2021 | BY JOHN PERRY
I think it’s almost certain that Kamaiu Johnson won’t be around for the weekend at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, with an opening round of +12, for 84. That put him in last place and with the leaders at -6, gives him zero chance of making the cut.
Maybe the Honda Classic in two more weeks will be more generous. Nevertheless, a good wake-up call to let him know just how hard you have to work and how good you have to be when you’re playing in the major league. I hope he uses this experience as motivation to take his game to another level.
Tournament details
Date: Mar 4–7, 2021
Course: Bay Hill Golf Course
Purse: $9,300,000
Leader board
Find all live PGA Tour scoring data here.
Advocate Pro Golf Association Tour player Kamaiu Johnson gets a sponsor’s exemption into his first Arnold Palmer Invitational. Things seems to be looking up for Kamaiu in regards to golf. He received another sponsor’s exemption from the ‘Powers That Be’ who run the Honda Classic, which contends from March 18-21 and is played at PGA National down in Palm Beach, Fl.
Kamaiu’s first sponsor’s exemption came a couple of weeks ago at The Farmer’s Insurance Open in San Diego, Ca. Unfortunately, he tested positive for the coronavirus just prior to the first round and was unable to compete. His mother, who lives in Orlando, Fl. also contacted the virus around the same time, followed by difficulty breathing, she was rushed to a nearby hospital where she received treatment. His mother is recovering safely from her Covid-19 infection. We wish her well. Talk about tough luck?
Kamaiu’s humble beginnings are one worthy of note. Nowhere near “silver- spoonville”. Making the cut at the API this week would be cause for celebration. Winning the API this week would be “Story of The Year” in the golfing world.
Kamaiu dropped out of school in the 8th grade. Started playing golf at the age of 13. Kamaiu lived in a two-bedroom apartment with his grandmother and eight others, at one point and time.
Ms. Jan Auger, the General Manager at Hilaman Park Golf Course spotted Kamaiu making practice swings and immediately encouraged him to take the game more seriously. She only charged him a dollar a day to play the course. That’s the only way he was able to play, he says.
Kamaiu is from Tallahassee, Fl. He shuttles between there and Orlando quite often. This weekend at the API, at Arnie’s Bay Hill Golf & Lodge could be the opportunity for Kamaiu to launch his already noteworthy career, into something very special. Let’s stay tuned and see how it goes.
John Perry is a freelance writer, poet, and active golfer with a passion for calling shots like he sees them and, then, telling it like it is. He resides in Vauxhall, NJ. Reach him with your comments at johnpgolf@icloud.com