Worthington’s life changed dramatically when he was just 13-years-old after receiving a short golf lesson from Tiger Woods. That encounter was over 15-years ago, at the Tiger Woods Foundation’s junior clinic in Columbus, Ohio, and the impact that it had on Worthington has not faded. At 13, Worthington was already becoming very comfortable holding a golf club in his hand, learning how to successfully use each one through regular instruction that he received from his coach, Jerry Hammond, a skilled head instructor at The Golf Depot.
TIME TO REFLECT
This week Hammond is relishing the opportunity of watching his former student Worthington tee up at Baltusrol, perhaps recalling the many lessons as time well spent. While Worthington strikes his way around the fairways of the PGA Championship, the two share a bond that neither may have expected to deliver such profound results.
Worthington, now a 29-year-old teaching professional, will no doubt recollect many memorable days, and especially the moments that he spent with Tiger Woods, which precisely fall on the exact day this week.
For Worthington, his life has carved out many unique paths and with each unprecedented turn, he has successfully navigated his way. As a PGA Teaching Profession at his job with The Golf Depot at Central Park in Gahanna, Ohio, Worthington is one of only a very few African Americans who lay claim to this certified status. He is also the first African American Club Professional in 25 years to qualify for the season’s last major. The last time was in 1991 after Tom Woodard achieved it.
To gain the honor, Worthington put his golfing skills to the test and triumphantly finished number sixth at the PGA Club Professional Championship at Turning Stone Resort. The win earned Worthington a spot on this Baltursol PGA Championship.
This is a unique time for Worthington and his first-ever appearance in a PGA Tour event. No doubt the Methodist University graduate will again rise to the occasion.
“It’s like I’m trapped between a dream and a reality this week,” Worthington told Stephen Hennessey during a recent Golf Digest interview. “To be playing in a major and seeing my dream come true, it’s breathtaking, actually.”
