Kudos to Jerry Kelly....

[Titleist99]

Jerry Kelly left an exempt status on the table to go to the Champions Tour to chase Trophies instead of chasing cuts on the main tour. You must go while you still have game. He now enjoys the game more and get to spend more time with his wife not to mention a boat load of cash,,,,,rule on Jerry. Let the kids have it! Would you stay on Tour until all your exemptions are used up?

[caniac6]

I'd go where I could have the most fun, and make the most money.

[Langlands]

Monty did the same. Fully exempt in Europe until his mid 50s, he chose instead to devote his time to the Champions Tour as he wanted to be competitive. Worked out well for him.

[HackerD]

No-brainer decision? Play golf with old friends from PGA Tour days, win tournaments rather than miss cuts, make way more money.

 

As a Wisconsin boy I love Jerry Kelly and Steve Stricker. Fun watching them on the senior tour.

[Zen_Golfer]

Good for JK. He seems like a really down to earth guy, so Im not surprised to hear him do this. He's made a fine living at golf and there is no reason to hold onto a level of game that he doesnt have any more.

[SixtySomePing]

Agree, he's having a great time, and has even added some JK moments bringing fun commentary. Champions Tour always needs new senior moments... the good kind.

[Birdyjuice]

I saw Jerry Kelly hit one of the most impressive shots I’ve ever seen at the Byron Nelson a while back. Long iron into the green calling for a draw to shape in and he absolutely flushed it on a perfect line. Hard to describe how well it was struck but that shot has stuck with me for years.

[Titleist99]

I might understand Phil M. hanging around the main tour a little longer because he has won recently. If you haven't won a tournament in the last three years and you are over 50, Champions tour while you still have a little game. Champions prime is from 50-55. Can't waste it chasing cuts. (IMO)

[Nick mrkonja]

Bernhard langor would disagree with you on 50 to 55 prime years he almost 60 and still the man to beat.

[Titleist99]

> @"Nick mrkonja" said:

> Bernhard langor would disagree with you on 50 to 55 prime years he almost 60 and still the man to beat.

 

LOL!..... Langer is aging backwards like Benjamin Buttons....

[Hawkeye77]

What's all this chasing cuts nonsense - Jerry Kelly has made almost $29 million on the PGA Tour - may still be 40th all time on the money list.

 

LOL, this notion he was "chasing cuts" or should be admired for going for the trophies, lol, is silly.

 

He went to the Champions Tour on his own terms, could have flat quit playing any time he wanted to in the last decade.

 

Still making millions. Yep, he may have more fun out there and one of the reasons he stopped playing regular on the PGA Tour was his son in particular and having fun with baseball.

 

But he wasn't worried about his next meal or likely stressing all that much over making cuts - had some injuries, turned 50 and said "thanks for making me a multi-millionaire" and semi-retired onto the Champions Tour.

 

Love Jerry Kelly, btw, one of my favorites for years.

[HackerD]

> @Hawkeye77 said:

> What's all this chasing cuts nonsense - Jerry Kelly has made almost $29 million on the PGA Tour - may still be 40th all time on the money list.

>

> LOL, this notion he was "chasing cuts" or should be admired for going for the trophies, lol, is silly.

>

> He went to the Champions Tour on his own terms, could have flat quit playing any time he wanted to in the last decade.

>

> Still making millions. Yep, he may have more fun out there and one of the reasons he stopped playing regular on the PGA Tour was his son in particular and having fun with baseball.

>

> But he wasn't worried about his next meal or likely stressing all that much over making cuts - had some injuries, turned 50 and said "thanks for making me a multi-millionaire" and semi-retired onto the Champions Tour.

>

> Love Jerry Kelly, btw, one of my favorites for years.

 

Nobody’s dissing Jerry Kelly. He has made 3 cuts in 12 PGA Tour events since 2017 so continuing to play that tour would likely involve lots of missed cuts. He had 6 victories and 33 top 10’s on the Champions Tour. That’s gotta be a lot more fun than missing cuts. And even though he doesn’t need the money, I’m sure he likes the money.

[Hawkeye77]

Who said anyone was "dissing" him?

 

Of course he'd miss more cuts. But he wasn't choosing whether to "chase cuts" like his livelihood depended on it - he could have afforded to miss every cut of every event he played in if he wanted to play the Tour because he thought that was fun for him. The idea he would have been hanging around like some has been, which is what has been repeated by the OP is the only thing I'm "dissing".

 

Edit: and maybe I'm reading too much into it.

[@_the_crook]

scored for him last year at a senior major. one of the nicest players I've ever walked with.

great shotmaker, super personality.

[games]

> @Birdyjuice said:

> I saw Jerry Kelly hit one of the most impressive shots I’ve ever seen at the Byron Nelson a while back. Long iron into the green calling for a draw to shape in and he absolutely flushed it on a perfect line. Hard to describe how well it was struck but that shot has stuck with me for years.

 

Funny, I think I remember the same shot. Maybe 10-15 years ago? I recall he needed to jar it from 190 yards into the 18th green to tie. It missed the pin by 2-3 feet going by; stopping about 10 feet past the hole into the back fringe. That was a heck of a shot under the circumstances.

[Birdyjuice]

> @games said:

> > @Birdyjuice said:

> > I saw Jerry Kelly hit one of the most impressive shots I’ve ever seen at the Byron Nelson a while back. Long iron into the green calling for a draw to shape in and he absolutely flushed it on a perfect line. Hard to describe how well it was struck but that shot has stuck with me for years.

>

> Funny, I think I remember the same shot. Maybe 10-15 years ago? I recall he needed to jar it from 190 yards into the 18th green to tie. It missed the pin by 2-3 feet going by; stopping about 10 feet past the hole into the back fringe. That was a heck of a shot under the circumstances.

 

It was on 18 but I didn’t think it was that long ago.

[musclefront]

> @Birdyjuice said:

> > @games said:

> > > @Birdyjuice said:

> > > I saw Jerry Kelly hit one of the most impressive shots I’ve ever seen at the Byron Nelson a while back. Long iron into the green calling for a draw to shape in and he absolutely flushed it on a perfect line. Hard to describe how well it was struck but that shot has stuck with me for years.

> >

> > Funny, I think I remember the same shot. Maybe 10-15 years ago? I recall he needed to jar it from 190 yards into the 18th green to tie. It missed the pin by 2-3 feet going by; stopping about 10 feet past the hole into the back fringe. That was a heck of a shot under the circumstances.

>

> It was on 18 but I didn’t think it was that long ago.

 

Time is funny like that....ha

[BIG STU]

> @"Nick mrkonja" said:

> Bernhard langor would disagree with you on 50 to 55 prime years he almost 60 and still the man to beat.

 

Langer is 62--- I know because he is exactly one month older than I am

[MidwestGolfBum]

Jerry is an absolutely awesome guy. Fun story, after his AmFam win he came over to my club (his brother in law owns it) and had some drinks with everybody. At some point he ends up behind the bar, pouring drinks for people, laughing and having a grand old time. The entire evening was just him telling stories, giving those he knew a hard time, making new friends, and celebrating a victory. I have had a few other interactions with him over the years being from the Madison area, and he has never been anything but kind, at least to me. I can imagine walking away from the PGA Tour wasn't something easy for him given how much I know he loves to compete, but when you know you're going to be able to be in the thick of things more often on the Champions Tour, I'm sure there's a very nice allure to that.

[Hawkeye77]

> @"BIG STU" said:

> > @"Nick mrkonja" said:

> > Bernhard langor would disagree with you on 50 to 55 prime years he almost 60 and still the man to beat.

>

> Langer is 62--- I know because he is exactly one month older than I am

 

I'll like any post where I see someone fessing up to be a little older than me! Of course, I can't think of any post of Big Stu I haven't enjoyed, lol, he's vintage!

[2putttom]

> @"BIG STU" said:

> > @"Nick mrkonja" said:

> > Bernhard langor would disagree with you on 50 to 55 prime years he almost 60 and still the man to beat.

>

> Langer is 62--- I know because he is exactly one month older than I am

 

STU your facebook page say's your 45 ?

[Titleist99]

> @"HackerD " said:

> > @Hawkeye77 said:

> > What's all this chasing cuts nonsense - Jerry Kelly has made almost $29 million on the PGA Tour - may still be 40th all time on the money list.

> >

> > LOL, this notion he was "chasing cuts" or should be admired for going for the trophies, lol, is silly.

> >

> > He went to the Champions Tour on his own terms, could have flat quit playing any time he wanted to in the last decade.

> >

> > Still making millions. Yep, he may have more fun out there and one of the reasons he stopped playing regular on the PGA Tour was his son in particular and having fun with baseball.

> >

> > But he wasn't worried about his next meal or likely stressing all that much over making cuts - had some injuries, turned 50 and said "thanks for making me a multi-millionaire" and semi-retired onto the Champions Tour.

> >

> > Love Jerry Kelly, btw, one of my favorites for years.

>

> Nobody’s dissing Jerry Kelly. He has made 3 cuts in 12 PGA Tour events since 2017 so continuing to play that tour would likely involve lots of missed cuts. He had 6 victories and 33 top 10’s on the Champions Tour. That’s gotta be a lot more fun than missing cuts. And even though he doesn’t need the money, I’m sure he likes the money.

 

You are 100% correct.....no one ever said that Jerry Kelly was poor and had to go to the Champions Tour to make

ends meet. How he came up with that is beyond me. On the Champions tour he is more competitive vs trying to make the cut

on the regular tour....I don't think it could be made any clearer. I think reading is a lost art on this board....LOL!

[Ferguson]

I want to know how the OP knows Jerry is enjoying the game more and spending more time with his wife.

Speculation.

 

 

Jerry Kelly is playing where he can play, period.

 

 

 

I refuse to grant him any said kudos.

 

[Titleist99]

> @Ferguson said:

> I want to know how the OP knows Jerry is enjoying the game more and spending more time with his wife.

> Speculation.

>

>

> Jerry Kelly is playing where he can play, period.

>

>

>

> I refuse to grant him any said kudos.

>

 

Jerry Kelly stated in an interview that his son is off to college and that he wanted to spend time with his wife and he was having fun....so he left his exempt status on the table at the PGA TOUR.

 

Now it's up to you to find the interview before you post more Drivel......

[BIG STU]

> @2putttom said:

> > @"BIG STU" said:

> > > @"Nick mrkonja" said:

> > > Bernhard langor would disagree with you on 50 to 55 prime years he almost 60 and still the man to beat.

> >

> > Langer is 62--- I know because he is exactly one month older than I am

>

> STU your facebook page say's your 45 ?

 

LOL that ain't my Facebook page---- Because I don't do FB in fact the only social media I do is here and another site that we can not mention---- But thanks old buddy for your attempt

[BIG STU]

> @Hawkeye77 said:

> > @"BIG STU" said:

> > > @"Nick mrkonja" said:

> > > Bernhard langor would disagree with you on 50 to 55 prime years he almost 60 and still the man to beat.

> >

> > Langer is 62--- I know because he is exactly one month older than I am

>

> I'll like any post where I see someone fessing up to be a little older than me! Of course, I can't think of any post of Big Stu I haven't enjoyed, lol, he's vintage!

 

Thanks there Hawkeye--- I wear "old school" like a badge of honor

[Hawkeye77]

> @"BIG STU" said:

> > @Hawkeye77 said:

> > > @"BIG STU" said:

> > > > @"Nick mrkonja" said:

> > > > Bernhard langor would disagree with you on 50 to 55 prime years he almost 60 and still the man to beat.

> > >

> > > Langer is 62--- I know because he is exactly one month older than I am

> >

> > I'll like any post where I see someone fessing up to be a little older than me! Of course, I can't think of any post of Big Stu I haven't enjoyed, lol, he's vintage!

>

> Thanks there Hawkeye--- I wear "old school" like a badge of honor

 

You are a weathered and wise bag-chattered blade in a world of trendy and shiny super GI irons!

[Ferguson]

> @Titleist99 said:

> > @Ferguson said:

> > I want to know how the OP knows Jerry is enjoying the game more and spending more time with his wife.

> > Speculation.

> >

> >

> > Jerry Kelly is playing where he can play, period.

> >

> >

> >

> > I refuse to grant him any said kudos.

> >

>

> Jerry Kelly stated in an interview that his son is off to college and that he wanted to spend time with his wife and he was having fun....so he left his exempt status on the table at the PGA TOUR.

>

> Now it's up to you to find the interview before you post more Drivel......

 

 

 

You interpreted the article one way, I get it.

 

 

 

 

 

[Hawkeye77]

> @Titleist99 said:

> > @Ferguson said:

> > I want to know how the OP knows Jerry is enjoying the game more and spending more time with his wife.

> > Speculation.

> >

> >

> > Jerry Kelly is playing where he can play, period.

> >

> >

> >

> > I refuse to grant him any said kudos.

> >

>

> Jerry Kelly stated in an interview that his son is off to college and that he wanted to spend time with his wife and he was having fun....so he left his exempt status on the table at the PGA TOUR.

>

> Now it's up to you to find the interview before you post more Drivel......

 

Hmmm - so, is it a good time to be an old player on the PGA Tour?

[Ferguson]

> @Hawkeye77 said:

> > @Titleist99 said:

> > > @Ferguson said:

> > > I want to know how the OP knows Jerry is enjoying the game more and spending more time with his wife.

> > > Speculation.

> > >

> > >

> > > Jerry Kelly is playing where he can play, period.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > I refuse to grant him any said kudos.

> > >

> >

> > Jerry Kelly stated in an interview that his son is off to college and that he wanted to spend time with his wife and he was having fun....so he left his exempt status on the table at the PGA TOUR.

> >

> > Now it's up to you to find the interview before you post more Drivel......

>

> Hmmm - so, is it a good time to be an old player on the PGA Tour?

 

 

 

My problem goes back to 2008 when Jerry wasn't even a top 50 player and he voted against the tour's new and improved cut policy. Rather than working harder and trying to play better to stay above the cut line, he just squawked about it. He argued that players lacked a voice. He did nothing in the years to follow. Give me a break. Seems to be the same story in 2019 with Kelly, taking the easier path on the Champions Tour rather than digging into that eligibility pocket he boasts about and hitting more balls on the range.