Brody Fischer knows that as well as anyone.
Fischer’s first summer on the Web.com tour has provided the first-year pro with many peaks and valleys. Lately though, Fischer has played more consistently and on July 6 he finally made the cut at a pre-qualifying event.
He finished the John Deere Classic Pre-Qualifier at Short Hills Country Club in East Moline, Ill, with a two-under 70 to advance to the Monday qualifier at Pinnacle Country Club in Milan, Ill.
“It was good to get through one,” Fischer said. “I put up a good number there, so it was nice to make it through and give myself a chance to get into an event.”
Fischer opened the pre-qualifier with an even 36 on the front nine, which included a pair of birdies and bogeys. He put it all together on the back nine, where he finished with seven pars and two birdies.
“It was a normal round of golf,” he said. “I didn't think I played all that well. I had a good back nine and made a couple of birdies coming in. That gave me a lot of confidence going into the Monday qualifier with all those PGA tour guys.”
He played well on Monday but finished tied for 23rd with a one-under 71.
Again, he got off to a fast start finishing the back nine three-under and opening the front nine with a par.
“I wasn't feeling a lot of pressure until that 10th hole,” Fischer said. “I thought to myself that I had a few good birdie holes coming up and I said I can get this to four or five under and see what happens. It kept into my mind a little bit and I got a little nervous.”
Fischer double-bogeyed the 11th hole and finished the front nine two over.
“I pulled a nine iron on the 11th hole par 3, it was 165 yards, and I pulled it into the water left,” he said. “From there I kind of put my hands on my knees and said, 'Really?' I had been playing steady all day and then hit a shot like that. I wasn't aiming for the pin on the left side, I was just trying to hit the center of the green and maybe make a putt and a par and move to the next hole. Some nerves crept in there. After that I got a little down but I made a couple birdies coming in and finished strong.”
Despite the setback, Fischer was excited to take the next step in advancing to a qualifying event. He spent the Sunday and Monday morning before the John Deere Qualifier on the practice range surrounded by PGA tour professionals.
“It was a big confidence thing, making a cut and making it through to give myself a chance,” he said. “It was a big adrenaline rush. It was cool to be around all of them. You're hitting balls on the range next to guys who have been doing it for a couple years. It's a different life out there.”
The company Fischer kept during those two days in the Quad-Cities provided confirmation that he’s on the right track.
“It felt like I belonged out there,” he said. “I didn't play great on Thursday, I shot two under to make it through, but I was like, 'Man, there's no reason I shouldn't be here week in and week out with these guys and give them a run for their money.' It's a cool deal. Not everybody gets to experience that so I cherished it a little bit, but I had to get out there and get my stuff done. I tried not to get too caught up in the moment.”
Fischer will compete in the July 24 Web.com Digital Ally Open qualifier at Creekmoor Golf Club in Raymore, Mo.
The goal is to advance to the Digital Ally Open this weekend in Overland Park, Kan.
“Everybody feels like they're close,” Fischer said. “One week can change your life. That's what I’m going for. I'm hungry. I'm pretty hungry to make it into one. It's been a long summer.”
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