Tour pro making his 500th(!) PGA Tour start has sentimental reason for playing with a 50-year-old putter

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The confluence of the PGA Tour playing for the first time in Utah in more than 60 years and a native son needing one more start to have teed it up in 500 career PGA Tour events made a sponsor’s exemption for Jay Don Blake into the Black Desert Championship an easy decision. Yes, the 65-year-old’s last full season on tour was 2004 and his last start was in 2018. But the sentimentality of giving the veteran from St. George’s, Utah, the chance to play in the inaugural event was too much to overlook.

Needless to say, the invitation has been much appreciated by Blake, who was with family and friends at the course a few weeks back when tournament officials surprised him with the news that he was going to be in the field.

Is it getting dusty in here?

Blake spoke more about what this week means to him during a pre-tournament press conference on Tuesday.

“It’s a very emotional, very proud moment to be part of what’s going to take place this week, to have my family be part of that and all the support they’ve given me throughout the years,” said Blake, who earned $5.5 million during his career on the PGA Tour along with a victory at the 1991 Shearson Lehman Brothers Open. “A big surprise, very excited, kind of what went on that day.”

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Blake was three over for 15 holes before darkness cut short Thursday’s first round. But notably in his bag was a club that had its own sentimental story.

Blake was wielding a Bulls Eye putter, the model first introduced in the mid-1940s with Titleist/Acushnet producing it starting in 1962. He had his specific gold-colored club with its distinct one-inch flat design for more than 50 years, a gift from his father that he first used as an aspiring amateur before he won the NCAA title in 1980 at Utah State and made it on the PGA Tour in 1987.

Blake hadn’t played the club for a while but was inspired to do so after a recent buddies trip to Las Vegas where a playing partner had one in his bag. Blake subsequently took his out and played with friends at home, feeling good enough with it to use it in his return to the tour.

“I mean, it’s nice that I feel comfortable with the putter, but it’s a remembrance of my father,” he said, his voice cracking once more. “And so I’ll be walking the fairways again with that putter. I’m proud to do that. I’m comfortable with it, and I feel like I’ll have no issues. I know a lot of guys have looked at me like, what do you got there? Some people haven’t even seen a putter like that. I’ll enjoy it, and all this stuff is going to be a lot of good memories.”

Blake’s expectations this week aren’t high, other than to have fun and enjoy the experience with those closest to him. While some might question if he belongs, Blake is cherishing the moment.

“Just the way the scenarios have turned out have been, you know, kind of a dream,” Blake said. “Being 499 tournaments, it’s been … I never thought I’d make that 500th. I’ve tried to get sponsor exemptions, I’ve tried to qualify a few times, and it just hasn’t kind of worked out. I thought that I’m not going to get there and just felt like I’m going to get stuck at the number.

“Golf has been my life. It’s a great game. Obviously, you can play at any age and still enjoy it. I’m 65, and I’ve played with guys out here that they’re 80 that they love the game. Play it at 12 years old, you can love the game. That’s the great part about golf is you can play it at any age and love it. And having that kind of a career, I’m very proud to get to the 500th.”

This article was originally published on golfdigest.com