PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Since turning pro in 2010, Jared Wolfe has taken small steps toward the utopian destination that is the PGA Tour, a journey that has been at times a struggle but always steadfast.
In 2017, Wolfe’s stepping stones became consistent strides with victories in three consecutive seasons on the PGA Tour Latinoamerica and a 2019 summer of three top-10 finishes in four starts on the Mackenzie Tour in Canada.
Then he took a giant leap toward the PGA Tour in January when he won the Bahamas Great Abaco Classic on the Korn Ferry Tour, while his newborn daughter, Khloe, and wife, Kelsey, were glued to the TV in the U.S.
His check of $108,000 was the largest of his career, he was playing some of the best golf of his life and he definitely could see the PGA Tour on the horizon as he held the top spot in The 25, the number of players who earn PGA Tour membership as the top regular-season money winners from the Korn Ferry Tour.
Then the coronavirus global pandemic shut down most of the world and put his hopeful journey to the PGA Tour on hold.
Wolfe, however, isn’t standing still. He continues to practice and play at TPC Sawgrass, works out regularly, and has even picked up a part-time job. Not due to financial strain, mind you, but as a family man and one who has to stay active, bringing in a little cash while most every pro tour is on stand still at least until the third week of May.
And in ironic twist, Wolfe will lend a small hand in defeating the virus that put his golf career in stationary status. Wolfe has gotten a job with RevMed, a sales organization that offers ancillary medical services. He’ll be selling and raising awareness to diagnostic infectious disease testing called PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just passed a ruling that all COVID-19 testing would be processed through this technology. Wolfe will help bring COVID-19 and all infectious diseases testing to the outpatient clinics that need the services.
“It’s pretty cool to look at it from that point of view,” said Wolfe, 31, who earned a degree in business administration and management from Murray State. “It’s pretty cool to help clinics get tests and get them answers quickly on who has it and who doesn’t.”
Wolfe got on-the-job training the past few weeks from those experienced in the company and will start next week. He’ll head out with a team across Florida two to three days a week. He’ll work his day job on the golf course the rest of the week.
“It will be sort of a revolving door,” he said. “Sacrificing my golf two to three days a week isn’t the end of the world. It’s a good chance to make some money and it’s important work.
“Before the Tour starts back up I’ll quit this and get ready to go back on the road.”
No one knows when that will be. And right now, it’s unclear if Wolfe would still be in a prime spot to obtain his PGA Tour card.
The Korn Ferry Tour has played just six events, so would PGA Tour cards be awarded to those in The 25 if there’s no more play this year? If only two more events could be played? Or does everyone restart in place next year?
“I don’t know if the PGA Tour card would be there if the season ended today,” said Wolfe, who is No. 6 on the money list. “I’m at peace with whatever happens. I’ve gone down the rabbit hole thinking about those things, but my wife is very good at pulling me out of that rabbit hole.
“I’ve thought about what happens if they wipe the season, what happens if this or that happens. Everything is still up in limbo. But I’m optimistic it will start again and that’s what I’m holding on to.”
That and a part-time job fighting the coronavirus.
