The waiting is almost over for Michael Putnam.
Beginning with Thursday’s first round, the PGA Tour hits the mainland for the start of the Humana Challenge in the desert just east of Los Angeles. Putnam won’t be there, but it is an important day nonetheless.
He is scheduled for a final magnetic imaging resonance (MRI) test on his wrist to see if the lunate bone, near the forearm, has completely healed.
If doctors give him the go-ahead, he will resume hitting golf balls in preparation of a projected start date of Feb. 9 at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
“I feel like I am good to go,” said Putnam, who has already hit light pitch shots and done limited work on the putting green.
Putnam’s PGA Tour season in 2011 was derailed by a broken wrist suffered in June. So instead of working on his game, the Life Christian Academy graduate from University Place spent more time teaching the game to teenagers, doing work around his new house and watching his son, Jantzen, who just turned 1.
“He has gotten attached,” Putnam said.
Late last year, the PGA Tour granted Putnam a major medical exemption – which is given to golfers who have been injured for four months or longer in a given year.
Because Putnam made $398,400 in 13 made cuts and finished 153rd on last season’s money list, he will receive exemptions in four PGA Tour events this season.
To gain partial tour status, Putnam needs to earn $13,543 in those events to reach the top-150 total of $411,943 by Jason Bohn. If he accomplishes that, he would likely get to play up to 15 more tournaments.
If he can earn $269,766, he would match D.J. Trahan’s total of $668,166, which was 125th last season – the cutoff spot for golfers to retain full-time playing privileges.
When he gets cleared, Putnam said he would take a few weeks in California to practice and find his form, then possibly play a couple of tuneup Nationwide Tour tournaments before playing out his PGA Tour eligibility string.
ABOUT MICHAEL PUTNAM
Age: 28
Hometown/residence: University Place
High school/college: Life Christian Academy/Pepperdine
2011 season: 13 of 21 cuts made, $398,400 (153rd on the PGA Tour)
How he got to PGA Tour this season: Major medical exemption (wrist)
Caddie: Greg Putt
Instructor: Patrick Kelley
Agent: Ralph Cross, Cross Consulting
In the bag: Cleveland TL310 driver, Cleveland FL 3-wood, Adams Golf A12 hybrid (19 degrees), Cleveland 588 CB irons, Cleveland 588 wedges (60, 54 degrees), Scotty Cameron Concept putter, Srixon Z-Star XV golf balls
Endorsements: Cleveland Golf, Srixon, Nike
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