Worth the wait: Bluffton pro assures he’s ready for PGA Tour

With a couple of breaks, Richy Werenski might have been playing on the PGA Tour this season.

The Bluffton pro finished 79th on last year’s Web.com Tour money list, four spots out of a berth in the four-event playoffs that hands out the last 25 cards for the upcoming season. One or two high finishes there might have been good enough to make the leap.

All things considered, though, Werenski hasn’t minded the wait.

“I don’t know if I would have been ready,” he said.

He certainly seems ready now.

Sunday’s victory at the BMW Charity Pro Am not only was his first on the secondary circuit, but it locked up a promotion when the PGA Tour commences its new season next fall. He currently stands at No. 2 on the money list with $258,958 — a number certain to keep him in the top 25 the rest of the regular season.

“Honestly, I pretty much knew I was going to do it this year,” Werenski said Wednesday, reached by phone in Florida following a Golf Channel appearance. “I’ve felt really good with my game, so I’m not crazy surprised by it.

“Playing a season or two on the Web (tour), it definitely prepares you for what it’s going to be like. All the traveling, what to do Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday when it’s your fifth or sixth week in a row. That’s all stuff you learn here.”

He stands to join two other PGA Tour regulars with Beaufort County ties. Fellow IJGA alumnus Morgan Hoffmann has a trio of top-25 finishes this season, including 23rd at the RBC Heritage, while Kyle Stanley cracked the top 15 in Hawaii.

Werenski, based out of Berkeley Hall, came to the Upstate last week with a pair of runner-up finishes from the Web.com Tour’s early Latin America swing. An opening 68 was his worst score of the week, as he finished with a 65-65 weekend to win by one.

The Georgia Tech grad was one of seven golfers to hold at least a share of the lead on the final day. He finally pushed clear with birdies at Thornblade Club’s consecutive par-5s at Nos. 15 and 16. A par save after driving into the rough at No. 18 secured the victory.

“It really felt pretty easy,” he said. “Everything’s been just a little bit more solid.”

Werenski’s timing could not have been much better. His father, Michael, himself a former club professional, had driven down from Massachusetts for the week and wound up sharing in a lifetime memory.

“I couldn’t have wished for a better one to win,” the younger Werenski said. “Having him there was kind of surreal. I’d always hoped that he’d be there for my first (professional) win, and he was. He supports me like you can’t believe.

“I’m not the kind of guy who gets overly excited about things, but to see him and my caddie — they were both so excited. It was really cool to witness that and give that to them.”

Tim Giuliano, the former Augusta National caddie, picked up Werenski’s bag midway through last season, forging a quick chemistry that has brought out some of his boss’ best.

“He makes me better out there, for sure,” Werenski said.

Perhaps the biggest indicator of Giuliano’s impact came earlier this spring, when the caddie stepped away to honor some commitments in Augusta and Werenski missed three consecutive cuts.

“It was tough not having him there,” Werenski said. “He’s not just a caddie; he’s become a good friend of mine. He knows my game, he knows what to say.”

And after Sunday, both now can make plans for the PGA Tour.

“I think we’ll be together for a long time,” Werenski said.

This story was originally published May 25, 2016 at 8:06 PM with the headline "Worth the wait: Bluffton pro assures he’s ready for PGA Tour."