From his days as a South American child swatting rocks with broomsticks where baseball and football are king, Jhonattan Vegas dreamed of being a golf star and winning major crowns.
So it’s no wonder he has been able to overcome injury and struggles for years to find success to grab the lead at the PGA Championship.
“I have the game to compete in these big events,” Vegas said. “I’ve just got to do what I do, and good things could happen.”
The 40-year-old Venezuelan led Friday on eight-under-par 134 for 36 holes at Quail Hollow after his career best major round of 64 on Thursday.
“The game has always been there,” Vegas said. “I’ve gone through a lot of injuries and that type of stuff and hasn’t been easy the past few years, but the game has always been there. It’s about putting it together and playing your best when it’s time to play.
“Haven’t been able to do it at the majors, so it’s a goal I have in mind to put myself in these type of positions. We started the right way.”
His actual start came from his father, a caddie at a golf course near their home.
“My dad grew up near a golf course, and he grew up caddying at that place as a little kid. He picked up the game that way,” Vegas said.
“We grew up near a nine-hole golf course owned by the oil companies and we had access to a course and plus the love of my dad for the game, put it together and we started playing.
“Venezuelans, we’re not known for being golfers, but I’ve been blessed and here I am.”
He has traded broomsticks and rocks for golf clubs and balls, but carries the same passion into his game as he had in youthful days.
“As a kid, I would hit anything that I could find. Rocks, broomstick, everything,” he said. “I would grab anything that I could swing and I would do it. Feel like I was a good athlete as a young kid, so that’s kind of how things started.”
Vegas missed most of the 2022-23 season with elbow and shoulder injuries but won the 3M Open last year while on a medical exemption to snap a seven-year PGA Tour win drought.
It was a boost that helped bring his success at the PGA after going without a top-20 finish in 16 prior major starts.
“It means a lot,” Vegas said. “This is what we put all those hours for, to give yourself chances like this. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to do it throughout my career, but you never know.”
‘Just keep dreaming’
The journey has been longer than Vegas would have wished but he has learned patience.
“It has definitely been annoying,” he said. “I feel like my game is very complete, but I just haven’t been able to put it all together in a major.
“I’ve been patient enough to not really get too down on myself for not playing well at majors. I’ve played good at some good, big tournaments, but never a major.
“You’ve just got to keep learning about yourself and what it takes to play good here. Unfortunately, it’s taking me a little bit longer than usual, but I’m glad that I’m in this position right now.”
Asked what he would tell his younger self from years of wisdom, Vegas offered advice that would help today.
“Just keep dreaming,” he said. “I’ve had some ups and some downs. Believing and dreaming is what keeps you going.”
