Luke List provides helpful hints to fellow golfers before the L2 Foundation charity golf tournament at the WindStone Golf Club near Ringgold, Ga.Luke List checked some scores of the U.S. Amateur played at the Atlanta Athletic Club. He watched some live action and some highlights as well.
It had been 10 years since the former Baylor School golfer finished runner-up in America's amateur championship.
"I keep up with the college golf scene, the Vanderbilt guys, the UTC guys," List said. "You keep seeing fresh faces. These young guys are getting better and more competitive."
Then List watched some of the FedEx Cup playoffs but was flying back to his family's home in Ringgold when Billy Horschel won $10 million on Sunday.
List played against Horschel in college. He'd like to be playing against him on the PGA Tour. Even after a substandard year on the Web.com Tour, missing the playoffs, List has the belief and dedication and dream to return to playing every week on the PGA Tour.
"Seeing Billy and Chris [Kirk], guys I grew up with, seeing them doing well and having their success, I know I have the same potential," the former Baylor School star said during his four-day return to the Chattanooga area for his L2 Foundation charity golf tournament Monday at WindStone.
"In golf, it's not like the NFL where guys average three years," he said. "In golf, you can play into your 50s, 60s, or 70s. Most PGA Tour guys have their success in their 30s. I have that potential and capabilities to have my success in my 30s."
List will celebrate his 30th birthday in January. He played in 17 events on the Web.com Tour and finished ranked No. 119 on the money list after earning $34,294. List made the cut 10 times, and his best finish was a tie for 20th in the Albertson's Boise Open.
"People only see what's on paper, what's printed, and that's the scores," he said. "That's not the indicator I used a lot this year. I played better this year than the last two years. But finishing 20th, 30th, or 40th on the Web Tour doesn't get you much money.
"I wasn't in competition. I was always four or five shots back and not getting any momentum."
The season ended better than it finished. All but one of List's last 26 rounds, over the span of seven tournaments, were played at par or better. He made the cut in five of his last seven events.
"It's funny because it looks like a terrible season, but I didn't play that bad," he said. "It just has to be better."
List's quick trip home included the L2 Foundation outing at WindStone with Callaway and Travis Mathews as sponsors and special needs children of Catoosa County as the beneficiaries.
"Growing up with my mom [Bonnie] as a special education teacher, this is my way of giving back," List said. "They'll be doing a camp that is a way to get the kids competing in the Special Olympics. It's a cool deal."
List plans to spend the next several weeks preparing for Web.com Tour qualifying school. He's exempt to the second stage Nov. 18-21 in Murrieta, Calif, which is close to List's new residence in Orange County. He also plans to attempt Monday qualifying into several PGA Tour fall series events.
"I'll have some Web status next year, and the main thing is to improve that," he said. "There's no perfection in this game, and there's mastering it. I love the competing and trying to get better."
Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6484. Follow him at twitter.com/UchiyamaCTFP.