How Marcus Byrd's golf dream became a promise to his father

LOS ANGELES — As the Southern California sky slowly fades to black on Friday night, Marcus Byrd paces back and forth just outside the players' locker room at the Riviera Country Club. At 6 over after 34 holes, Byrd is going to miss the cut at the Genesis Invitational, where he received the tournament's Charlie Sifford exemption from Tiger Woods, but he can't leave. The second round was suspended because of darkness, and now the logistics of a return to the course Saturday morning to play two remaining holes before then heading off to Florida for his next tournament await the 25-year-old.

This is nothing new for Byrd. Since he turned professional late in 2020, he has embraced the lifestyle that has seen him take his own car to couches and budget hotels all over the country. The concept of home has changed from four walls filled with family to anywhere he can find a friendly face and a place to lay his head before heading to his safe haven — the golf course.

«It's spending the last dollar you have for a flight to a golf tournament,» Byrd said of his situation. «It's calling your uncle to help pay for it. It's trying to find somebody there who I can just stay with for a week or two so that way I don't have to pay for a hotel. It's me calling my friends to see who's all going so we can pay for a rental car together. It's not being able to get a hotel in a city and having to end up sleeping in the bed of a truck.» Byrd paused. «I did go out and shoot 64 the next day, though.»

Great to meet Marcus and Jack. My start at Riv in '92 helped me on my path and I hope you take away learnings from the week. Play well. pic.twitter.com/R8Dir9GlbG

Byrd's talent and drive have kept him going, and the past few months have been as close to