Papineau takes wild ride to first PGA Tour start

TSN Senior Reporter

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The first thought that came to Etienne Papineau when he awoke Tuesday morning was “Please don’t let yesterday have been a dream.”

A day earlier, the 25-year-old from St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., made a birdie on the second hole of a six-for-two playoff to earn a spot in the Waste Management Phoenix Open. It will be the first start in a PGA Tour event for the golfer who turned pro just last month.

“It’s amazing,” gushed Papineau, Tuesday evening after playing a practice round at TPC Scottsdale. “It’s been an emotional 24 hours.”

After registering for the event and finding his way around the facility, he played the front nine alongside Corey Conners, who gave him plenty of advice. On the back, he joined up with Emiliano Grillo, another experienced tour player who also offered up some help.

If that wasn’t enough to convince him he was playing on the PGA Tour, there were a few other moments during the day.

“Tony Finau tapped me on the shoulder,” he said. “I’m pretty sure he thought I was someone else, but he smiled at me, so that was nice.”

Papineau’s journey to the first tee of the Waste Management Phoenix Open has made it through some bumpy times. In May 2020, his left knee caused him so much pain, he stopped playing and went into a lengthy stretch of rehab and therapy. When the joint didn’t improve, he underwent surgery and didn’t touch a golf club again until April 2021.

“It wasn’t easy to get back,” said Papineau, a member of Golf Canada’s national team. “I was a little scared to swing and turn into that knee. It took me a while to get my confidence back.”

But gradually his game returned and over the past few months he’s seen the form that earned him a scholarship to West Virginia