Jim Herman picked up his second-career PGA Tour win last Sunday, bagging the opposite-field Barbasol Championship in Kentucky to secure another two seasons of exempt status. Herman's win effectively came out of nowhere, following a season in which he had made just three cuts and not a single one of them in the top 40.
Jim Herman's 2018-19 season:
MC
MC
MC
MC
T43
MC
MC
MC
MC
MC
T61
MC
MC
MC
MC
MC
T71
MC
MC
WINGolf is either the dumbest or the greatest game in the world.
— Ryan Ballengee (@RyanBallengee) July 22, 2019
Needless to say, the win was somewhat unexpected, and it thrust Herman into the limelight again for an association with President Donald Trump. Herman once worked for Trump, as a golf professional at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J., and the pair played golf together somewhat routinely. Eventually, Trump asked Herman why he didn't choose to pursue professional golf.
“Got into a nice conversation with Donald, Mr. Trump, one day,” Herman said in February 2016. “He’s like, `Why are you folding shirts and giving lessons? Why aren't you on the Tour? I've played with Tour players, you're good enough.’
“I don't know, maybe something like that gives you more confidence. It's nice playing out here. I definitely enjoy it better than the golf shop.”
Trump reached out to Herman after the first two rounds, congratulating him on his play. When they played together two weeks ago, Trump suggested something to turn around Herman's putting, which apparently did the trick. Herman, who also won the 2016 Shell Houston Open, is hoping to catch up with the President again before the FedEx Cup playoffs in August.
"He inspires me, I guess," Herman said. "I've played golf with him right before Houston and I played golf with him two weeks ago before this event. Maybe have to hook up again here before the Playoffs."
