Tony Romo could get an exemption to play in a PGA Tour event
Golf Culture

Tony Romo could get an exemption to play in a PGA Tour event

A photo of Tony Romo
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Get ready to see Tony Romo step out of the broadcast booth and get back in the game. The golf game, that is.

Romo, who just finished his first season as lead NFL analyst for CBS Sports, is apparently going to get an exemption to play in a PGA Tour event in the near future. And who is spreading that news? Romo's boothmate at The Eye, Jim Nantz.

Speaking at the PGA Merchandise Show to Golf.com while promoting a new line of clothing with Vineyard Vines, Nantz said, "[Romo]’s going to play in a Tour event. He’s going to get an exemption in the next — let’s just say two months. So he’s going to put it out there on the line."

Romo, who is a near-scratch player and has attempted to qualify for the U.S. Open in the past, has a little more time on his hands these days to work on his game. Preparing to call an NFL game is different than preparing to play in one. However, even when Romo is enthusiastically describing what's happening -- or what's about to happen -- on the field, Nantz says the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback has golf on the brain.

"He’s a golf fanatic," Nantz said. "He actually carries a putter with him on the road, even up into the booth. Sometimes I see him over in the corner, he’s practicing his stroke as we’re in commercial and he’s all in on the sport."

Romo can conceivably be invited to play in any PGA Tour events which offers unrestricted sponsor exemptions. That rules out the World Golf Championships (but, technically, not the Masters). However, not much else is stopping him, and he can play as an amateur.

Inviting pro athletes from other sports has been an occasional occurrence on the Web.com Tour, particularly the event in the Bay Area, but it's rare on the PGA Tour.

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Ryan Ballengee

Ryan Ballengee is founder and editor of Golf News Net. He has been writing and broadcasting about golf for nearly 20 years. Ballengee lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his family. He is a scratch golfer...sometimes.

Ballengee can be reached by email at ryan[at]thegolfnewsnet.com

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