Jim Herman's children greeted him after he won the 2019 Barbasol Championship. (Barbasol Championship Photo)
The last time he was in Lexington to play in the Barbasol Championship, Jim Herman relied on Subway for many of his meals. That didn’t get the PGA Tour player a Subway endorsement deal but he got something better — a one-shot victory in the 2019 Barbasol Championship that rejuvenated his golf career. He had won just one previous PGA stop and in 19 tournaments earlier in 2019, he had made the cut just three times before winning in Lexington.
Last year’s tourney was canceled when the PGA Tour had to redo its schedule due to COVID protocols but he will be back next month to defend his title.
“I am just going to try and do everything I did that week (when he won),” Herman said Monday during a Zoom call previewing the Barbasol. “My wife and children are coming. They surprised me on Sunday (in 2019 for the final round) but they are coming.”
His daughter and wife are both equestrians, another reason they want to come to Lexington.
“I can’t wait for them to watch me play at a tournament that I won,” Herman, who won the Wyndham Championship in 2020, said. “They don’t really enjoy Subway like I do, though, so there will probably be something different on the menu.”
Herman, a Cincinnati native now living in Florida, expects many other family members and friends to be in the Bluegrass next month for the Barbasol. He joked he might even need extra tickets.
Herman currently ranks 185th in FedEx points and does not have a top 25 finish this year. His best finish was 26th at the Memorial and he was 30th at the RSM Classic. He has won $221,040 this year.
Herman says returning to Keene Trace Golf Club where he won before is a boost.
“You know you can never replicate what went on the previous year but you are trying to draw on those previous feelings and see what you did that year,” Herman said.
However, there’s one good luck omen Herman hopes might help. He’s friends with former President Donald Trump and sometimes plays golf with him. Often Trump has had words of advice/encouragement.
Herman had COVID around Christmas and had to cancel a round of golf with Trump. Last week he did see him in New Jersey and got to “sneak” in a round with the former president.
“Maybe it will rub off like it has in the past,” Herman said. “All he said was that ‘the putting looks really good, so keep it going.'”
Like most PGA players, putting is what makes a week special. He shot 61-63 the final two rounds at the Wyndham with a “really hot putter” and says while he gave himself a lot of birdie looks at the 2019 Barbasol, he still had to make the putts.
“I have switched off that putter I used in Lexington, but I will have it with me just in case I need it,” Herman said.
He does hope the weather is a little different for the tourney July 15-18.
“I just remember it being so hot. The thing I remember the most was the heat,” Herman said. “I think it was pretty normal but that seemed a little excessive.”
