Embracing perspective has always been one of Patrick Sheehan’s strengths. Back in one of his last PGA Tour seasons when the numbers didn’t work in his favor for securing his playing status, the one in the money column surely looked very nice.
“I earned over $800,000 (in 2008), who’s going to feel sorry for me?” said Sheehan to reporters after a season in which he was 128th on the money list. The Warwick, R.I., did finish inside the cutoff on the FedEx points list, so he had status for ’09, but his point was spot on. He had chosen a demanding line of work and if you care to step back and digest the full picture, you’d be correct to suggest that Sheehan has authored a pro golf career that speaks volumes for his talent – even if it never played to the brightest spotlights.
Across seven PGA Tour seasons (2003-09, 2012) and parts of 12 Korn Ferry Tour campaigns Sheehan was part of 390 tournaments. There were plenty of highlights that kept him going – wins on the KFT in 2002 and 2009; a 2004 PGA Tour season in which he earned $1.2m and finished second at the Valero Texas Open – but the fuel that has powered him forever is passion.