Pine Island to the PGA Tour
Anders Larson grew up twenty minutes from our Rochester office. Now he's earning his way into PGA Tour fields one Monday qualifier at a time. We're documenting the climb.
Anders Larson is a paid promoter of Fortress Financial Group and is not a client of the firm.
Nobody drafts you
into professional golf
Anders Larson swung his first club at age two and played his first tournament at five. In 2022, he helped lead Pine Island/Zumbrota-Mazeppa to the program's first state championship. Two years of Division I golf at Tennessee Tech, two more at Eastern Kentucky. Then the decision every aspiring pro faces: bet on yourself.
There's no draft in this sport. You earn a PGA Tour start by surviving a Monday qualifier: dozens of professionals, 18 holes, a handful of spots. Anders has come through that gauntlet three times: back-to-back summers at the John Deere Classic as an amateur, and this July's ISCO Championship as a professional. Next up: the 3M Open, Minnesota's own tour stop.
The road so far
What's a Monday qualifier? The week before most PGA Tour events, anyone good enough can enter an 18-hole shootout for the last few spots in the field. Survive it, and you're teeing off with the best players in the world on Thursday.
Won the Georgia State Invitational in a playoff as a Tennessee Tech freshman, then made All-OVC and the OVC All-Newcomer team while leading the Golden Eagles in scoring average (73.83). A hand injury and a transfer to Eastern Kentucky set up the jump to the pros.
All-OVCMonday qualified back-to-back summers as an amateur. A 7-under 65 punched the second ticket. Missed the cuts, took the education.
Missed CutHis first tour start as a pro, earned through two qualifying rounds: a 67, then a 66 and a playoff. Fired a 1-under 69 on Friday, his best round in a PGA Tour event.
Missed CutThe hometown shot. Minnesota's PGA Tour stop, just up the road from Pine Island. One more Monday. One more chance to punch through.
Up NextResults posted after every start, good or bad.
Dan Langworthy built a wealth management firm over many years. Anders Larson is building a professional golf career one tournament at a time. Fairway Conversations explores the similarities in long-term discipline, preparation, and perseverance.
We’re filming episode one now. Join the list below and we’ll tell you the moment it drops.
Inside the Journey
First dispatches land at the 3M qualifier
Noah's cameras follow Anders to the Monday qualifier on July 20. Until then, follow along here:
Follow the Journey
Every episode of Fairway Conversations, every tournament result, every Monday-qualifier update, straight to your inbox. This email list is focused on Anders' journey and Fairway Conversations. We won't overwhelm your inbox.
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You'll hear from us the next time Anders tees it up, and the moment episode one drops.
About the Sponsor
Fortress Financial Group is a fee-only fiduciary, registered investment advisor in Rochester, MN and Scottsdale, AZ: $350M+ under management for 330+ households. No commissions. Just the long game.