ELKHORN, Nebraska – Earlier this week, Sam Ryder met Bill Gotch, the owner of The Club at Indian Creek. Among the topics of their conversation was how tough of a test Indian Creek would present to the Web.com Tour in its return to Omaha. The pair didn't see anyway a player could post 20-under-par.
Ryder disproved his own theory in record fashion and blitzed the field at the inaugural Pinnacle Bank Championship presented by Heartland Chevy Dealers with a 72-hole total of 21-under-par 263. Scott Harrington, Andrew Landry, Michael Johnson and Scott Gutschewski finished second at 13-under-par 271.
"When you have a seven-shot lead heading into the final round, you're always going to want a bigger lead," said Ryder. "It's just a different kind of pressure, because you kind of have the tournament in your back pocket already. You feel like if you lose it, then you really lose it. I was just proud of myself for getting out here and playing solid."
Ryder did more than play solid. The 27-year-old from Winter Park, Florida, became just the sixth player in Tour history to win an event by eight shots or more. His victory in Omaha propelled him to No. 2 on the money list and secured his PGA TOUR card for the 2017-18 season.
"This is the beginning of the journey for me," said Ryder, who earned a first-place prize worth $108,000. "Now my goals are set for the PGA TOUR. There's a big difference between second and first on the money list. My goal is to finish the season No. 1 and I'm in a good positon to do that now."
Ryder's ball striking was spot-on all week, but his putter was the difference-maker. The Stetson University grad made 24 birdies and an eagle this week. He ended the week second in putting thanks to some guidance from an eight-time PGA TOUR winner.
"Brad Faxon called me, and I've been struggling with the putter, and he just helped clear my mind a little bit," said Ryder, who spoke to Faxon the night before he carded a course-record 62. "He's top-5 all time (in putting), for sure, and having Brad call me, and we kind of just talked for an hour or so, and it just freed me up a little bit, and put a couple different ideas in my head. It allowed me to stop trying to be so perfect and try so hard, necessarily, on the greens. I just felt relaxed, that was all the difference in the world."
Ryder has received plenty of support since turning pro in 2012. The Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada alum had a special person in attendance on Sunday afternoon to make his maiden Tour victory even sweeter.
"I didn't expect to get emotional but I might have watered up when I saw her," said Ryder, about seeing his mom, Kelly, on Sunday in the gallery. "She was able to fly in today. I know it was special for her and it was super special to me to have her here. She's been along for the ride and was there last week. She's been to every single college event I played in. No one has supported my more than my mom and dad."
Ryder has enjoyed success on every level. In 2015, he won the National Capital Open to Support Our Troops on the Mackenzie Tour, where he ended the year No. 4 on the Order of Merit, and now he's a Web.com Tour champion.
Last season, Ryder came painstakingly close to winning the News Sentinel Open presented by Pilot but was caught and passed by good friend J.J. Spaun. The near-miss didn't upset Ryder because he knew his time would come.
"I think last year, I don't know if I was ready," Ryder admitted. "I think my dreams were coming at me too quick when I had a chance to win in Knoxville and lock up my card. I had a chance the next week and in the (Finals) and it took me off guard. Mentally I don't know if I was quite ready. I would've been maybe a little overwhelmed."
"When I came out here this year I had different goals in mind and I want to be No. 1 on the money list and now I'm close," continued Ryder, who is $20,994 behind Andrew Landry in the race for the top spot. "This year it felt like what I was meant to do. I belong on the PGA TOUR and this year I believe that. I have enough people in my corner telling me that."
