PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Considering the tattoo of a Glock-wielding teddy bear on John Greco’s left forearm, it’s probably no surprise that the mustachioed 30-year-old from Cupertino, Calif., liked the torture chamber of the PGA Tour Q- The last stop of the school.
For two days, scores soared in cold winds, with Friday’s second-round score average more than four strokes above average at Sawgrass Country Club, one of two host courses and where the top half of the standings played on Saturday.
“I think a lot of people were probably stressed yesterday,” Greco said, “but you know, you’re playing the last scene, and it’s 40 hours, and everyone’s falling apart, that sounds like fun to me.”
Greco and his peers got a break Saturday, as Sawgrass Country Club played four shots easier than the day before — and almost at par. Matthew Riedel and Alistair Docherty each shot 3-under 67 to grab a share of the 54-hole lead at 6 under as the leaders turn their attention to the Dye’s Valley course at neighboring TPC Sawgrass for the finish of Sunday, where PGA Tour cards will be distributed. in the first five and tie.
Japan’s Takumi Kanaya (68), the second-highest ranked player among the 170 players, sits in third place at 4 under, while four players are currently in the number in a share of fourth at 3 under – veteran Grant Hirschman of the Korn Ferry Tour. (66), who unfortunately, at least for him, is best known as Scottie Scheffler’s former roommate; recent PGA Tour pro Hayden Buckley (67), who lost his card this season after recovering from a torn rib muscle the previous summer; Corey Shaun (70), who earned his DP World Tour card at this Q-School last month and opened this week with a course record 61 at the Valley; and Greco (67), who birdied four of his last eight holes on Saturday and is ranked 2,397th in the world – barely enough to be ranked – is arguably the most surprising name currently in a position to change his life.
Greco was born in Rochester, New York, but he’s a Bay Area kid at heart. He fondly remembers those high school afternoons when his father would drop him and his brother Henry off at Pruneridge, a nine-hole executive course in Santa Clara, where rounds cost $2 each thanks to Youth on Course, a national initiative to provide affordable rounds for juniors.
The Greco family appreciated the savings. Greco played a beginner set, where half the irons were hybrids, throughout his freshman year of high school. Eventually, at the age of 15, he worked as a summer camp counselor, and with his paycheck, he bought his first real set of irons.
For Greco, there was no debate about which bats he would buy. That same summer, he watched Tiger Woods compete in the 2010 US Open at Pebble Beach. So for the next few years, Greco’s bag featured the Nike Victory Red TW blades with the TW logo stamped on them, although Greco could only carry a few of them. the scope at a time, attaching them together using an elastic band, because carrying your entire bag would be dangerous on a bike.
Greco began his college career at San Jose City College before transferring to William Jessup University, an NAIA program (NCAA D-II these days) in Rocklin, California. He turned professional in 2017 and, although he has competed on five different PGA Tour-sanctioned circuits, he has logged more than six starts on just one, the now-defunct PGA Tour Latinoamerica, where he only won just one top 25 in 11 events in 2022-23.
He’s lost count of how many trips to Q-School he’s made, but Greco can say this week marks his first final stop.
“I don’t have the pedigree that a lot of other guys have,” Greco said. “But like we’re starting from the same tee, no one’s getting any help because they played really well last year. It’s like a super release because it’s just hitting golf shots.
Despite being the ultimate underdog, Greco exudes a veteran mindset. He knows what’s happening on Sunday at TPC Sawgrass, but @champagnejohnnie, as he’s known on Insta, won’t allow himself to go there – not yet.
“Obviously you want to play against the best players for the biggest amount of money, and that’s definitely part of it,” Greco said. “But none of this affects the next move. Every time I spend time thinking about it, it’s probably a waste of time.
As for the tattoo, Greco has a few others, but the teddy bear certainly stands out. He bought it for his fiancée, Karianne, whom he called the “Dangerous Kar-Bear” and proposed last month in Laguna Beach after they both ran a half marathon. Karianne also owns a few Glocks.
Expect Greco to come out with fire on Sunday, whether he plays hard or not.
