Some might consider the Outlaw Tour to be appropriately named.
Pro golfer Riley Wheeldon of Comox is among the few athletes across the world still playing his sport. He is part of the Outlaw Tour, which is operating unabated in Arizona despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There are some PGA Tour and Korn Ferry players playing in it because it’s the only pro Tour going at the moment,” said Wheeldon.
Case in point is Alex Cejka, who has $12.8-million US in career PGA Tour earnings, who won the Outlaw Tour’s $28,500 Arrowhead Classic last week in Glendale with a 14-under three-round total of 196 to pocket a modest $5,000.
Wheeldon was tied for 10th at six-under 204 to earn $1,250. It was his 10th tournament since October and the Islander leads the Outlaw Tour with $18,816 in earnings this season. Wheeldon has had one victory, two second placings and has finished in the top-10 eight times. Two more events remain on the Tour.
“I’m playing decently,” said Wheeldon, in a bit of an understatement.
But that shouldn’t be surprising from a former B.C. junior champion who played NCAA Div. 1 with the University of Louisville Cardinals and twice in the PGA Tour’s RBC Canadian Open. There was a time when Wheeldon’s name was mentioned along with those of fellow Canadians such Adam Hadwin, Nick Taylor, Mackenzie Hughes, Corey Connors and Ben Silverman.
The Outlaw Tour, meanwhile, is practising social distancing with players having to stay two metres apart and walking instead of using carts. Shaking hands is prohibited. Bunker rakes have been removed and players are not allowed to handle flagsticks. PVC pipe stops putts from going to the bottom of the cup. There are no fans, but residents who live on the courses are allowed to watch from a distance.
“The Tour has instigated as many precautions as it can,” said Wheeldon.
“I’m happy with the precautions. I don’t feel unsafe out there.”
Any sport, however, operating at this point amid the pandemic is bound to be contentious.
“There has still been some controversy, despite the precautions,” said Wheeldon.
“I understand the concerns and criticism and can see everybody’s side of it. But at the end of the day, these are our jobs and it’s an opportunity to have money coming in.”
The graduate of Highland Secondary in Comox now resides in Scottsdale, Arizona, so he did not have to travel to play in the Tour. Most of the competitors live in the Phoenix area.
“Given this chance, I chose to play,” said Wheeldon.
“I think a lot of golfers would do the same, given the opportunity.”
The Outlaw Tour’s listed mission statement is to: “Create a cost-effective, self-sustaining, developmental professional golf tour showcasing rising talent. The goal is to create . . . a checkpoint on the road-map to a PGA Tour card.”
That is a card some thought Wheeldon might one day possess. At 29, the quest continues. It was supposed to go through the Mackenzie Tour PGA Tour Canada again this summer. The PGA Tour Canada feeds into the Korn Ferry Tour, which feeds into the PGA Tour. But the first six tournaments of the 2020 Mackenzie Tour PGA Tour Canada have been postponed due to the pandemic, including Wheeldon’s home-Island DC Bank Open presented by the Times Colonist that was scheduled for June at Uplands. He lists that as his favourite PGA Tour Canada tournament for obvious reasons.
“I hope we are able to play it at Uplands at some point this season,” Wheeldon said.
