Just the fourth pair of brothers to appear on the PGA TOUR in the same season, Tacoma’s Michael and Andrew Putnam have a distinct bro-vantage.
by Bob Sherwin
This article originally appeared in the December 2014 issue of Cascade Golfer magazine. To learn how to receive Cascade Golfer, click here.
When it comes down to it, golf is a selfish game.
On the PGA TOUR, it’s as much about chasing dollars as chasing birdies. You putt for dough — as much bread as you can make. Earn enough money each year – usually around $750,000 – and you remain a member in good standing within one of the most exclusive clubs in the world, limited to a revolving-door cast of just 150 members.
Your fortunes rest solely on your skills. Your coaches, sponsors, investors, friends and family members can follow your every shot; your caddy can detail distances, direct where to land approaches and advise on the subtle slopes of the greens. But it’s strictly up to you, the player, to take each shot — to drive the ball onto narrow fairways and guide snaky putts into the hole. No pinch-hitters, no substitutes, no injury replacements.
And no distractions. A good walk can be spoiled by life. Any off-course issue involving the wife, kids, parents or friends must be bifurcated into a remote corner of the brain for the sake of on-course concentration.
In a world of harsh survival, it’s every man for himself — unless, of course, one of the other men out there is your own brother.
That’s the world into which Michael and Andrew Putnam will tread this season, having to strike a delicate balance between selflessness and selfishness to both come out on top.
“The one thing about golf, it is very selfish. You can only control what you’re doing,” says younger brother Andrew, 26, embarking on his rookie PGA TOUR season. “But there is a little distraction. When you see your brother’s name on the leaderboard, sometimes you compare yourself to him. There’s that (sibling) competitiveness. It’s usually a positive when he’s playing well. It spurs you on.”
The pair, who grew up in Tacoma, are just the fourth set of brothers in Tour history to play together, and the first to do so regularly in almost two decades. Michael, 31, now in his fourth full PGA TOUR season, admits having his brother on his peer level can unwittingly seep into his psyche.
“For sure, I do fall into the trap and watch the scoreboard, either on-line or on my phone, at times when I probably shouldn’t,” Michael says. “It’s tough because I care as much about what Andrew’s doing. But that’s the learning curve this year. We both have to get past that. Care for each other each Wednesday, then by Thursday (when the tournaments start), you want to beat him as bad as anyone else. We’re playing for ourselves as well as cheering for each other.”
Curt Byrum joined the PGA TOUR in 1983, and was joined by his brother Tom in 1985. They each won one tournament, both in 1989. Curt says, “When all is said and done, it’s all positive’’ having a sibling on the PGA TOUR.
“I’m sure Michael can help Andrew by telling him where to stay, he can help plan his schedule for the type of courses he should play,’’ Curt says. “It’s another tournament player for him to lean on. He can probably help with his swing or alignment. He can say things to his brother that he probably couldn’t say to another tournament player.”
Curt adds that playing in the same tournament or even in the same pairing could be a distraction, because they both want each other to play well, “but I don’t see it as a huge distraction. I think the positives way out-weigh any possible negatives.”