Jamie Sadlowski: Serious About Going Pro

Fresh off pre-qualifying for the US Open, St. Paul’s Jamie Sadlowski, was taking a mini-vacay in his home town last week. Even when he’s back home, relaxing, the two-time Long Drive Champion couldn’t help but play a round.  Coming off 18 at the St. Paul Golf Course, Sadlowski says he has to maintain his game if he’s serious about going pro.

The 27 year old is looking to break onto the PGA Tour. He’s achieved step one of the master plan, by winning the local qualifier in Scotsdale, with Gary McCord as his caddie. McCord, a CBS golf broadcaster, is known to hit the links with Sadlowski, as his playing partner, at Whisper Rock Golf Club in Scotsdale. 

Pre-qualifying gets Sadlowski into the sectional event, from there he’ll have to qualify again for the invite to the PGA tour. “I was the medalist in Scotsdale, which gets me to the sectional. Which is 36 holes, with limited spots into the US Open.” Sadlowski hasn’t played a lot of professional golf, “I’ve made three or four cuts on the Web.com Tour, which is a step below the PGA Tour.” Sadlowski was able to impress off his showing on the Web.com Tour, “I’ve played fairly well, so people who are involved in the PGA Tour, some players, and even some teachers that I’ve played with, are pushing me more towards playing. The next few months will be a tell-tale of what I’m going to do.”

“I’m going to go to Q-School, so my focus is on playing [in the PGA Tour].” In professional golf the term Q-School is used for the annual qualifying tournaments for leading golf tours such as the U.S. based PGA and LPGA Tours and the European Tour. Golfers can no longer jump right into the PGA Tour, the must qualify for the Web.com Tour, which is essentially the minors. “Q-School for Web.com Tour is six rounds and a limited amount of guys will get playing privileges.”

“St. Paul has always been home and probably for the summer-time it always will be; but I’ve gotten smart over the years,” laughs the golfer, “it is a choice to live here when it’s minus 40.” Logic speaks, if you’re going to make it in a summer sport, you better move to where it’s summer. Sadlowski has relocated to Scotsdale, Arizona, where he not only keeps up with his long drive swings, he also does corporate engagements, where he’s known to bust out trick shots. He’s been featured on the popular frat-friendly show, Dude Perfect.

“When you live in Northern Alberta in the winter, there’s a lot of things you can practice smashing,” as the instant replays in his mind, Sadlowski says his favourite smash from Dude Perfect was the Skittles bag. “We used a hi-def camera for that one, so it turned out really good.”  When he’s not having fun with his fierce swing, smashing milk or a bag of Skittles, Sadlowski has been training in all aspects of the game.

Cypress Point on the Monterey Peninsula, is the golfer’s favourite course, aside from his hometown club in St. Paul (of course); which he says is looking good. “There’s new management out there and the greens are looking good.” Typically, Sadlowski will hang the clubs in the closet when he’s lucky enough to have a few days off, but not this time around. With qualifying on June 6th fast approaching he’s getting in as many rounds as possible.

The location of the qualifier is yet-to-be-determined. You can follow Jamie Sadlowski on all the regular socials, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & YouTube, @jamiesadlowski. “People think I just mess around, but I actually gotta work now!”