Two days after COVID-19 kept Kamaiu Johnson from his dream of playing on the PGA Tour, the Honda Classic stepped forward Thursday to make sure the inspiring Black golfer gets his shot.
Johnson was the top player on the
And then he tested positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday and had to withdraw.
The Honda Classic, to be held
“As I said when I first learned that I would be forced to withdraw, a fork in the road often has an interesting way of leading to new opportunities,” Johnson said. “It was beyond disappointing not to be able to play at the Farmers Insurance Open after all of the support that Farmers has shown me and the APGA Tour.
“Now, to find out that I will still have a chance to fulfil my dream of playing on the PGA Tour is almost overwhelming.”
Johnson grew up in the tiny
Living with his grandmother in a crowded two-bedroom apartment near a golf course, he was spotted swinging a stick by the city golf superintendent,
“Golf saved me,” Johnson told
The APGA Tour was established 10 years ago to prepare Black and other minority golfers to compete and gain better access across the golf industry.
Johnson finished in the top 10 in the last five APGA events last year, winning its Tour Championship. He was overjoyed when the Farmers Insurance Open called to offer him an exemption in October.
And then it ended with a positive coronavirus test.
A day after Johnson had to withdraw, he learned his mother was hospitalized with breathing difficulties from COVID-19.
“This is turning into a nightmare from hell,” Johnson tweeted on Wednesday.
He said Thursday she was improving, and his spirits were pretty high, too.
“When we heard what happened to him at Farmers this week, we felt strongly that we wanted to give him a chance to play at The Honda Classic. We feel it is important to support the advancement of golfers from our home state, Kennerly said.
”We have always been about growing the game of golf for young players and Kamaiu is such an inspiration for so many of them."
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