If his first start of the new year is any indication, former University of Texas star Harrison Frazar might be in for a mighty big 2024.
The Dallas native, who captured his first PGA Tour Champions victory at the end of 2023 in the Dominion Energy Charity Classic at the Country Club of Virginia when he edged Richard Green in a playoff, picked up where he left off last week at the season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai.
Although New Zealander Steven Alker cruised to a four-stroke win, Frazar came through in the clutch as he needed a birdie on the tournament’s final hole to wrestle second away from defending champion and 2023 Player of the Year Steve Stricker. His reward was a handsome $200,000 check for being runner-up.
Harrison Frazar isn’t backing down
He’s now just two back @MEC_Golf. pic.twitter.com/ZAATrL1slt— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) January 21, 2024
For Frazar, whose lone victory on the PGA Tour came in 2011 at the Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational, the win in October has been a big boost.
“I’ve always had confidence in my ability to play, but doing that in October has given me confidence to know that I can close it when it matters,” Frazar said in Hawaii. “These guys out here, they’re called champions because they know how to win, they’re not going to make mistakes. I need to not make mistakes. So yeah, I feel like I can do it.”
Although his PGA Tour was plagued by numerous injuries, Frazar still played in 409 events on Tour, posting 19 top-5 finishes and cracking the Top 10 on 37 occasions. Not bad for a guy who was an honorable mention All-American three different times while with Texas, but didn’t plan to pursue a pro career until fellow Longhorn Mark Brooks convinced him to do so.
Of course, playing in Hawaii also isn’t a bad way to spend a week in January.