Lake Nona's Peter Uihlein: From U.S. Amateur champ to globetrotting European rookie. (Getty Images)
Leaving college to turn pro in the middle of the school year is unusual enough. What makes former U.S. Amateur champion Peter Uihlein’s case truly unique, though, is where he’s chosen to enter the waters – the European circuit.
The Lake Nona resident will give his passport a workout by seeking invitations on the European Tour and its developmental European Challenge Tour.
Uihlein’s first stop: The Abu Dhabi Championship, against a field that includes six of the top 10 in the world rankings and a resurgent Tiger Woods. Reports indicate he’ll also play the Qatar Masters and Dubai Desert Classic, plus a stop in India.
“It is a pioneering move by him,” said agent Chubby Chandler, who brings Uihlein into his International Sports Management stable.
The move comes after Uihlein tried the PGA Tour’s qualifying route, but was eliminated short of Q-school finals.
Without even Nationwide Tour status, the former Oklahoma State standout would have been limited to seven PGA Tour sponsor exemptions, a similar number on the Nationwide circuit and whatever Monday qualifiers he could survive.
“The PGA European Tour plays all over the world from the United Kingdom to China, from Korea to South Africa and from the Middle East to Southeast Asia,” Uihlein said. “And those players who have played on the Tour, and who are still members, make for a pretty impressive list.”
Uihlein joins an ISM roster that includes world No.2 Lee Westwood and Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, plus British Open winner Darren Clarke and his predecessor, Louis Oosthuizen. Hall of Famer Ernie Els and U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy also have been ISM clients.
“The obvious step would have been to try to establish his career in the United States,” Chandler said. “But having seen players like Lee Westwood, Charl Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen and Darren Clarke build careers by playing all over the world, including America, Peter has been encouraged by that.”
Uihlein also will is limited to seven sponsor invitations on the European Tour, but can expand his schedule if those seven starts bring back winnings of at least 258,939 Euros – about $336,700.
Uihlein won the 2010 U.S. Amateur at Chambers Bay in Washington and spent 12 months at No.1 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings. He also won back-to-back Dixie Amateurs in 2009-10, four other amateur titles, six college tournaments and played on two U.S. Walker Cup teams.
The Massachusetts native is the youngest son of Acushnet chief executive Wally Uihlein, whose management realm includes the Titleist and Footjoy golf brands.