GolfNewsRI

Rhode Island golf great Billy Andrade says he “feels bad” for Davis Chatfield and other young players trying to make it on the PGA Tour. 

Speaking to the media at Button Hole, Andrade explained that this era of signature events makes it challenging for young players trying to make headway.

“I’ve watched Davis play this year, I’ve been checking him out. I feel bad for the young players that are trying to make it, trying to get to whatever level you want to call it now, the signature, the challenge, the big Tour verse the next Tour. Davis is in that mix where he is not getting in the big events. He’s got one week left and he has to finish in the top, what, 1,2,3 to get into the next round,” Andrade said when asked by GolfNewsRI. 

Chatfield is currently playing the Wyndham Championship, the PGA Tour’s final regular season event before the FedEx Cup Playoffs. 

The former RI Amateur champ has played 20 events (including the Wyndham) in his rookie season and made eight cuts so far. 

Through round one of the Wyndham, Chatfield is one-under for the tournament and in a tie for 73rd. 

“He’s a tenacious player, obviously a straight hitter. I also feel bad for him because if played in the 70s , 80s and 90s he would be one of our best players in the world because it wasn’t about how far you hit it, back in the day it was about how straight you hit it. Guys who were the straightest hitters were our best players,” said Andrade. 

Chatfield has an average driving distance of 283.9 yards, which ranks 158th on the PGA Tour. 

However, he hits the fairway 71% of the time, according to PGA Tour data. 

“When you look at the schedule and look at all the tournaments that he is playing in and how long these golf courses are today, and when you are trying to get distance, it is just hard. I’m going through that a little bit on the Champions Tour playing against young 50-year-olds that hit the ball 40,50 yards by me. They are hitting nine-iron, wedges and I’m hitting five-iron. That’s a big difference, it’s harder to make birdies,” said Andrade. 

He added, “I feel for Davis, I’m a huge fan and I’m hoping he can keep hanging in there and get more starts and maybe this will be a learning experience for him on the Tour and next year he will come out firing.” 

Following the Wyndham Championship, Chatfield is scheduled to compete in all of the PGA Tour’s Fall Series events, with Japan event TBD,  in an effort to keep his PGA Tour card. 

The Fall Series begins in September.