Former Illinois golf star lands on 16-member Player Advisory Board for PGA Tour

Illinois golf continues to have its fingerprints on the PGA Tour in more than one way.

There are a few former Illini golfers floating about on the PGA Tour. Steve Stricker was the trailblazer with many more from Champaign to follow.

Currently, Thomas Detry is the highest-ranked former Illinois golfer on the World Golf Ranking, checking in at No. 99 in the world. Not too far behind at No. 145 is Nick Hardy.

Through three events in the new 2024 PGA Tour calendar season, Hardy has made all three cuts with his best finish being T37 at the Farmers Insurance Open this past week.

Hardy’s impact on the game is bigger than his talent, though. While his career PGA Tour earnings of $3,985,698 is a nice chunk of change, his impact on golf is becoming greater and greater off the course.

This past Sunday, the PGA Tour released the list of players who would be a part of the 2024 Player Advisory Council. Among the list of tour advisors included some big names like world No. 1, Scottie Scheffler. Alongside Scheffler and a part of the 16-member council is also Hardy.

Hardy is going to be one of the 16 players who will help shape the PGA Tour in what most would call a weird and defining time for the game of golf. The Player Advisory Council was formed to give the PGA Tour Policy Board and Commissioner Jay Monahan the players’ point of view on things going on. They are to advise and consult the PGA Tour Policy Board and Monahan on issues affecting the PGA Tour.

Nick Hardy is going to need to work some magic to get into the Masters Tournament this season

Hardy’s game continues to grow on the PGA Tour. Just two years ago, he locked in a top-10 finish. He parlayed that momentum into a big year this past season with 26 cuts made, two top-10 finishes, and he secured his first win at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

While Hardy does have solid experience playing in Majors, he still hasn’t managed to crack the golden goose and secure a spot in the Masters Tournament.

To get into the prestigious tournament in 2024, Hardy has to do one of two things. The first thing he could do is work his way up the World Golf Rankings.

Hardy is No. 145 in the World Golf Rankings right now, and he needs to crack the top 50 by the week before the Masters Tournament starts. That is an extremely unlikely feat.

The easiest way for Hardy to clinch a spot in the Masters Tournament is by winning. It looks like there are just nine tournaments left for him to secure that spot, and it all starts this week at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.