Minnesota favorite Tim Herron returns to the Colonial golf tournament in Fort Worth, Texas next week hoping to improve his game and repeat as tourney champion. Herron, the 37-year-old Minneapolis area native and resident, won a playoff last year to become champion of the tournament that was known as The Bank of America Colonial but has been renamed the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. The Golf Channel and CBS will have weekend coverage.
Herron’s win was the fourth major PGA title of his career that began in 1993. During an interview with Sports Headliners earlier in the week the former University of New Mexico golfer talked about his goals.
“I’ve surpassed a lot of my goals, so now it’s time to re-evaluate and try to figure out my goals coming ahead,” Herron said. “One of my goals was being on the tour for 10 years and making a certain amount of money, and that’s surpassed. … It’s time to probably make some different goals and try to get myself re-motivated for the latter part of my career.”
Asked to be more specific about future goals, he said, “Every dream goal is to win a major. I usually don’t set my goals that specific and that high. I let myself have a little time to reach some goals but I’d love to win a few more times out on tour.”
Herron ranks 123rd on the PGA Tour. He’s played in 13 events with one top 25 finish this year, according to pgatour.com. “Right now I don’t have that many strengths but I think mentally I am probably in a better spot even though I haven’t been playing well,” he said. “With my game I’ve kind of seen everything the last six months. A lot of different shots and a lot of shots that aren’t really going to affect me. …”
After the Colonial tournament Herron, who has about $14 million in career earnings, will play during the next few weeks in the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio and the Stanford St. Jude Championship in Memphis. “I’ve got three weeks here (that) I want to keep a really good focus on and hopefully gain some confidence playing a little better golf,” he said.
Herron said it’s important for him to remember the good life he has playing golf. “The career’s been fun,” he said. “If you just remember that it is a sport and it is supposed to be fun. If you start making a game a job, that’s when it becomes more difficult. …”
Herron admitted the fun element can get away from him. “Oh, yeah. There’s a lot of trap. You worry about money and worry about performing. Those are things that are kind of out of your control. If you play good golf the money will come. It’s not worth worrying about. Performing, if you stay on task with practice and good mental approach it will eventually come together.”
A touring pro’s expenses are his responsibility. Herron said a good guess is that his career expenses are in the range of $1.5 to $2.5 million. “I try not to even think about my expenses,” he said. “There’s quite a bit of expenses now. …I don’t spend a lot of money. But I like to live somewhat comfortable on the road, a nice decent hotel, fly around in first class, so there’s some things that I spoil myself with but on the other hand I don’t do crazy stuff with my money. I do like to save it for a rainy day.”