Sept. 2, 2008
Former Kentucky golf standout J.B. Holmes was selected to the 37th United States Ryder Cup team to be played at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky. September 16-21. announced by team captain Paul Azinger Tuesday. This marks Holmes’ first appearance in the Ryder Cup.
Holmes, native of Campbellsville, Ky., joins Steve Stricker, Hunter Mahan and Chad Campbell as the final four team members to take on the Europeans at Valhalla Golf Club. The four will be playing with the eight automatic qualifiers who were finalized following last month’s 90th PGA Championship.
“J.B. will be a great representative for the U.S. team and the commonwealth of Kentucky for the Ryder Cup,” said Kentucky coach Brian Craig. “He loves Valhalla and has worked hard to achieve this goal. I could not be happier for J.B. and his family and can’t wait to join the Big Blue Nation in cheering for him.”
In a field mixed with time-tested veterans and energetic youth, Holmes, 26, is the second-youngest player on the roster behind Anthony Kim.
After an excellent college career Holmes kicked off his PGA career in 2006 when he won in his fourth start as a PGA profesional. In 2006, he shot a 21-under par to win the FBR Open, firing his professional career-best 64 in the second round. He has also had four top-10 finishes since joining the PGA and has become a multi-million-dollar earner on the tour.
In his third tournament this season, Holmes won the FBR Open for the second time in his career. He followed up that win with a tie for 7th in the Northern Trust Open, tied for 10th in The Players Championship and tied for 25th in The Masters.
Holmes’s stellar college career included earning All-Southeastern Conference honors for four consecutive years, as well as being named the SEC Golfer of the Year in 2005 after helping lead the Wildcats to an SEC Championship. Holmes was also honored as the team MVP every year of his collegiate career. As a consistent performer in the classroom, Holmes became an Academic All-American in 2004 and 2005 and he was on the Academic All-SEC team from 2002-2005.
