Andrew Putnam’s journey through the world of professional golf is a blend of persistence and family ties. Raised in Tacoma, Washington, he grew up under the shadow of his older brother Michael, who also roamed the greens of the PGA Tour. While Michael had early achievements, Andrew carved his own path, marked by as many ups as downs. After honing his skills at Pepperdine University, where he became a three-time All-American, he stepped onto the professional scene in 2011, but not without a struggle.

The early years were tough, with numerous missed cuts and a return to the Web.com Tour (now the Korn Ferry Tour) becoming a familiar narrative. His first win in 2014 at the WNB Golf Classic marked a turning point, but even then, fortunes fluctuated. The barbs of the competitive circuit stung; a rough start to the 2014-2015 PGA Tour season led to the loss of his card. Yet, it’s this unpredictability that seems to define his career. Inevitably, he regained his footing, not just surviving but thriving enough to clinch his first PGA Tour victory at the Barracuda Championship in 2018.

Putnam’s story isn’t just about individual triumphs; it’s about camaraderie and rivalry, where his brother’s legacy looms large. They shared the 2014 Shell Houston Open, a poignant moment when Andrew missed the cut, but the essence of family support fueled his resolve. As he prepares for his fourth U.S. Open, the stakes seem personal, a quest for recognition not just as Andrew Putnam, but as part of a golfing legacy that he too is forging. Amid the bright lights and big money, there’s an unmistakable thread of humility and grit woven through his journey, reminding us that golf is as much about heart as it is about scores.

Life on the Tour is a whirl of travel, of tightly packed schedules and endless hours on the greens, each moment both mundane and electric. Putnam, in pursuit of his dreams, embodies the resilience of an athlete navigating the peaks and valleys of professional golf, where every swing tells a story and every loss echoes a lesson.