Last Sunday, Nicolás Echavarría became the fourth Colombian golfer to obtain the PGA card, which allows him to compete on the sport’s top circuit for the 2022-23 season. The man from Antioquia studied at the University of Arkansas and while completing his studies he began to stand out in sports, being part of his faculty team and obtaining his first trophies.
Nicolás Echavarría, statements
Echavarría already represented Colombia in 2014 when he participated in the World Amateur Team Championship that was held in Japan, sharing a team with Ricardo Celia and Santiago Gómez.
This season has been, without a doubt, the best in the 28-year-old golfer’s career. In pre-PGA Tour championships, he made 17 cuts in 24 events and played, in his words, “the best golf ever.” In 2022, he stood out for his consistency, a factor that led him to overcome several tournaments and finish in the top 10 on several occasions, including the Korn Ferry Tour Championship that was played last week, where he finished fifth.
The Colombian closed his participation with rounds of 67, 71, 67 and 66, and won one of the 25 cards awarded by the PGA. In an interview with Diario AS Colombia, Echavarría revealed that the last few days have been unique in his career and he is ready to begin a new phase at the sporting level, sharing with the great names of world golf.
Obtaining the PGA card: “It was a very long process. Ever since I was little, my dad would take me to the golf course and it’s a moment I’ve dreamed of all my life. Receiving a PGA card is something very important, it has cost me sleep, but I think the important thing was the results obtained during the year 2022 to reach that goal.
I would sum it up in consistency”. PGA debut: “I’m still on rest days and preparing for what’s to come because it will be new courses, new everything. The first tournament will be the Fortinet Championship being played in Napa, California, starting next week.”
Tournament you want to play: “The tournament I most want to play, despite not having received the invitation, is the Augusta Masters. It’s a dream I’ve had since I was little and I’m waiting for that opportunity.”
Conversations with other Colombians on the circuit: “Speaking with Camilo (Villegas) he told me to believe it and to prepare myself. He told me that the results of 2022 were very good and consistent (…) With Juan Sebastián (Muñoz) I have been playing since before he turned professional and his process has been very fast.
He told me to play calmly and the results will come with work”. Future goals: “The main one is to keep the card and for that I have to get good results and stay in the Top 50 in the world. The Presidents Cup and other big PGA tournaments are also goals that I have. Also, I would like to be at the Paris Olympics in 2024″
