Former UNT golfer Ryan Palmer

[Harry]

Ryan Palmer

He may have missed the cut in Honolulu this weekend, two years after winning that tournament, but Palmer’s coming off his best year as a pro.

Only a handful of professional golfers finished 30th or better in all four major tournaments.

“To play in all four majors and finish top 30 or better in all of them makes me feel ready for a new level of competition,” said Palmer. “I’ve gotten more consistent.”

“I’m very excited about this year coming up,” he said.

After the majors, he said his favorite moment of the 2011 season was forcing a playoff on the final hole of the HP Byron Nelson Championship in Irving in front of family and friends.

“I couldn’t hit a better drive and second shot,” he said.

He lost in the playoff to Keegan Bradley, who went on to win the PGA Championship later in the year.

It was also the first year he competed in the British Open, which offers different challenges than American golfers usually face.

“You’re hitting 5 irons from 160 (yards) into a tough wind. It was raining on and off. It’s different golf over there,” he said.

He said playing in West Texas could help prepare a golfer for going across the Atlantic, where they see “firm and fast conditions.”

“I learned a lot playing in wind and flat courses. I know how to hit lots of low shots, I can hit the ball low with many different clubs,” he said.

Palmer, who played at the University of North Texas and Texas A&M, works with coach Randy Smith in the Metroplex.

“It’s always a work in progress. You try and get better each and every year,” he said. “Randy and I are working to tighten it up; I’m working on hitting the ball higher.”

Palmer said his short game has been great, but he had his worst year putting.

“To still have that type of year (with putting problems) is promising,” he said.

His main goal for 2012 is to make the Ryder Cup team, where an American team faces Europe’s best over three days.

He also hopes to win the PGA Tour event held each year at Colonial.

“It’s the golf course I love to play every day. It never gets old,” he said. “I hope one day my name will be on that wall for winning the event.”

Palmer said he’s excited to see fellow Colonial member Killeen on the tour and he’s good friends with Chad Campbell, who’s from Andrews. Killeen went to high school with Campbell’s caddy.

He also hopes to get to play with Tiger Woods, as the world’s former No. 1 player is expected to play more tournaments this year.

Read More: http://lubbockonline.com/sports/2012-01-15/area-players-competing-sony-open-make-west-texas-proud#.TxO2afkgxfE