Apr 25, 2002 4 min read

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) – Bubba Dickerson has won the U.S. Amateur and played at the Masters with Tiger Woods, so his knees probably won’t be shaking when he heads to the first tee today. Then again, the 20-year-old Dickerson will be making his pro debut at the $3.8 million Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic – and with that comes new pressure.

“He’s still going to have the butterflies in his first tournament where he’s actually playing for some money so he can put a new car stereo in or whatever these young kids do when they first get some money,” defending GGCC champion and 23-year PGA Tour veteran Scott Hoch said. “I’m sure he’s looking forward to it, but he might be a little more nervous.”

Dickerson has had an interesting few months.

After helping Florida win last year’s NCAA championship, Dickerson left school three days into this semester, married his high school sweetheart, made the cut at Bay Hill and played with Woods at the Masters two weeks ago.

Dickerson then went to Disney World to declare that he was ready to compete on the PGA Tour. This week’s tournament at Forest Oaks Country Club is one of seven sponsor’s exemptions Dickerson hopes to gain as he attempts to secure his tour card.

He’ll have to make more than $400,000 to do it, but such players as Sergio Garcia, Matt Kuchar and Charles Howell III – some of the tour’s top young players – landed tour cards via sponsor’s exemptions.

It’s still unclear if Dickerson is in their class. He’s one of just two golfers since World War II to win the U.S. Amateur and the Western Amateur in the same season. The other player was Woods.

Dickerson never won a college tournament, finishing second six times. He’s not lacking confidence, though, saying he pretty much played with Woods at the Masters. After a first-round 79, Dickerson shot a 1-under-par 71 and missed the cut by three strokes.

“I learned that he’s real patient and he manages his game real well – and he just makes a lot of putts,” Dickerson said. “Other than those three things he didn’t do anything better than me all week.”

Dickerson, who comes from a small town in northern Florida that has just one traffic light, wasn’t shaken by Tigermania. In fact, he said he expected larger crowds at Augusta.

“I was going on the first tee thinking it was going to be a Super Bowl crowd,” he said. “So, that crowd didn’t impress me at all. I was like, “Where’s everybody at.’

“I got just as many hoots and people hollering my name as Tiger got. That was a lot of fun. He was like, “Man, no one usually gets these hollers with me but me.’ Somebody else had a name that people like to shout out.”

Dickerson should be popular on tour. He certainly stands out. In addition to his catchy nickname of Bubba, Dickerson has bright red hair.

“It’s marketable,” said Brock Johnson, Dickerson’s agent. “He’s got such a distinct look and name. It will certainly draw attention to him.

“A lot of people kind of support him without really knowing much about him because he represents the good old American kid.”

Dickerson’s decision to turn pro came with a cost. He’ll lose his spot in the U.S. Open that was guaranteed as the U.S. Amateur champion.

“That was the toughest decision about this, passing up the U.S. Open at Bethpage,” Dickerson said. “But I feel good enough about my game that I can get there and still qualify.”

This is a good week for Dickerson to hit the tour, since only 11 of the top 30 money winners will be at Forest Oaks.

Johnson said his client is poised and has the ability to not only put up a good showing this week, but win in his first pro outing.

“It’s a good field, but not too many top players,” he said. “He’s at a point right now in his game that he feels really, really confident and he’s hitting the ball really well.”

Win, lose or miss the cut, life has changed forever for the former college star. It’s now a business for Dickerson.

“My job will be to support him no matter what,” said his wife, Mindy. “If he comes home and he has a horrible day and shoots an 80, my job is not to say, “Hey, you should have hit such-and-such shot on such-and-such a hole.’ My job is to say, “Hey, it’s OK, you’ve got 10,000 other tournament to play in. It’s no dig deal.”‘