Mini-tour survivor Streelman finds himself in a great new world

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HONOLULU, Hawaii -- Of course, there were butterflies.

Kevin Streelman overcame some butterflies to forge a solid start. (Condon/PGA TOUR/WireImage)

Insider the Numbers

Streelman's First Round

Category Total Rank Eagles 0 Birdies 4 Pars 12 Bogeys 2 Double Bogeys 0 Other 0 Driving Accuracy 28.6% Driving Distance 265.5 yds. Greens in Regulation 72.2% Putts per Round 29 Putts per Round 1.769 Sand Saves 100.0%

Kevin Streelman wouldn't have been human if he hadn't been nervous hitting that first tee shot as a PGA TOUR member. Thursday's round didn't start auspiciously, either, as his drive found the rough on the first hole at Waialae Country Club.

After that opening bogey, though, the PGA TOUR rookie settled down. Streelman birdied three straight holes starting at No. 8 on the way to a solid 68 that left him four strokes off the lead at the Sony Open in Hawaii.

"It was a good round -- definitely a good start for me," he said with a smile. "I had some butterflies early but I held it together and putted pretty well. I definitely got the most out of the round. I didn't drive the ball particularly well so I have a little work to do but I feel good about my game right now."

And why not? Streelman survived all three stages of q-school -- in his first attempt, no less -- to earn his TOUR card last month. His birdied four of his last five holes to advance past the first stage, was co-medalist at the second and tied for 14th in the pressure-packed finale.

"At times, I still don't know if it even hits me," Streelman said. "Even being here, I almost expect that next week I'll have to Monday qualify. It's a unique and amazing feeling to be out here.

"At the same time, I've worked really hard to get here. I look at myself, I'm 29. I'm not a pup any more like some of the young guys here but I feel like I have put in the work. I'm going to work really hard this year and see where it takes me."

A year ago, Streelman made his living playing the Hooters Tour, where he won once, and the Gateway Tour, where he picked up three more titles. Throw in the q-school success, and the Duke grad has plenty of which to be proud.

"My last year in general really helped me out confidence wise, to finally break through," he admitted. "I know they're not Nationwide (Tour) or PGA (TOUR wins), but to put yourself in position and come through a couple of times was a big confidence boost for me going into q-school and fortunately, I was just able to ride that out."

One of Streelman's playing partners on Thursday happened to be James Driscoll, a Virginia product who the Blue Devil competed against in college. The two had breakfast together, and Streelman said it helped to play with someone he knew.

That's where the familiarity ended, though. The Sony Open is a whole different world than the mini-tours where players share rooms and rides and know the menus at every fast food restaurant.

Streelman has been bowled over by how "graciously, just so immensely" he's been treated this week. The courtesy transportation was pretty nice, too, as were the balls, gloves and specially made Scotty Cameron putter left in his locker.

"I've always been a Scotty Cameron nut so that was pretty cool for me," Streelman said with a grin. "Just the way everybody treats you (is special). You feel like I'm still the same person I was last year, obviously, on the Hooters Tour and the Gateway and Monday-ing all over the place. But now there are definitely some perks."

Another benefit is back home in Arizona, where Streelman has playing and practice privileges at the TPC Scottsdale.

"The fact that I could go to TPC and just show up and them give you Pro-Vs and then go to the back of the range and you're hitting balls next to Billy Mayfair, it's pretty cool," he said. "I've always had to call and ask favors and to have a place where I can practice and call home is a pretty neat feeling for me. That's been pretty special."

Streelman's immediate priority is to play well enough to improve his position for the first reshuffle in the eligibility rankings. He'd love to get into the star-studded fields at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, Wachovia Championship and THE PLAYERS Championship, too. The PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup loom on the horizon, as well.

Video: Kevin Streelman discusses his q-school experience

All of these goals are within Streelman's realm of possibility -- if he performs the way he knows he can.

"Hopefully, I prove to myself I feel I belong here," he said. "I am not the kind of cocky person to come out here and blare it to everyone. But deep down, you've got to know you belong out here or you're probably not going to stay. I played well today, but it wasn't my A+ game, either.

"If I stay on top of my game and stay comfortable, who knows what can happen?"

First thing first, though. He'd like nothing better than to pick up his first paycheck as a PGA TOUR member this week. Streelman knows better than to just focus on making the cut, though.

"If you have a little loftier expectations or goals for yourself and you just miss them, then maybe you do a little better," he explained. "I'm sure it will creep into my mind and my eyes will glance over at the leaderboards and where the cut line's at and stuff, but for me to play my best, I've got to take it my one shot at a time and focus on getting the ball in the hole."