Injury gave Bohn time to reflect on family, career

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HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. -- When a rib injury forced Jason Bohn to take a six-month hiatus from the PGA TOUR last season, he found a better way to occupy his time.

Bohn won the 2005 B.C. Open for his first PGA TOUR victory. (Getty Images)

"I did the best thing I've ever done in my life actually -- I spent time with my two-year-old and we went to the park every day and we went swimming every day," Bohn said. "Being on the road a lot, they get to travel with me but you never get to experience what that life was like.

"W had a ton of fun. I pray to God that [an injury] never happens again, trust me, but I definitely took advantage of my time."

Bohn, 34, was forced to take a Major Medical Extension after tweaking his ribs at the 2007 Memorial Tournament presented by Morgan Stanley. He made the cut that day, but withdrew when he could barely swing the club on Saturday.

"I wish I could say [the injury resulted from] the click of a camera and maybe I could sue and ask for an exemption," Bohn joked, "but that's not going to be the case."

Instead, he was given 12 events in 2008 to make $257,668 (combined with his earnings in 2007, that equals No. 125 on the PGA TOUR Money List in 2007) and keep his card.

"It's like being on the 125 bubble [to keep a PGA TOUR card]," the Acworth, Ga., resident said of knowing he has to make that over a dozen events. "It's always there. It's in the back of your mind. And I'm just trying to take advantage of the weeks I'm able to choose to play the golf courses that suit my game."

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Video: Bohn chips in for birdie

Harbour Town Golf Links suits it rather nicely this week. Currently tied for third at the Verizon Heritage after rounds of 70, 66 and 67, Bohn is just five strokes off the lead set by Boo Weekley.

"I have made a lot of putts, some long putts that I haven't done in the past probably five years in my career," said Bohn, who credited his putter with placing him near the top.

The statistics back up his claim. A 46-foot putt found the hole for him at No. 10 on Friday and he sank a 30-footer for birdie on Saturday at the 16th hole.

Bohn is tied for first this week in the "putts made -- distance" category and missed just one putt under 10 feet in 54 holes. He's made 11 birdies and two eagles to off-set just four bogeys.

Compared to the rest of the 2008 -- Bohn tied for 20th at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for his best finish this year -- he's literally on a roll.

Not only is the flatstick working on the 6,973-yard venue but he's also effectively playing the five-and-a-half-inch course between his ears.

"I played with Ernie Els the first few days and Ernie and I were talking about how difficult it is to come back from a medical injury. It's not just the physical aspect of the game," Bohn said. "...The mental aspect [is difficult], seeing the shots and feeling the shots, flight of your ball, seeing where your ball is pitching on the green.

"I've done that really well this week and that's the thing I'm most proud of about myself, that I've really been committed to what I've been trying to do."

Bohn's path to this week's Verizon Heritage, where he tied for 16th last year, is one of a kind.

As a 19-year-old, he chose to give up his remaining eligibility at the University of Alabama and become a professional golfer. That, in itself, is not unique. What distinguishes Bohn from others is the story of the Hole-in-One Shootout.

It happened in 1992, but Bohn never minds telling it.

Young Bohn moved from central Pennsylvania to Tuscaloosa, Ala., for college. With no parents close by to keep an eye on him, he did what any college student would do on Halloween in 1992 -- dressed as Batman, hit every costume party in town and slept maybe four hours that night.

"I was Batman. I was trying to find Catwoman. And that's the honest truth," Bohn said with a laugh. "I was unsuccessful at finding Catwoman that night but I had a good time, I can tell you that."

Too good of a time, it seems. Bohn didn't feel well when he hit the Harriett Pritchard Golf Club course for a charity golf tournament the next day. He bought 10 balls and the object was to hit them within a six-foot circle around the cup. With 135 yards to the hole, he used a 9-iron to fire at the pin.

Bohn didn't feel so hot, but his ball did. Like a heat-seeking missile heading for a target, one of his shots careened toward the hole and fell in. The amateur golfer was suddenly $1-million richer.

"I couldn't wait, after I did hit the shot, to tell my parents. Because my parents always told me that a hangover is the worst thing for you, but I was able to prove to them once that it was the best thing that's ever happened to me," Bohn said. "I don't think I would have been able to hit that shot if I knew what I was doing."

The ball and club now sit in his office and he can't help but grin when he sees them. Bohn opted to take a $50,000 payout each year, which he will continue to receive until 2012.

It wasn't an easy decision. Bohn left college, got a job then struggled to make money on various mini-tours for several years. By 2003, however, Bohn captured a title on the Nationwide Tour and became a PGA TOUR winner at the 2005 B.C. Open.

If not for that one fateful shot, he said, there's little chance any of that would have happened.

"[The hole-on-one] gave me the financial ability to chase my dream," Bohn said. "...I never would have had the opportunity to chase that dream without that."

And now, 15 years later, he's chasing Weekley and a second TOUR title.