After a 74th-place finish at the Genesis Scottish Open, Ryan Gerard faced a vexing decision.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Stick around to potentially play in the British Open? Or fly halfway across the world to Lake Tahoe for a guaranteed tee time?<\/p>\n
The latter was a spot in the PGA Tour\u2019s Barracuda Championship, which played concurrently with the year\u2019s final major as an opposite-field event. Gerard was a high-ranking alternate for the British Open. A few withdrawals, and he was in the field.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Ultimately, he hopped on a flight to California.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a tough one,\u201d Gerard said Saturday, \u201cbecause if I skipped going and missed out on a major would\u2019ve been a kick in the pants for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gerard arrived in the Golden State at 2:30 a.m. Tuesday and didn\u2019t sleep much. By that afternoon, there were discussions of flying overseas again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGot up to the second alternate for the British Open on like Tuesday midday-ish,\u201d Gerard said. \u201cThere was some conversations as to whether we should fly back and try and wait to out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Staying put was the right decision, though. Gerard won the Barracuda for his maiden PGA Tour title\u2014and a $720,000 prize\u2014and he also wouldn\u2019t have gotten into the field at Royal Portrush.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A breakthrough at @CudaChamp<\/a> \ud83e\udd29<\/p>\n The first winning moment for Ryan Gerard. pic.twitter.com\/WtVIBSwZDG<\/a><\/p>\n