In late 2021, Rob Labritz achieved a dream by qualifying for the PGA Tour Champions after winning Q-School. He had played in eight PGA Championships and won the New York State Open three times, so he was ready to compete with the best.
For three years, Labritz worked hard on the senior circuit, earning six top-10 finishes and over $1.5 million. But this week marked a tough end to his journey there.
Labritz was close to making it into the Schwab Cup playoffs but needed an outstanding performance to secure his spot. Not only was a playoff place at stake, but also his status for 2025. Despite finishing 21st at the US Senior Open Championship and having four top-25 finishes this season, he fell short by about $20,000 after placing T24th at the SAS Championship while Lee Janzen finished T47th .
Fans might feel that such a close miss is heartbreaking for someone who has shown great potential.
In an emotional interview shared by PGA Tour Champions, Labritz expressed his disappointment: “I’m hurting right now.” When asked how much it hurt missing out on the playoffs, he replied with visible frustration: “You tell me… I played my ass off this year and played really crappy.”
He mentioned missing an event due to a back injury, acknowledging that playing injured isn’t ideal: “You have to be firing on all cylinders because you will get swallowed alive.”
Future Uncertain:
When questioned about what comes next, Labritz seemed unsure: “I don’t know… Q-School maybe… my game is getting better but not enough.” In 2023, he enjoyed success with T4th finishes at both the US Senior Open and Hoag Classic along with two more top-fives plus six additional top-10s.
Reflecting on his time among elite players, Labritz said: “I spent three years out here with some of the top players on the planet… My game got better.” Despite setbacks in 2024, he remained confident in his abilities: “Yeah, I know I can win out here – that’s what sucks.”
What do you think? Can Rob make a comeback?
