Local Brilliance

Posted by Garret Beal on Oct 29, 2010 in Telegram Past News

 Nick Watney grew up in Dixon and played golf for the Dixon High School team his freshman year (1995). Nick has been dominating on the tour this year. He just finished 12^th in the FedEx cup, the same position that he finished last year. Although Nick has only been on tour for five years, he has made well over ten million dollars playing golf professionally. With a win in the Buick Invitational last year, his money earnings were $834,132 more than this year. For most professional golfers, earnings are tied directly to the how many tournaments that you play in and how well you finish in each one.

Nick played Golf at Dixon High his freshman year. He then transferred to Davis High where he finished his high school career. After High School, Watney attended Fresno State collage, and then went on to become a professional in 2003 and first appearing on tour in 2006. 

 Since he has become a professional, Nick has competed with the best in the business. Not only has he competed with them, but he has beat some of them. He beat people like Tiger Woods, Phil Michelson and Jim Furyk, who went on to win the FedEx cup this year.  Nick is a recognized and respected tour member. Nick is currently ranked 9th on the tour measured by his overall statistics and in 7 tournaments this year he finished in the top 10.  His best finish was 4th in the Transitions Championship at 9 under par. 

In his home town, he is a source of pride and inspiration.  People that don’t even know how to play golf follow his progress throughout the season.  Current Dixon High golf team members follow him on the course when they are fortunate enough to attend a professional tournaments that he is playing in. At this year’s US Open played at Pebble Beach in Monterey, as Nick walked up the 6th fairway, he graciously looked over and smiled to shouts of “let’s go Dixon!” He still has some affection for his home town.