The News Review recently caught up with DeLaet in Las Vegas at the Shriner's Hospital for Children Open. The following is a story stemming from that meeting.
The 2013 PGA season has been a breakout one for Weyburn, Saskatchewan's Graham DaLaet. The 31 year old Canadian golfer has burst onto the scene, climbing from 602nd in the World Rankings at the early stages of 2012 all the way into the Top 50 in the world and beyond. With nine Top Ten tournament finishes in 2013 under his belt, DeLaet earned a spot in the Presidents Cup, playing amongst the best golfers in the world and taking on the USA as part of the International team in one of golf's most prestigious team competitions.
At the Presidents Cup DeLaet made it clear why the relatively young Canadian from Weyburn was playing amongst some of the best in the world, by continuing to play top notch golf in Dublin, Ohio and in turn earned high praise in the media from some of the game's top golfers. 2013 Masters winner Adam Scott referred to DeLaet as the MVP of the tournament. "To me, the MVP has to be Graham DeLaet," Scott said in a post-round press conference."I think he was phenomenal. He showed some real guts and determination in all of his matches and holing shots on the 18th is amazing." On a team where seven rookies were on the International squad going up against current top golfers like Adam Scott and legends of the game in Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, DeLaet was one of the top performers and helped keep the International team in the mix despite being considered as fodder for a star studded USA team.
At the end of the day the Americans prevailed, but it was another typical tournament for DeLaet. Low expectations for a relative rookie turned into eye opening results and high praise from those around the game. Post tournament USA captain Fred Couples told the Vancouver Sun DeLaet should be proud of his accomplishment and is a player that is truly on the rise. "I had never met him," said Couples to the Sun. "I'm fairly keen on looking at golfers and can tell if they are good. That's pretty obvious the last couple years, and then for him to make the team, he should be very proud of that accomplishment. "He's fun to watch. He hits it a long way, he putts well. You know, he's just a very good player."
When asked by The News Review at a recent PGA tournament in Las Vegas about his Presidents Cup experience, DeLaet - who naturally played hockey being from Weyburn - said one of the best parts about the tournament was getting to be a part of a team for the first time in years.
"Everyone fought so hard and it was so fun being part of a team again, it has been since I have played hockey that I have felt the whole team concept and it was a great experience. Even though we didn't get it done and finish it off, it was the most fun week of my life without a question."
DeLaet also qualified for the FedEx Cup Playoffs for the first time in 2013 on the back of his consistent appearances in the Top Ten of tournaments over the course of the season, but his biggest claim to fame on the tour this year was his special weekend during the Travelers Championship in June. At the height of the Alberta floods, DeLaet pledged $1,000 per birdie and backed that up by playing one of his best tournament's of the year. On Sunday DeLaet had the final round lead before Ken Duke and Chris Stroud edged him out by a single stroke to keep DeLaet from winning his first PGA title. Still he raised $9,000 for flood relief over the weekend, which was matched by PGA Canada and the story along with his final round lead continued to raise his profile as Canada's top golfer.
DeLaet, who learned the game on Weyburn's nine whole course before playing his way onto the Boise State University golf team is currently one of the best stories in golf. After winning ten NCAA titles while on the Boise State golf team, DeLaet realized his pro tour dreams before hurting his back during his rookie season on the PGA circuit. After getting healthy and recovering from surgery DeLaet worked on his short game and along with the athletic swing he has always had from his hockey background has began a climb that has him pegged as a guy who is a popular dark horse pick to win a major in the coming years. Still DeLaet, who despite having some close calls has yet to win a tournament, says that he is taking things one tournament at a time.
"I am just trying to do my best, week in and week out and just trying to get better all the time," says DeLaet. Sitting on the verge of the Top 25 as the 2014 FedEx Cup season draws near. DeLaet has came a long way from swinging his clubs at his local nine hole course and is the best Canadian golfer since Mike Weir was in his prime winning the 2003 Masters at Augusta. Already the consensus best golfer in the history of the province, DeLaet's next goal is to close the deal with a PGA tour win. Given his end to 2013, it should only be a matter of time before he has the elusive tournament win under his belt.
Currently - for the 2014 season - DeLaet is 13th in Fedex Cup points, 13th on the PGA money list, and he ranks 32nd in the official world golf rankings.
