PGA Pro Ben Kern's Rare Move: Posting Major Scores to His Handicap
So, the PGA Championship. Big deal, right? Guys grinding, battling it out. Aaron Rai took home the big prize this year. Good for him. But there was another story brewing, one that’s a bit… different. A story about Ben Kern. This guy, a club pro, actually made the cut. Yeah, you heard me. Made the cut. Only club pro to do it. Finished 80th, pocketed a cool $23,930. Even teed it up with Luke Donald in the final round. Pretty damn impressive for a guy who isn’t living the Tour life week in and week out.
Kern’s a general manager at Hickory Hills Golf Club in Ohio. When he’s not out there mixing it up with the big boys, he’s back at the club, dealing with emails, members, the whole nine yards. He even said he hadn’t looked at his emails. Probably drowning in them now, I bet. But before he dove headfirst back into the administrative deep end, Kern did something that’s, frankly, pretty damn rare in professional golf. Something that made the USGA take notice. He posted his scores from the PGA Championship to his handicap.
The Handicap Game: More Than Just a Number
Now, for some of you, the word “handicap” might conjure up images of duffers trying to justify their latest blow-up. But for serious golfers, it’s a system. A way to level the playing field. It’s supposed to reflect your actual playing ability. And that’s where Kern’s move gets interesting. Most guys playing in majors, even the club pros who manage to sneak in, they don’t post those scores. Why? Because it’s a bloody massacre out there. The course is set up like a beast, the pressure is immense, and the scores are usually god-awful. Posting a bunch of 7s and 8s isn’t exactly going to do your Handicap Index any favors, is it?
Think about it. You’ve got guys like Jon Rahm, Max Homa – they play the Tour, they have handicaps, but they’re not exactly posting every damn Tuesday. And the top dogs? Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy? You think they’re punching in their Sunday scores after a major? Hell no. They’re probably not even thinking about their handicap. They’re thinking about the trophy, the money, the legacy. But Kern? He’s different. He made the cut. He played four rounds. He earned those scores. And he decided to put them on his card.
Kern's Scores: A Rare Differential
Let’s talk about those scores. Kern shot a 74, then a 67, then a 77, and finally a 72. Now, that 67 on Friday? That’s the one that counted. And it counted for a damn good reason. It was three-under par. On a major championship setup. The course rating from the back tees at Aronimink was 75.5, with a slope of 144. Those numbers alone are brutal. But factor in a major setup, and that 67 is a seriously impressive feat. It resulted in a differential of -6.7. That’s a hell of a number. For context, only two other players shot lower than Kern in that second round. His handicap, which was sitting around +6, was about to take a serious hit. And he knew it.
When he was asked about it after that incredible 67, he didn’t flinch. “It’s going to absolutely destroy my handicap,” he said. “But that’s OK. That’s what it’s for.” That’s the attitude. That’s the kind of golf integrity you rarely see these days. He wasn’t trying to protect his handicap. He wasn’t trying to keep his number artificially low. He played his best, he earned his scores, and he was willing to face the consequences. That’s a level of honesty that’s, frankly, refreshing. It’s a damn shame more people don’t have that same mindset.
The Handicap Index: What It Really Means
The Handicap Index, managed by the USGA, is designed to allow players of different abilities to compete against each other fairly. It’s a calculation that takes your scores, the course difficulty, and your performance relative to par to give you a number that represents your potential. A lower number means you’re a better player. A positive handicap means you’re expected to shoot over par, and a negative handicap means you’re expected to shoot under par. Kern’s handicap was already a strong +6, meaning he was expected to shoot around six shots under par on a standard course.
When you post a score from a major championship, especially one where you’ve played exceptionally well, it’s going to significantly impact that number. The USGA even tweeted about Kern’s act of posting, highlighting its rarity. They want people to post their scores. They want accurate handicaps. It’s how the system works. But let’s be honest, who wants to see their handicap go from, say, +1 to +4 after one tournament? It means you’ve got to give up more shots to your buddies back home. It means you’ve got less of an edge. Most people would rather just forget that round ever happened.
Why Kern's Decision is So Damn Rare
So, why is it so rare for pros, even club pros, to post their major championship scores? Several reasons. Firstly, as mentioned, the scores are usually terrible. Posting a 78, 79, 80… it’s not going to do you any favors. Secondly, many of these guys are playing for their livelihoods, even if they’re not on the PGA Tour. Their handicap might be used for local events, member-guest tournaments, or even just bragging rights. Lowering it dramatically can sometimes mean missing out on opportunities or losing that competitive edge. It’s a complex dance between playing golf for enjoyment and playing it for… well, for golf.
Then there’s the sheer effort involved. After playing four grueling rounds in a major, the last thing most people want to do is log into the USGA system and input their scores. They want to go home, rest, recover, and maybe, just maybe, forget about the whole damn thing. But Kern saw it differently. He saw it as part of the game. He understood the purpose of the handicap system and chose to honor it, even when it meant a painful adjustment to his own number. It’s a commitment to the integrity of the game that’s hard to find.
It’s also worth noting that not all club pros are in the same boat as Kern. Some might have their handicaps managed differently, or they might not be as actively involved in regular competition outside of their club. But for a guy who qualifies for and makes the cut in a PGA Championship, his handicap is likely a significant part of his golfing identity and his interactions with members at his home club. To willingly see that number inflate is a testament to his character.
The Future of Golf Handicaps and Professional Play
Kern’s actions raise an interesting question: Should more professional golfers, even those on major tours, be encouraged or required to post their scores? The USGA certainly hopes so. They’re constantly working to promote the use of the Handicap Index and encourage golfers of all levels to participate in the system. A more accurate reflection of a professional’s game, even from a major, could provide valuable data for the system and potentially offer a more realistic benchmark for amateur golfers.
However, the reality of professional golf is different. The stakes are higher, the demands are greater, and the focus is often on the next tournament, not the last one’s scorecard. But Kern’s story is a powerful reminder of what the handicap system is truly about: honest assessment and fair competition. It’s about playing the game as it’s meant to be played, regardless of the circumstances.
His current handicap sits at +6.4, a testament to his skill. He’s still a damn good golfer. And the fact that he’s willing to give up a few shots to his members back home just shows what kind of guy he is. It’s a small gesture in the grand scheme of professional golf, but it speaks volumes. It’s a rare act of integrity in a world that often prioritizes results over principles. You can learn more about the Handicap Index and how to get your own by visiting the USGA website. It’s a system that, when used honestly, can truly enhance the game for everyone.
So, next time you hear about a club pro making noise in a major, remember Ben Kern. Remember the guy who didn’t just play well, but who also played honestly. He posted his scores. He embraced the system. And in doing so, he did something truly rare, and frankly, pretty damn cool.