In late May of 2024, John Keefer capped a brilliant fifth-year campaign and posted a highly respectable 11th-place finish at the NCAA Championship, representing Baylor.
Since then, all the Korn Ferry Tour member has done is post 17 rounds of 64 or better in PGA Tour-sanctioned play.
After posting three top-five finishes in 2025, Keefer shot a 30-under par total of 254 (63-61-66-64) to capture his first professional title, the Veritex Bank Championship in Arlington, Texas two weekends ago. He vaulted to No 92 in the Official World Golf Ranking (now 93), but had no idea the significance of that ranking.
On Monday, the 24-year-old received an email inviting him to the 107th PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C. Keefer will tee off on Thursday, May 15 as Xander Schauffele attempts to defend his major title.
Keefer was unaware that his Top 100 ranking essentially ensured him an invitation to the second of golf's four majors in 2025.
The late-blooming Keefer needed every saved stroke of that 11th-place finish at the NCAA Championship to earn the final PGA Tour Americas card. He headed to Canada last summer, produced eight top-10 finishes and won the Fortinet Cup as the No 1 finisher in the points race. That earned him a promotion to the Korn Ferry Tour, where he has continued his dominant play.
Keefer ranks sixth on the tour in scrambling, ninth in total driving, 22nd in greens hit in regulation 26th in putting average.
Unsurprisingly, Keefer does not lack in confidence.
"I just watched Scottie (Scheffler) shoot 31 under on a pretty good course," Keefer told Golf Channel. "I know what No 1 in the world looks like. I know what Rory (McIlroy) looks like when he's on. But it doesn't really scare me. ... On any level, Korn Ferry, Americas, PGA Tour, signature events, major championships, good golf is going to play really well. I'm really excited to test myself against them and against a major championship course because obviously I've never played in one.
"Just go out there, try and have some fun, try and shoot some low numbers, and hopefully have a really late tee time on the weekend."