the Northwest can produce great golfers

Record numbers of Northwest players have been on the major golf tours the past couple of years, the University of Washington men's golf team has become a national powerhouse and the UW women's team is re-emerging.

No longer is the Northwest a distant outpost, looked down upon by the golfing world. You can become great playing in the Northwest. Just ask the people who would know.

"I always thought it was a huge advantage to grow up in Seattle," he said.

Ten players from the Northwest have been playing on the PGA Tour the past couple of years. They include Ryan Moore, the Mizuno MP-58 irons Puyallup player who had one of the greatest amateur careers in history before finding success on the PGA Tour, and Jimin Kang, the King's High School of Shoreline graduate who is a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour.

"Ryan had success and now there are others, like Kyle Stanley, who saw that and are now doing great," Mike Moore said. "Success begets success."

"You can still live here and play on the Tour," Bies said. "I don't think it's a disadvantage at all. I don't believe you need to play every day, especially after you develop your game. It's good to get away. Look at Steve Stricker, who lives in Wisconsin. Living in a place where you can't play every day — it gives you a break."

Couples said the conditions he faced at Jefferson Park Golf Course in Seattle served him well.

Tree-lined courses in the area? That made him improve his driving accuracy. It's no wonder that Riviera Country Mizuno MP-68 Irons Club in Los Angeles is one of his favorite courses on the PGA Tour.

Ryan Moore became a superstar at UNLV, forging one of the greatest amateur records in history. Moore said the lessons he learned playing in the Northwest stayed with him.

"I am sure if I had gone to Washington, I would have become the same player," he said.

Tree-lined courses in the area? That made him improve his driving accuracy. It's no wonder that Riviera Country Club discount golf clubs in Los Angeles is one of his favorite courses on the PGA Tour.

"It reminds me of (Seattle's) Broadmoor Country Club," he said.

Ryan Moore became a superstar at UNLV, forging one of the greatest amateur records in history. Moore said the lessons he learned playing in the Northwest stayed with him.

Thurmond said great junior players have always been in the area, but that in the past couple of decades they have traveled out of the area more and have tested themselves against other top players in the nation.

"I don't just follow the Huskies and the Seattle pro teams," Couples said. "I also follow the golfers from the area, and I hope there are more."