Michigan Golf Journal August 2019

Michigan Golf Journal ichigan Man on Tour Brehm’s former boss at MSU, current head coach Casey Lubahn, said he sees positive changes that should bode well for the 33-year-old, including a cool and collected Brehm who did not panic when he blew a 2-shot lead on the 18 th hole at LECOM to force the playoff with Tim Wilkinson – which also earned Brehm a Twitter shout out from Hall of Fame golfer Gary Player. “Ryan has really found a new level of peace and personal contentment these days,” Lubahn said. “He understands that he needs to be who he is on and off the golf course to succeed out there, and I have all the confidence in the world he will be on tour for a long time.  In 2017, I think he really tried too hard in some ways and that wore him out as the weekend came around.  He is plenty capable to play with the best players in the world and he believes that more now than ever.” Since the growth of the former Nationwide Tour, former Web.com Tour and now Korn Ferry Tour into the tour that’s arguably much closer in talent to the PGA Tour than other ‘developmental’ leagues in other major sports – both Brehm and fellow Michigander Joey Garber agree that it’s a razor-thin line between the two. “Look what’s going on with the shuffling back and forth (between the two Tours), and the players who just graduate and are ready to get the job done,” Brehm said. “But, there’s only room for so many on the PGA Tour level. It’s cut- throat to get there, and when you’re there it’s even more cutthroat. There’s just so many capable players.” And Brehm is certainly proving he is one of them. Ryan Brehm in the Michigan Open Credit: Greg Johnson