Ex-Hog cashes in at bank, on course

Former Arkansas Razorback David Lingmerth earned $1.12 million with last week’s victory at the Memorial Tournament.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Former University of Arkansas golfer David Lingmerth pocketed a $1.12 million check and plenty of other perks Sunday after earning his first PGA Tour victory.

Lingmerth, 27, defeated Justin Rose in a three-hold playoff to win the Memorial Tournament. But the lucrative victory didn't change the fact that he had an early tee time for 36 holes of U.S. Open qualifying the next day.

David Lingmerth glance

PROFESSION PGA Tour golfer

AGE 27

COLLEGE University of Arkansas (2007-09)

HOMETOWN Tranas, Sweden

RESIDENCE Jacksonville Beach, Fla.

FAMILY Wife: Megan.

CAREER EVENTS/CUTS 68/35

NOTEWORTHY Won his first PGA Tour event, the Memorial Tournament, last weekend. … Had two previous runner-up finishes in 2013. … Has six top-10 and 16 top-25 finishes. … His $1.12 million payday for winning the Memorial brought his 2015 earnings to $1.624 million and his career earnings to $4.04 million. Was a two-time All-American at Arkansas before beginning his professional career on the Web.com Tour in 2011-12 and earning his PGA card for 2013.

"I got two hours sleep and tried to qualify for the U.S. Open," said Lingmerth, whose paycheck from the Memorial accounted for more than a quarter of his career earnings. "It's been kind of crazy. The day after was a little bit different than many other tour winners the day after a win."

Lingmerth failed to qualify for the U.S. Open field, but he isn't complaining. After five years of scrambling to make tournaments, including a period where he had to reacquire his PGA Tour card, the native of Tranas, Sweden, has put his career on solid footing with his victory at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio.

The Memorial came with a three-year exemption on the PGA Tour, a year longer than most victories, and lots of other invitations.

"I get to play at the World Golf Championship in Akron and I get to play the PGA Championship ... and the FedEx Cup and obviously the Masters next year," said Lingmerth, who isn't playing this weekend at the FedEx St. Jude Classic in Memphis. "Those are some of the tournaments I'm really looking forward to. I'm looking forward to the three-year exemption, and my job security is a lot better than it was the week before this last tournament."

Lingmerth, the No. 2 player on Arkansas' NCAA runner-up team in 2009, moved up to No. 28 in the FedEx Cup rankings and No. 71 in the World Golf Rankings. He shot 12 under through two rounds and played in the final group Saturday, but a par 72 on that day dropped him three shots behind Justin Rose going into the final day.

"I had a rough patch at the beginning of the back nine [on Saturday]," Lingmerth said. "Then I was able to fight back and put myself in situation where with a good round on Sunday I'd have a chance.

"I learned a lot that Saturday, and on Sunday everything just felt a lot better because I knew mentally I thought I had what it took to be able to maybe chase down Justin, and luckily it went that way."

Lingmerth's previous best finish was a second-place showing at the 2013 Players Championship. Lingmerth, who did not make a PGA field in 2010-2012, played in 23 tour events in 2013, 26 in 2014 and 19 so far this year.

His big payday at the Memorial took his career earnings to $4.05 million.

"It's nice to be able to play for the amount of money we play for every week on the PGA Tour and the FedEx Cup, but that's not really what's driving us," Lingmerth said. "We want to go there to chase the titles, and the honor of it is winning at these events. But obviously that was a nice little bonus to have."

Lingmerth said he received dozens of congratulatory texts and calls from well-wishers in Fayetteville and back home in Sweden.

"It's nice to hear from all the Hogs fans, and I appreciate the support," he said. "It's been very overwhelming. I'm happy to have so many good people around me."

Lingmerth will have little time to savor the victory with his wife, Megan. His next event is the Travelers Championship on June 25-28 in Cromwell, Conn., followed by The Greenbrier Class the following weekend in West Virginia.

"To get that first win is kind of a surreal feeling," Lingmerth said. "I really want to get that back, so I'm ready to go chase some other tournaments now."

Sports on 06/12/2015