A Name You Should Know: Kevin Roy's Feel-Good Rise From Medical Sales to PGA Tour Contention
Kevin Roy has waited a long time for moments like these. As Saturday's third round concluded at TPC Deere Run, the 35-year-old found himself tied for 10th place, just four shots behind the leaders heading into Sunday's final round of the John Deere Classic.
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For most PGA Tour professionals, such a position might feel routine. For Roy, it represents the culmination of a journey that has taken him through the depths of professional golf's minor leagues, a detour into the corporate world and back to the biggest stage in the sport.
Finding His Rhythm at 35
The numbers tell the story of a player hitting his stride at an age when many of his peers are contemplating retirement. Roy currently sits 88th in the FedEx Cup standings and has climbed to 152nd in the world rankings — career-high marks that seemed almost unimaginable just a few years ago.
"I am just feeling more and more comfortable out here," Roy said Saturday evening. "I have been swinging it really well for the past few months, recently started working with a new putting coach, and have been working hard on the greens, so it's nice to see what I'm working on paying off some."
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The breakthrough moment came just one week ago at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit, where Roy opened with a stunning 62 that tied the tournament record. The round was highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 17th hole that seemed to encapsulate both his improved play and the element of fortune that often accompanies a player finding his best form.
"Yeah, that eagle on 17 was a bonus," Roy recalled with a smile. "I had 285 (yards to the) pin there and we hit a 5-wood, my 250-260 club, so I was very surprised that it went long over the green. I had a decent lie and knew that if I just hit a high soft shot, it would roll to the cup. Right when I hit it, I knew it was going to be a good shot. Obviously a bonus it went in."
That magical moment helped propel Roy to a T-8 finish in Detroit, his second top-10 result of the season and fourth of his career. In just 49 PGA Tour starts, he has now doubled his career total of top-10 finishes.
Kevin Roy, right, talks with his caddie during the second round of the Rocket Classic at the Detroit Golf Club on June 27, 2025.Credit: David Rodriguez Munoz / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Detour That Saved His Career
Roy's motivation stems partly from a journey that nearly ended before it truly began. In 2017, facing mounting credit card debt and frustrated by poor play, Roy made the difficult decision to step away from professional golf. He took a job in medical sales and worked at Bellevue Country Club, trading the uncertainty of tournament golf for the stability of a regular paycheck.
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"I do think stepping away was great for me," Roy reflected. "I was kind of burned out from playing so poorly for a while, and racking up credit card debt wasn't very fun either. I realized after a few months that golf is what I wanted to do, and I had the support from my family to give it another shot."
When he returned to professional golf, Roy approached it differently.
"I focused on what I needed to do to become a great player," he said. "I got into the gym, started practicing with a 'purpose' and really went all in on trying to become an elite golfer."
Following in His Father's Footsteps
That support system has been crucial throughout Roy's career, particularly from his father, Jim, who competed on both the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions. The elder Roy's experience in professional golf provided a unique perspective on the challenges and demands of life on tour.
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"My dad has been with me throughout my entire career, even when I stepped away," Kevin Roy said. "His words were, I just want whatever is best for you, whether that's playing pro golf or in the corporate world. He also understands how hard golf is, since he's been through it. The best advice he's ever given me was 'value par' and to become amazing from 150 yards and in."
The father-son bond was on full display at the 2018 U.S. Senior Open, where Roy served as his father's caddie, providing a different perspective on the professional game and reinforcing his desire to compete at the highest level.
College Connections and Motivation
Roy's college years at Long Beach State also provided him with a front-row seat to elite-level golf development. He was teammates with Xander Schauffele for one year, witnessing firsthand the work ethic and talent that would eventually propel Schauffele to major championship victories.
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"I played one year with Xander at Long Beach. We still keep in touch, yeah, and I'll see him occasionally out on tour," Roy said. "I knew Xander was going to be a stud the first time I ever played with him. It also got me motivated to get better and keep grinding while I was on the mini tours to get out there and play with him on tour."
The Mental Game Breakthrough
Roy's statistics this season paint the picture of a player who has found consistency across all aspects of his game. He ranks third on tour in scoring average at 69.36 and fifth in par-4 scoring, numbers that reflect both improved ball-striking and better course management.
"My stats have been getting better and better," Roy noted. "I would say I needed to improve mostly with my wedges, short game and putting, so I've been focusing a lot on those areas."
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The mention of mental coach Brian Cain highlights an often-overlooked aspect of Roy's transformation. While technical improvements have certainly played a role in his recent success, the mental side of the game has been equally important.
"I certainly struggled with self-belief. Brian Cain has been a huge part in getting me to believe in myself," Roy acknowledged.
The work with Cain has helped Roy develop the mental fortitude necessary to compete at the PGA Tour level, where the margin for error is razor-thin and confidence can be the difference between making cuts and contending for victories.
Looking Ahead: Dreams Within Reach
Roy's goals for the rest of the 2025 season are both practical and ambitious. Currently sitting 88th in the FedEx Cup standings, he needs to finish inside the top 100 to secure his playing privileges for the following season.
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"The obvious goal is to finish the year inside the top 100," Roy said. "But you know, I believe I can compete and win out here, so I'm just really going to keep trying to do what I have been doing, keep working hard and see where it can take me. I've got to be honest, I haven't really felt any pressure from playing good. I'm just really enjoying it and having fun."
That perspective — treating his current success as a bonus rather than a burden — may be the key to Roy's continued improvement. After years of struggling to establish himself on tour, he has found a way to embrace the moment while maintaining the hunger that drove him back to professional golf.
For players currently facing similar struggles, Roy offers hard-earned wisdom born from his own experiences in golf's wilderness years.
"I would tell them to keep chasing their dream," he said. "There will be obstacles, and the journey will have many tough and low points, but when you achieve your goal or fulfill a dream, it makes every low point and challenging time that much better. I'm living a dream playing on the PGA Tour."
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Kevin Roy during the second round of the Valspar Championship on March 22, 2024, in Palm Harbor, Florida.Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images
Sunday's Opportunity
As Sunday's final round approaches at TPC Deere Run, Roy finds himself in unfamiliar but welcome territory. Four shots behind the leaders with 18 holes to play, he has a legitimate chance to capture his first PGA Tour victory — an outcome that would cap one of the most unlikely and inspiring comeback stories in recent memory.
Whether or not he closes the gap on Sunday, Roy has already accomplished something perhaps more valuable: He has proved to himself and others that it's never too late to chase your dreams, even when the path seems impossibly difficult.
At 35, with his best golf seemingly still ahead of him, Kevin Roy is living proof that sometimes the longest journeys lead to the most rewarding destinations.
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Related: Gary Player Reflects on Royal Portrush's Return to The Open Championship
Related: A True American Story: LPGA Celebrates 75 Years
Related: Doug Ghim Reaps Rewards With a Remarkable Round at John Deere Classic
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
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