September 7, 2009 (UPDATED 9/8/09) –PGA Tour player Kevin Na is one of the latest in a long line of tour golfers to call Las Vegas home. Na, who moved to Las Vegas last September, has had a solid 2009 season on the PGA Tour, other than the 25-year old is still looking for his first PGA Tour victory. "I'm very satisfied with the way I've been playing this year," Na told the media following the third round of the Deutsche Bank Classic. "Eight Top 10s, that's great. That's probably close to what I've had all my life. Maybe a little less than before. But anyway, yeah, I think right now, the only thing missing in my resumé is a W. I think I'd take that W over eight Top 10s." Na practices at Las Vegas golf course TPC Las Vegas. Na fired a final round 71 and slipped to 11th and 23rd in the FedEx Cup points.
Na had fired rounds of 69-66-66 and was one shot out of the lead heading into the final round that was to be played on Labor Day over the 18 holes of the TPC Boston. Na was ranked 22nd in points in the FedEx Cup standings, but with a solid finish could move up. Steve Stricker, tied for the lead with Retief Goosen and Sean O' Hair, could move into first place in the season-long quest, overtaking Tiger Woods who was struggling with his putter. The top 30 players in FedEx Cup points move on to the TOUR Championship. Las Vegas golfers with a chance to earn a spot in the Tour championship are Charley Hoffman, Nick Watney, Na, and Ryan Moore, who needs to go seriously low in the final round to get there. This was confusing language in original article. Still to be played is the BMW Championship before the TOUR Championship. Las Vegas golfers still alive in the FedEx Cup are Watney, Na, Moore, and Chad Campbell. Any who make the TOUR Championship can win the FedEx Cup because there is a point re-shuffle.
Na moved to the Las Vegas area because his brother is attending grad school here, but said earlier this year that he enjoys playing and practicing in Las Vegas. "I like the golf course there," said Na. "The TPC at Summerlin is a great golf course. We have the Justin Timberlake tournament there. It's just a great place to practice. The Canyons, now called TPC Las Vegas, has a great driving range. They're both good golf courses, and that was a big reason why. And Vegas has a good airport where you can fly direct, also. I'm not much of a gambler, so that's one of the reasons why I can move there. If I was a gambler I probably wouldn't."
The TPC Las Vegas is referred to as the home of pro golf in Las Vegas. You never know who will be teeing it or practicing at this PGA Tour-owned Las Vegas golf course. Other Las Vegas golfers that join Na in playing TPC Las Vegas include Bill Lunde, Charley Hoffman, Alex Cejka, Bob May, Dean Wilson and many others. The TPC Las Vegas is a resort Las Vegas golf course.
Na is originally from South Korea, and turned professional at age 17. He is an accomplished golfer who has won on the Nationwide Tour and internationally. Na won the 2006 Mark Christopher Charity Classic Presented by County of San Bernardino on the Nationwide, and also the 2002 Volvo Masters on the European Tour. Reporters at this week's event have commented that he looks more comfortable in all phases.
"I think a little bit of everything, a lot more comfortable out there, hitting a little straighter, putting a little better," said Na, responding about his apparent calmness. "I've got a veteran caddie on my bag, Kenny Harms, and he's been a lot of help. That's probably making me feel more comfortable out there. A couple years I struggled after my injury, but I think my confidence is coming back, and I think that's the key. I think as soon as I get my first win, I think more will start coming." Na broke his hand in 2006, and then earlier this year battled some neck stiffness."