I got a hole-in-one at the US Open, now I’m a pilot and on my fifth career since shock fourth place finish 12 years ago
JOHN PETERSON’S achieved every golfer’s dream with his memorable hole-in-one on his major debut.
But his life ever since has been anything but straightforward - with five times as many jobs as shots on that par-three 13th.
A NCAA collegiate champion golfer, Peterson went pro in 2011.
And his performances on the Korn Ferry Tour led to the Texan qualifying for the 2012US Open.
Peterson, who turned 35 in April 2024, birdied three of the first five holes and ended up carding a one-over-par opening round of 71 then backed it up with a 70 on the Friday.
That was not only enough to make the cut at the Olympic Club in San Francisco at his very first major, but he went into the weekend in a tie for fourth.
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His third round had been tough going, dropping four bogeys, when he stepped up to the tee box on the 13th and his life changed forever.
Peterson got the 7-iron out of his bag for the 180-yard hole.
And he watched on as his sweet swing sent the ball hurtling towards the green, pitching in front before rolling up to the pin and disappearing into the cup.
Unsurprisingly, the magic moment sparked wild scenes as Peterson celebrated with his caddie as well as playing partner and mentor David Toms.
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Peterson said: “I was in the second last group.Tiger Woodsand Jim Furyk were playing great in the last group.
“Imade a hole-in-oneon 13. I lose my mind, go crazy, throw my club in air.
“The thing I remember after losing my mind and started walking was someone ran out of the crowd under the rope and it was my dad.
“I told security it was alright so I got to celebrate with my dad, it was pretty awesome.”
The epic shot took him back to +3 - and that was the score he finished on at the end of Sunday as the then-23-year-old finished T4, just two shots behind champion Webb Simpson.
Ahead of the 2024 US Open at Pinehurst,Peterson shared the video of his favourite shot - racking up more than a million views on X - and gave an insight into what has happened in the 12 years since.
The Fort Worth native wrote: “12 years, 30 pounds, 4 kids, one wife and 5 occupations later it still doesn’t feel like I did that. Welcome to the greatest week in golf, happy @usopengolf week.”
Peterson’s impressive US Open earned him a spot at the 2013 Masters and US Open - finishing 60th and T67 respectively - and he collected his solo professional win at the Coco-Cola Walmart Open on the Adams Tour.
He initially retired from thePGA Tourin October 2018 - but returned professionally just six months later after seeing Woods and Patrick Catlay at the Masters.
But with £1.72million in career earnings from golf, he was not prepared to stop working.
According to hisLinkedInprofile, during that time away from the game, Peterson invested in Remarkable Health, worked in ticket office sales at his former college, Louisiana State University, and was a partner at Almost Brother, a domestic liability company.
The golfer - who stopped playing professionally again in June 2022 - was also executive account manager at GT Manufacturing from November 2018 to November 2023.
Speaking onThe Fort podcastin 2018, Peterson said: “I’ve been a passive investor in a few things over the last three of four years, mainly through relationships in golf.
“I had access to the top people in the field all the time, these CEO guys only feel uncomfortable on the golf course - I played Pro-Ams with some very influential people.
“One of the companies runs a behavioural health software.
“Recently my brother-in-law and I invested in an oil field drill bit company and I’m going to take a sales role.
“We sell the bit that goes in the ground from $5,000 a bit to $90,000 a bit. For each hole, you need four or five of these. Some of those contracts are $250,000 for one hole.”
Peterson also spent nearly three years as a co-host of the Fore The People Podcast.
And he still has three jobs on the go.
His managing partner role at estate agents Double Eagle Realty and his ownership of RePete Farm and Ranch, though, appear to require less hours than his hands-on gig as the owner of a garage firm.
Westoplex Garage launched in 2023 with the business offering various maintenance, transformations and installation services.
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The company website says: “Peterson, A former PGA Tour player had a simple garage issue and was frustrated with the vastly different quotes and seemingly dishonest prices of the companies that came out to quote the job.
“This sparked a desire to form Westoplex Garage in the fall of 2023. At Westoplex, we aim to be the most transparent, honest and reputable garage service company in North Texas.”
Away from work, Peterson certainly has his hands full, too.
He is married to wife Amanda and the couple have four children together - two boys and two girls.
And as if he had any free time, Peterson is also a qualified pilot.
The former golf star got his instrument rating - enabling him to fly solo - in February 2023 and is now targeting his commercial licence.
He added on The Fort pod, when the couple were expecting their second child: “I love being a dad, it’s been really nice with the career change to be around my son and wife every day.
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“I get every day all day with them. That’s the big reason I stopped playing professional golf. I loved the competition, I hated the travel and time away from home.
“I see my grandad every Wednesday for dinner, when I was on tour I saw him once a quarter.”
