Michigan Pro Seeks First PGA Tour Win in Puerto Rico
GameAbove Sports sponsored golfer Brett White continues his inspiring journey to full PGA Tour status.
Grand Rapids, MI – Brett White has always been a goal-setter. One of his lifelong aspirations has been to make the PGA Tour. The 31-year-old Eastern Michigan University graduate has already experienced the thrill of competing at golf’s highest level twice before. This event presents another step towards his ultimate goal—securing a PGA Tour membership when he plays in the Puerto Rico Open March 6-9. “Playing on the PGA Tour is only part of the dream. I want to win and keep playing at the highest level,” says White.
White is one of six golfers sponsored and financially supported by GameAbove Sports. White says, “Without GameAbove, I would not have been able to keep playing the sport I love. Their financial support and unrelenting commitment to me has allowed me to focus on improving my game rather than worry about the challenging financial aspect of trying to reach the PGA Tour.”
Raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, White was a standout multi-sport athlete, earning three all-state selections in hockey and two in golf before taking his talents to Eastern Michigan University. His transition to the professional ranks was swift, finding early success on the PGA Tour Latinamerica. However, in 2017, he was stricken with viral encephalitis and missed the rest of the season. He was confined to a wheelchair and endured ten grueling weeks of physical therapy, relearning to walk before he could even consider returning to competition. With no medical exemption available, he lost his tour status and faced the challenges of starting over. Two years after his ordeal, White won the Nevada Open and used his story to inspire others, saying, “I tell my story to share the struggles and challenges many face. But just because you get dealt a bad hand doesn’t mean you give up. I’m thankful for every day and truly appreciate the opportunity to play the game I love so much.”
A right-hander who plays the game lefthanded, White will make his third career PGA Tour start, but first since 2023. White showcased his talents on golf’s biggest stage with an impressive tie for 13th place at the Sanderson Farms Championship in October 2023. He also earned a spot in the elevated field at the WM Phoenix Open, competing alongside some of the game’s top players.
He has played in over fifty PGA Tour-sanctioned events, including three on the PGA Tour Canada, four on the PGA Tour Latinoamerica, five on the PGA Tour of Americas, and nine on the Korn Ferry Tour.
Past winners of the Puerto Rico Open include Victor Hovland, ranked 14th in the world, who won in 2020; Tony Finau, who won the tournament in 2016 and owns six PGA Tour wins; and Alex Cejka, whose lone PGA victory came at this tournament in 2015.
GameAbove Sports, an advocate for sports and wellness, has continued to strengthen its local and national ties to golf. The organization has been associated with various initiatives that foster the growth of amateur, college, and professional golf and mental and physical health.
In 2024, GameAbove opened the GameAbove Golf Performance Center at Eagle Crest Golf Club, one of the top ten college golf courses according to the Golf Pass Golfers' Choice 2024. GameAbove committed an additional $6.5 million to Eastern Michigan University’s Men’s and Women’s Golf Programs, bringing the total financial support to $17.5 million over three years to help restore championship golf at EMU. Also, GameAbove named four EMU golfers as GameAbove Sports brand ambassadors.
Beyond college sports, GameAbove proudly supported the 2024 Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit and the Corby Classic in Toronto. Additionally, the group has invested significantly in Sports Travel Group, STG, to grow their Golf Traveller operations across North America.
In addition to White, GameAbove Sports sponsors five other professional golfers, including Josh Anderson, Michael Blair, Beau Breault, Cam Kellett, and Kyle Rodes.
For the latest news and updates on GameAbove Sports investments and partnerships, visit GameAboveSports.com.