Name you need to know: Kevin Roy’s pleasant rise from medical sales to PGA Tour competitions originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Kevin Roy has been waiting for such a moment for a long time. Just as Saturday’s third round ended on TPC Deer Run, the 35-year-old found himself tied to 10th place with just four shots behind the leader heading into Sunday’s final round of the John Deere Classic.
For most PGA Tour professionals, such a position may feel everyday. For Roy, it represents the culmination of his journey as he has come to the depths of professional golf minor leagues, a detour into the corporate world and returning to the biggest stage of the sport.
Find his rhythm at 35
The numbers tell the story of players who hit his path at an age where many of his peers are considering retirement. Roy currently sits at 88th in the FedEx Cup rankings and has risen to 152nd in the world rankings.
“I feel more and more comfortable here,” Roy explained on Saturday evening. “I’ve really swung it around for the past few months and have recently started working with new putting coaches and have been working hard with the Greens, so it’s great to see me working on some repayments.”
The breakthrough moment came at Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit a week ago. There it opened with a stunning 62 where Roy tied the tournament records together. The round was highlighted by an eagle on the par 5 17th hole who appears to encapsulate both his improved play and the elements of destiny that often entails with players who have found his best form.
“Yeah, the 17-year-old Eagle was a bonus,” Roy recalled with a smile. “I had a 285 pin there and we hit a 5 wood, a 250-260 club, so I was very surprised it went longer than the green. I lied and knew that when I hit a high soft shot it would roll into the cup.
That magical moment helped drive Roy to a T-8 finish in Detroit. This is the second top 10 result of the season and fourth in his career. Just 49 PGA Tours have begun, and he has now doubled his top-10 finish career total.
A detour that saved his career
Roy’s motivation comes in part on a journey that almost ended before it really began. In 2017, Roy, who has grown his credit card debt and is unhappy with his poor playing days, made the difficult decision to leave professional golf. He got a job in medical sales, worked for Bellevue Country Club, and traded the uncertainty of tournament golf for the stability of his normal salary.
“I think it’s great for me to step in,” Roy recalled. “I was burned out from playing very poorly for a while, so credit card debt wasn’t very interesting either. A few months later I realized golf was something I wanted to do.
When he returned to professional golf, Roy approached it in a different way. “I focused on what it takes to be a great player. I went into the gym, started practicing with the ‘purpose’ and really worked on trying to become an elite golfer. ”
Follow in the footsteps of his father
That support system has been important throughout Roy’s career, especially from his father Jim, who competed in both the PGA Tour and the PGA Tour champions. Roy’s experience as an elder in professional golf has provided Kevin a unique perspective on the challenges and requirements of life on the tour.
“My dad was with me throughout my entire career, even when I ran away,” Kevin explained. “What he says is, whether it’s a professional golfer or in the corporate world, they just wanted the best one for you. He’s been through that and understands how difficult it can be to golf.
Father and son Bond was fully on display at the 2018 US Senior Open. Kevin served as his father’s caddy, providing a different perspective on professional games and reinforced his desire to compete at the highest level.
University connections and motivations
Roy’s college days at Long Beach State offered him front row seats in elite-level golf developments. He was a teammate of Xander Schauffele for a year and firsthand witnessed the work ethic and talent that ultimately propelled Schauffele to a major championship victory.
“I played with Xander in Long Beach for a year. We’re still in touch. “When Xander first played with him, I knew that Xander would become a stud. I was also motivated to continue to get better while I was on the mini-tour to play on the tour.”
Mental Game Breakthrough
This season, Roy’s statistics feature pictures of players who have found consistency across all aspects of the game. He ranks 69.36 on scoring average and 5th in par-4 scoring, reflecting both improved ball strikes and improved course management.
“My statistics are getting better and better,” Roy pointed out. “I would say that I need to improve mainly with wedges, short games and putting. So I’ve been focusing a lot on those areas.”
Mental coach Brian Cain’s mention highlights a often overlooked aspect of Roy’s transformation. Technical improvements have certainly played a role in his recent success, but the mental aspects of the game were just as important.
“I certainly struggled with confidence. Brian Cain has played a big role in making him believe in himself,” admitted Roy. Working with Cain helped Roy develop the mental fortitude needed to compete at the PGA Tour level. Here, the margin of error is a razor, and confidence is the difference between reduction and victory competition.
Looking ahead: Dreams within reach
As Roy is aiming for the rest of the 2025 season, his goals are practical and ambitious. Currently sitting at 88th in the FedEx Cup standings, he will need to finish in the top 100 to secure playing privileges the following season.
“The obvious goal is to finish the year within the top 100,” Roy effectively said. “But you know, I believe I can compete and win here, so I’m really trying to keep trying to do what I’ve been doing, working hard and see where it can take me. Honestly, I don’t feel pressured to do anything really good.
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 the tour, he finds a way to embrace the moment, while maintaining the hunger that brought him back to professional golf.
For a player currently facing similar struggles, Roy offers hard-earned wisdom born from his own experiences in the golf wilderness.
“I’ll tell them to continue following their dreams,” he said. “There are obstacles and there are many tough points on the journey, but achieving your goals and dreams makes every low point and challenging time much better.
Sunday Opportunities
As Sunday’s final round at TPC Deer Run approaches, Roy is in unfamiliar but welcome territory. There are four shots behind the leader playing on 18 holes, and he has a legitimate chance to win his first PGA Tour victory.
Whether he can fill the gap on Sunday or not, Roy is already accomplishing something more valuable. He has proven to himself and others that even if the road seems incredibly difficult, it is never too late to pursue your dreams.
At 35, when his best golf seems to still go ahead before him, Kevin Roy is living proof that sometimes the longest journey leads to the most rewarding destinations.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on July 6, 2025, and first appeared there.
