Jay Don Blake to make 500th PGA start at Black Desert

Jay Don Blake will reach a milestone in his career as he makes his 500th appearance on the PGA Tour at the inaugural Black Desert Championship in Ivins, Utah.

The 65-year-old golfer received a sponsor's exemption in May to compete in the first tour event held in his home state since 1963.

\"I'm extremely excited for this opportunity,\" Blake shared with reporters at the Black Desert Resort on Wednesday. \"I can't wait to get out there and compete.\"

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Having grown up in nearby St. George, Utah and playing collegiate golf at Utah State, Blake turned professional in 1981 and joined the PGA Tour in 1987.

\"I may have stood on this same spot as a young kid,\" Blake reflected. \"I used to come up to this valley and there was nothing here except lava rock, sagebrush, and a few rabbits that I would chase around.\"

The 7,371-yard, par-71 course was designed by the late Tom Weiskopf and was completed in December 2022.

Blake is relying on his experience to keep up with the \"big hitters\" in the field.

\"I'm excited and confident that my knowledge of the course can outsmart and outplay those young players,\" he stated.

Blake's only PGA Tour victory came at Torrey Pines in 1991. He also has three wins on the Champions Tour, including the 2011 Charles Schwab Cup Championship.

His highest world ranking was No. 63 in June 1992, and his best finish in a major was a tie for sixth at the 1992 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. According to Golfweek, he has earned over $10 million throughout his career.

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Blake's most recent PGA Tour appearance was at the 2018 Barracuda Championship, and he competed in two events on the Champions Tour last season.

In addition to his 500 PGA Tour starts, Blake estimated that he has played in \"230-something\" events on the Champions Tour.

\"Golf has been my life. It's a fantastic game,\" he expressed. \"You can play it at any age and still love it. I'm 65 and I've played with 80-year-olds who still love the game. You can start playing at 12 years old and love it. That's the beauty of golf, it's a game for all ages. I'm proud to have had such a long and successful career and to reach my 500th start.\"