Does the name Jhonattan Vegas ring a bell? If not, you might want to keep an eye on his scores at the PGA Championship, as he’s turning Quail Hollow into his playground—who knew the underdog had such a powerful swing? The Venezuelan golfer remains in the lead after shooting 1-under-par 70 in the second round on Friday. While many players hadn’t even started their rounds yet, Vegas built on his strong performance from the day before. The result? He heads into the weekend with a total score of 8-under 134. However, despite showcasing such smooth skills at Quail Hollow, he hasn’t had an easy journey.
Jhonattan Vegas may be hitting it strong at Quail Hollow, but his journey to this point has been difficult. In 2013, for instance, he underwent surgery on his left shoulder. Reflecting on his return to the game, a confident Vegas said, “I feel like I had to put an end to this problem because it was affecting my game.” The results have come slowly, but they are finally here, even if Jhonattan Vegas feels bitterness at the thought of so many missed years.
Vegas recently sat down for a post-round interview at Quail Hollow wherein he was asked, “How hard has it been to watch majors at home?” over these years. He replied, “It’s definitely been annoying. It’s been very, very annoying, especially knowing I have the game to compete in these big events. I feel like my game is very complete, but I just haven’t been able to put it all together in a major. I think I’ve been patient enough to not really get too down on myself for not playing well at majors. I’ve played well at THE PLAYERS. I’ve played well at some good, big tournaments, but never a major, right?”
Vegas’ previous career-low round in a major was the 67 he shot in the final round of the 2016 PGA Championship. You see, from 2012 to 2015, Vegas did not compete in any major tournament. He did play in one in 2016, the Open, and ended up finishing 22nd. His performance on Thursday marked just the sixth time he shot in the 60s in his major attempts. This week is the first time he has posted back-to-back under-par rounds in a major, despite a double bogey in the final round on Friday. It’s also the first time in nine years he has been under par at the halfway point of a major. In his previous major starts, Vegas has never finished higher than tied for 22nd, largely due to his injuries.
Jhonattan Vegas faced significant challenges during the 2022-23 season, missing most of it due to elbow and shoulder injuries. Despite these setbacks, he won the 3M Open (his fourth title on the Tour btw and first in seven years after struggling with injuries) last year while on a medical exemption, ending a seven-year win drought on the PGA Tour. At the start of 2022, he struggled with elbow pain, which an MRI revealed was due to a piece of bone stuck in the joint, leading to surgery. He admitted he might have returned too soon and played through the pain. His issues continued with shoulder inflammation, which required surgery in May 2023.
Despite this particular track record, Vegas is playing a full major calendar for the first time since 2018. Elias Sports reports that he could become only the fourth player ranked 50th or higher in the world—Vegas is currently ranked No. 70—to take the outright lead in the first two rounds of a major. Will fate finally work in Vegas’s favor? Well, that would be interesting to see.
However, his journey to this point hasn’t been easy.
Jhonattan Vegas’s journey to the 2025 PGA Championship wasn’t easy
Talking at Quail Hollow, Vegas, who hopes to build on becoming the first Venezuelan in history to lead a men’s or women’s major, said, “You’ve got to keep the pedal down, keep your head down, and keep working hard. You never know when things are going to turn your way. I’m enjoying the process and just have to keep going.”
The fact that Vegas is in this position highlights his strong work ethic and a bit of luck. His life story deserves a book or movie; he’s not a typical country-club kid. Growing up in Venezuela, he developed a love for golf in a country that wasn’t a traditional golf hub. After signing a petition for a recall election, his father faced persecution from the dictatorial President Hugo Chávez. As Chávez shut down golf courses, Vegas’ family struggled financially, which led them to send him to Houston for better opportunities. He attended the University of Texas, turned pro in 2008, and won his first PGA Tour event in January 2011. Then, as we saw earlier, injuries marred his career.
The 40-year-old began his season with a fourth-place finish at The Sentry but struggled afterward, missing the cut in four of his next eight starts, including The Players and The Masters. He tied for 13th at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, a performance he called “the most comfortable I felt all year,” and carried that positive momentum into the second men’s major of the year. Hopefully, it will get better from here on for Vegas.
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