Harold Varner III

2022 - 4 - 8

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Image courtesy of "Winston-Salem Journal"

Masters rookie Harold Varner III holding his own after two rounds at ... (Winston-Salem Journal)

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Harold Varner III isn't going to let the big stage of the Masters get in the way of him having fun at Augusta National Golf Club.

I just saw my dad for the first time just now and he doesn’t like to watch,” Varner said. It was Varner’s second international win and while he’s contended in several PGA Tour tournaments through the years including the Wyndham Championship, he has yet to breakthrough on the PGA Tour. This is my first Masters and I was so pumped when Harold was coming so this is a special day for me.” On Friday in the second round Varner was at his effervescent best as he talked for 18 holes in between his shots. As for this weekend Varner said not a lot will change. “That's what I want. Sporting an ECU purple hat and quarter zip pullover with ECU colors he was having a great time following every one of Varner’s shots. “Hell yeah, that’s what I want,” he said. His parents and grandfather were out among the patrons watching Varner play. He’s at 2 under through 36 holes as the windy conditions took center stage in Friday’s second round. His reply was perfect: “Nothing. No one is going to die. He was asked on Thursday after his first round if anything out here bothered him.

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Image courtesy of "WITN"

Former ECU golfer Varner III is in the top five at The Masters (WITN)

HV3 shoots 1 under par, 71 for second straight round.

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - Former ECU golfer Harold Varner III is in the hunt at the Masters after completing 36 holes. His debut at the Augusta National tournament has been strong. Former ECU golfer Varner III is in the top five at The Masters

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Image courtesy of "GolfDigest.com"

Masters 2022: The superstition that Harold Varner III has working so ... (GolfDigest.com)

Harold Varner III is making his debut at Augusta, but he's trying to treat this week's major like he does other PGA Tour events.

He carries with him the philosophy that “winning breeds winning” into the final two rounds and indicated that he hasn’t been interested in just hanging around to smell the azaleas. “I like doing that at regular tournaments, and I've only been in the locker room once to see if some shoes showed up, and I have to go back again. He is going to throw up on me, and it's going to be great.”

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Image courtesy of "Gaston Gazette"

In contention at 2022 Masters, Harold Varner III might have new ... (Gaston Gazette)

Gastonia native Harold Varner III discussed golfing with Michael Jordan, advice from Tiger Woods and the possibility of wearing a green jacket.

I just want to have a chance to win.” You just hold (my son), and you’re like, he doesn’t give a (expletive) if I have a green jacket or a gold jacket.” … I just want to keep doing what I’m doing. “He said, since I haven’t won, I’ve got to give him eight shots,” said Varner, a Jordan Brand athlete. Advice from Woods, a five-time Masters champion, helped him in that area. But I’ve gotten better at just understanding that I can play with anyone, and we’re doing that every time.”

Steve Hummer: Harold Varner proves he belongs among the ... (Oil City Derrick)

AUGUSTA, Ga. — When it comes time, when the world is watching and his golf matters most, Harold Varner will decide what kind of symbol he'll be.

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Image courtesy of "Charlotte Observer"

At the Masters, Harold Varner makes an improbable charge into ... (Charlotte Observer)

Where is Harold Varner from? The latest score on the North Carolina golfer and ECU grad playing at 2022 Masters golf tournament at Augusta National in ...

“I think winning breeds winning,” he said. “You’re not going to hit it to the right and have a good shot to chip it in,” he said. Like, every time I play, I feel like I’m getting close and I’m going to build on that. “I knew, if I hit it to the left, I could chip it up there and have an easy par. “I just want to keep on doing what I’m doing. “The best experience is playing well,” he said.

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Image courtesy of "The Washington Post"

Column: Faint signs of progress at the home of the Masters (The Washington Post)

AUGUSTA, Ga. — The only color Harold Varner III was focused on at his first Masters was red. And maybe, if he let his mind wander just a bit, ...

It’s understandable that Varner wants to be known as more than a Black golfer. The PGA of America had a repulsive “Caucasian-only” rule until 1961. And Woods, in his first competitive tournament since a devastating car wreck 14 months ago, advanced to the weekend after an electrifying opening round. “I was messing with my caddie,” he said. It’s not going to be the color of their skin that’s going to get them here. Woods remains the only Black golfer to win a major championship. “Our culture is better,” Ridley said, sounding almost apologetic that it took so long. Varner hopes that his Masters debut will help to break down some of those barriers. If they’re white, I’m going to help them.” “I would hope to see more, but it’s going to be up to that person. If they’re Black, I’m going to help them. A quarter-century removed from Woods’ historic first Masters victory, there are still far too few Black players in golf’s pipeline.

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Image courtesy of "New York Post"

Harold Varner III on inspiring journey to contention in first Masters (New York Post)

AUGUSTA, Ga. — His son had just made himself a weekend contender in his very first Masters when Harold Varner Jr., a 70-year-old man built like a 1-iron,...

Harold Jr. was too nervous to watch his son putt Friday, so he made sure to repeatedly walk ahead to the next tee box when Harold III was on the green. Varner unraveled the last time he had a shot at winning a major, shooting 81 on the final day of the 2019 PGA Championship. But that was then and this is now. A car salesman, Harold Jr. would drop off his son at the course on the way to the dealership early in the morning, and Patricia would pick him up at night. As an everyman role model, a 5-foot-8 golfer with a heavyweight’s game, Varner put himself in position to qualify for the Masters by winning the Saudi Invitational in February with a 92-foot putt for eagle on the final hole. I would hope I’d carry myself in a way where they would want to be as close to the profession as they could. “Tiger told me the greatest thing,” Varner said. Harold III started learning the game at Good Park, a city course in Akron, Ohio, before his family moved to Gastonia, N.C., where a $100 pass earned him a play-all-you-want junior membership at the municipal course. I think a lot of times in the black community, it’s more about the economic issues. Harold Jr., once a six-handicap, was the one who taught Harold III the game. At age 12, Harold III set a goal of beating his father by 20 strokes. “I would hope [representing] kids that just don’t have access would be my number one thing,” he said Friday. “If a black kid or white kid wants to be like me, I think that would be an inspirational thing. Harold Jr. would replace Harold III’s plastic clubs with a sawed-down 8-iron.

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