At 26, Ryan Gerard has emerged as a promising talent on the PGA Tour, relying on an unorthodox swing inspired by Ben Hogan and unwavering self-belief. His distinctive technique and early passion for golf have propelled him from local courses in North Carolina to competitive contention. Recent performances highlight his growing prowess amid challenges.
Ryan Gerard, a 26-year-old golfer, arrived at Riviera Country Club for his first appearance there, displaying the poise of a seasoned professional. Described as tall and lean, he practiced alongside established players like Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak, exuding confidence in his refined attire from Peter Millar and FootJoy.
Gerard's swing stands out for its abbreviated backswing, with the club laid off at the top and hands positioned outside but below his right shoulder. He once told Golf Digest, “I’ve been told my swing looks like Daniel Berger and Jon Rahm had an aneurysm on the downswing.” His longtime instructor, Carl Lohren, now 88, defends the action as natural, drawing parallels to Ben Hogan's technique observed at the 1964 Carling Open. Lohren stated, “Ryan’s swing is only different because I never changed his natural swing; I just made it fundamentally sound.” He emphasized that legends like Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, and Arnold Palmer all had unique, natural swings refined through practice.
Gerard's golf journey began early; at 15 months, his father Bob gifted him a putter, and by his second birthday, he declared, “I want to be a golfer when I grow up.” Growing up along the 15th fairway at Wildwood Green Golf Club in Raleigh, North Carolina, he honed his skills among neighborhood talents including Grayson Murray and Doc Redman. Bob, who played collegiately at Florida Atlantic University, connected Ryan with Lohren, who preserved his son's natural motion while strengthening fundamentals like setup and pre-shot routine.
In college at North Carolina, Gerard faced early setbacks, such as shooting 49 in his first qualifier, yet maintained bold confidence, earning the nickname "Golf Gerard." He became a two-time All-American, ranking fourth in career scoring average at 71.65. Professionally, his 2023 T-4 finish at the Honda Classic marked a breakthrough, leading to a PGA Tour card via the Korn Ferry Tour, where he won the BMW Charity Pro-Am in 2024. This year, he secured his first PGA Tour victory at the Barracuda Championship, finished No. 39 in the FedExCup, and reached world No. 26. Despite a T-28 at Riviera, where he ranked fourth in strokes gained approach, Gerard has earned nearly $2 million in five starts.
Now coached by Jason Baile at Jupiter Hills, Gerard focuses on improvements like putting, where he ranked No. 154 last season. He remains driven, stating, “The closer I get to being the best player in the world, the more I can taste it.” Upcoming events include the Honda Classic, Arnold Palmer Invitational, and The Players Championship.
