José de Jesús Rodríguez

José de Jesús Rodríguez Martínez (born 22 January 1981) is a Mexican professional golfer who currently plays on the Korn Ferry Tour. Rodríguez has previously played on the PGA Tour, PGA Tour Canada, PGA Tour Latinoamérica, and the Tour de las Américas.[1][2][3]

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Rodríguez and the second or maternal family name is Martínez.
José de Jesús Rodríguez
Personal information
Full nameJosé de Jesús Rodríguez Martínez
Nickname"Camarón" (Shrimp)[1]
Born (1981-01-22) 22 January 1981
Irapuato, Mexico
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight188 lb (85 kg; 13.4 st)
Nationality Mexico
ResidenceIrapuato, Mexico
SpouseBianca González (m. 2004)
ChildrenXimena, José de Jesús Jr.
Career
Turned professional2007
Current tour(s)Korn Ferry Tour
Former tour(s)PGA Tour Latinoamérica
PGA Tour Canada
PGA Tour
Professional wins21
Number of wins by tour
Korn Ferry Tour1
Other20
Achievements and awards
PGA Tour Latinoamérica
Order of Merit winner		2017

Background

Rodríguez grew up in poverty in Irapuato, Mexico. He was one of seven siblings who slept shoulder-to-shoulder on the dirt floor of their one-room, bathroom-less adobe home. At the age of 12, he dropped out of school and began caddying full-time at Club de Golf Santa Margarita. That club is where he learned to golf. At the age of 15, Rodríguez crossed into the United States illegally by crossing the Rio Grande river. He worked in the U.S. for 10 years, mostly at a country club in Fayetteville, Arkansas as part of the maintenance crew. He worked six or seven days per week and did not have the time or money to golf.

Rodríguez sent most of his pay home to Irapuato, allowing his parents to build two homes on their piece of property. In 2006, at the age of 26, he returned to Irapuato, Mexico and began caddying again at Club de Golf Santa Margarita. Rodríguez ultimately met Alfonso Vallejo Esquivel, a wealthy club member, who saw his talent and offered to buy Rodríguez a membership at the course. Esquivel ultimately staked Rodríguez and allowed him to get his start as a pro golfer on the Mexican Tour in 2007.[4]

Rodríguez's nickname is Camarón (shrimp), because despite his complexion, his cheeks redden in the sun.[4]

Professional career

Rodríguez turned professional in 2007 and mainly played on the Mexican Tour during 2008, although he did make three starts on the Canadian Tour making the cut in all three. He achieved his first professional win in 2008 winning the event hosted in Puebla on the Mexican Tour.

In 2009, Rodríguez played an increased schedule on the Canadian Tour but failed to record a win in any events during the season.[5] His form on the Canadian Tour improved in 2010 where, despite a winless season, he achieved three top-three finishes in just eight starts.[6] His good form in 2010 was also apparent on the Mexican Tour in 2010 where he achieved four victories.[1]

2011 was a very successful season for Rodríguez on the Canadian Tour the where he won consecutive events at the Mexican PGA Championship and Times Colonist Island Savings Open and went on to win the Tour's Order of Merit.[3] During the 2011 season, Rodríguez also won two events on the Mexican Tour taking him to a total of four wins for the season.[1]

In 2012, Rodríguez was granted membership on the inaugural season of PGA Tour Latinoamérica though his performances on the Mexican Tour and also played a reduced schedule on PGA Tour Canada. Despite not winning on either of the two development tours Rodríguez was able to win another two events on the Mexican Tour during 2012.[1]

In 2013, Rodríguez predominantly played on PGA Tour Latinoamérica and achieved his first victory at the Roberto De Vicenzo Invitational Copa NEC[7] which was quickly followed up with a second victory at the Arturo Calle Colombian Classic.[8] These two victories helped Rodríguez to a second place finish on the Tour's Order of Merit for 2013 which earned his playing card for the Web.com Tour in 2014. During 2013, Rodríguez achieved a further four wins on the Mexican Tour taking his career haul to a record of 13 wins on the tour.[1]

Rodríguez had two wins on the PGA Tour Latinoamérica in 2017 and led the tour's Order of Merit, earning him a return to the Web.com Tour for 2018, this time with full status.

In April 2018, Rodríguez won the Web.com Tour United Leasing & Finance Championship. He ended the 2018 season with enough money to qualify for the 2019 PGA Tour. He made three of his first five cuts on the PGA Tour during the 2019 season, but finished the season 177th in the points list, necessitating a return to the Korn Ferry Tour for its 2020 season.

Professional wins (21)

Web.com Tour wins (1)
No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory		 Runner-up
1 29 Apr 2018 United Leasing & Finance Championship −6 (69-73-70-70=282) 1 stroke Wyndham Clark

PGA Tour Latinoamérica wins (4)
No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up
1 28 Apr 2013 Roberto De Vicenzo Invitational Copa NEC −17 (71-66-66-68=271) Playoff Timothy O'Neal, Sebastian Saavedra
2 3 Nov 2013 Arturo Calle Colombian Classic −14 (67-73-65-65=270) Playoff Manuel Villegas
3 19 Feb 2017 Avianca Colombia Open −15 (70-68-67-64=269) 2 strokes Nicolás Echavarría
4 20 Aug 2017 Abierto del Paraguay-Copa NEC −11 (68-69-67-73=277) 4 strokes Kelvin Day

Canadian Tour wins (2)
No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory		 Runner-up
1 8 May 2011 Mexican PGA Championship −14 (67-71-69-67=274) Playoff Roger Sloan
2 5 Jun 2011 Times Colonist Island Savings Open −13 (70-67-64-66=267) 2 Strokes Wes Homan

Mexican Tour wins (14)
  • 2008 Puebla
  • 2010 Guadalajara, Mazatlan, Puebla, Mexico City
  • 2011 Guadalajara, Torreon
  • 2012 Yucatan, Monterrey
  • 2013 Yucatan, Veracruz, San Luis Potosi, Chihuahua
  • 2018 Queretaro

Team appearances

Professional

See also

References
  1. "José de Jesús Rodríguez – Player Profile". PGA Tour Latinoamérica. Archived from the original on April 6, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  2. "Web.com Tour – Player Profile". PGA Tour. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  3. "PGA Tour Canada – Player Profile". PGA Tour. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  4. Shipnuck, Alan (8 January 2019). "'The most unbelievable story in golf': A treacherous border crossing was just the beginning of José de Jesús Rodríguez's journey to the PGA Tour". Golf.com. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  5. "PGA Tour Canada – José de Jesús Rodríguez (2009)". PGA Tour. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  6. "PGA Tour Canada – José de Jesús Rodríguez (2010)". PGA Tour. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  7. ""Camarón" Rodríguez finally has his day to celebrate on Tour". PGA Tour. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  8. "Rodríguez claims second playoff win, extends lead as Tour No. 1". PGA Tour. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
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