Tony Romo is going to be playing a home game for his second career PGA Tour start.
The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current CBS football analyst accepted a sponsor’s exemption into the AT&T Byron Nelson, which will take place the week prior to the PGA Championship, May 9-12 at Romo’s home course, Trinity Forest Golf Club.
“We’ve talked about it for years,” Jon Drago, the Nelson’s tournament director, told The Dallas Morning News. “He’s tried to qualify for some of them, has had conflicts with football. Now we’re playing at Trinity Forest, his home course, and he’s not playing football. The timing just felt right this year.”
“Golf is one of my greatest passions outside my family and football, and I am honored to have the opportunity to compete amongst the pros again in this year’s AT&T Byron Nelson,” Romo said in a statement released by the event.
Romo has tried to qualify into the field in year’s past, but failed to do so. He’s also showed off his golf acumen last year when he advanced out of the preliminary stage of Web.com Tour qualifying school. He’s attempted to qualify for various other USGA events as well.
The Nelson will be Romo’s second PGA Tour start. His first came a year ago at the Corales Punta Cana Resort & Club Championship, where he shot rounds of 77-82 to miss the cut.
Since then, Romo has captured a title at the American Century Championship as well as lifted the trophy at the Racine Tri-Course Amateur Championship in a nine-shot victory.
Most recently, Romo wowed crowds at the AT&T Pebble Beach alongside Jim Furyk, thanks to an incredible up-and-down from a hospitality tent.
This shot from @TonyRomo is INCREDIBLE. ?#LiveUnderPar ? pic.twitter.com/2fSWZCFXtF
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 8, 2019
Romo will be joined by a world-class field at the Nelson, which is expected to include fellow Dallas native and AT&T brand ambassador Jordan Spieth as well as defending champion Aaron Wise.
