by Greg Johnson | The Grand Rapids Press

Ada’s Andy Matthews will play on the PGA Tour this weekend in The Honda Classic at PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Matthews, a Canadian PGA Tour player, outlasted five other golfers in a sudden-death playoff to earn a spot via Monday qualifying for the $5.6 million event to be played Thursday through Sunday on the Champions Course.

It will be the fifth PGA Tour event for Matthews, who turned 30 and in December narrowly missed making the final stage of the PGA Tour’s qualifying tournament.

Matthews made an eagle-3 to close his regulation 3-under-par 68 at The Fox Club on Monday, then birdied the first playoff hole and made par on the second hole to win in a six-way playoff for the final two spots.

Y.E. Yang is defending champion in a field that also will include Ernie Els and Padraig Harrington.

Matthews, a former Michigan Amateur champion and seventh-year pro, has played in the Buick Open twice, the Puerto Rico Open last year and the 2007 U.S. Open on the PGA Tour.

He had a top finish of second (falling in a playoff) last year on the Canadian Tour.

For the second consecutive year, Matthews will play select events on the Canadian Tour while often attempting Monday qualifiers on both the Nationwide and PGA Tour. Four final spots are decided in Monday play at regular PGA and Nationwide events.

by Greg Johnson | The Grand Rapids Press

Instead of an additional hour attacking a pyramid of golf balls on the practice range, Andy Matthews hooks himself up to a computer to check his brain waves, heart rate and breathing.

"And I'm playing the best golf of my life," he said.

The feedback has proved crucial for him to understand how his body reacts in certain situations so he can adjust as needed, such as controlling his breathing.

The result for the 29-year-old mini-tour golf professional -- playing this week on the Canadian Tour in British Columbia -- is a renewed optimism about his golf game.

As Matthews practiced recently at Thousand Oaks Golf Club, he did the usual swing work with instructor Charley Vandenberg. But he also brought along the computer and science of Hope 139, a cutting-edge company started in this area and notably involved in sports by aiding Grand Rapids' Chris Kaman, a standout center for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Kaman has found help with the psychological treatment program involving neurofeedback and biofeedback. He was misdiagnosed with attention deficit disorder as a toddler, but Tim Royer and Brad Oostindie of Hope 139 determined Kaman's problem was opposite in that his brain waves ran too fast.

Matthews has no such medical history, but Vandenberg had a connection to Hope 139. His son, Zachery, has been helped in dealing with Asperger's Syndrome.

Vandenberg is a cutting-edge golf teacher who, like Matthews, believes the brain is the most important "muscle" in the golf game, and that controlling breathing and heart rate is especially helpful for reaching peak performance.

"I almost feel it's the 15th club in the bag to be able to control the way your body reacts over a 15-foot putt on the last hole," Vandenberg said.

Matthews, the 2001 Michigan Amateur champion, has been a professional for seven years on tours in Africa and Canada primarily, but also has played in four PGA Tour events and a U.S. Open. He plans to take a red-eye flight Sunday night to play in next week's Michigan Open Championship in Orchard Lake.

He missed the final stage of the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament by two shots last fall, and since won a Moonlight Golf Tour event, played in the PGA Tour's Puerto Rico Open and finished second in a playoff on the Canadian Tour's recent swing through Mexico.

Matthews acknowledges having concerns about his golf future last summer, but is renewed by "treatments" that have included on-the-course sensor hook-ups.

"I'm better able to understand what I'm doing or not doing, and it has made my practice sessions more productive," he said. "I get my brain right and my breathing right, and I'm able to absorb the information I need to perform."

Matthews never has been shy about seeking help. He has worked since college golf days at the University of Michigan with famed psychologist Bob Rotella, who has helped many of the world's top golfers.

"I knew I had a great swing coach (Vandenberg), I had gained a lot from Dr. Rotella and I had some success," Matthews said.

"But this is like the missing link. I can see on the computer screen how my body reacts during golf. I can control breathing, heart rate and performance. I'm a more efficient golfer."

Royer smiled last week when Matthews talked about his game. The words affirmed the therapy, which Royer believes can help every person, not just those with a specific medical or psychological issue.

"It's done wonderful things for people like Chris (Kaman), but it also can help a teacher become a better teacher, a golfer become a better golfer, a writer become a better writer," he said. "You learn to train your brain."

Royer in the past year connected NBA star Dirk Nowitzki and golf great Annika Sorenstam to his computer. He also has worked extensively with another Vandenberg student, LPGA Tour player Tracy Hanson, who now is introducing the product to other golfers.

"We found some people, like Dirk Nowitzki and Annika, are already genetically wired very well," Royer said.

"Some people are wired better genetically, and they control their brain and emotions better. Others, like Andy, we can help get there, and Tracy feels it's the goose that laid the golden egg, the thing she has been looking for years in her golf game. Talent and athletic ability only get you so far."

Matthews said those closest to him have noticed subtle changes in his personality. Vandenberg noticed right away.

"Andy is this gregarious, excited person, and he can still be that, but there is a new calmness about him," Vandenberg said.

Matthews said he is calmer and more in control on and off the golf course.

"I'm still the same Andy, and I can still get excited when it's time to be excited and nervous when it's time to be nervous," he said. "I just know what is going on with my body and brain so much better, and I know my golf can be better because of that knowledge."

In what is described as, "the most bizarre round of tournament golf" Andy has played, the Grand Rapids, MI native won the open qualifier to earn a spot in this week's PGA Tour FedEx Cup event held at the Trump International G.C. in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.

His scorecard, which totaled a 3-under par 68, was a battle of 3's and 5's up until the 12th hole. "I had yet to make a 4 all day, and when I hit the par-5 12th (hole) in 2, I knew I wasn't making 5 and all but assumed I would make three." Matthews' eagle putt slid past the hole and he recorded his first 4 of the round, but quickly hopped back on the 3/5 train for the rest of the back-9, recording four more 3's in the next 5 holes. After a birdie on the difficult par-4 17th hole, his 10th 3 of the day, Andy stepped on the 18th tee with one thought in mind. Three. A wedge to 8-feet set up that opportunity, but his putt for birdie just missed, and Andy recorded only his second 4 of the day and his first par on a par-4 of the round.

Indeed a bizarre round, but Matthews quickly put it in perspective. "I made six birdies out there today in tough conditions, and I'm very proud of that. I stuck to my game plan and just kept trying to give myself chances."

The Puerto Rico Open will be Matthews' 4th PGA Tour start, his first since 2007 when he qualified for both the U.S. and Buick Opens. Play begins Thursday, and will be televised on the Golf Channel (tape delayed) at 6:30PM, and Friday at 11:30AM.

Andy Matthews fired a 3-under par 69 to win the Moonlight Golf Tour event today at Forest Lake Golf Club. Andy made 4 birdies against only 1 bogey in wet and blustery conditions for a one-shot victory over 30 other competitors.

This was Andy's 4th start on the 2009 Moonlight Tour which holds one and two day events in the greater Orlando area. His win qualified him for the tour's Level 2 event to be held tomorrow at Palisade's C.C. in Clermont, FL.

Be sure to check back tomorrow for more of Andy's results as the schedule is packed over the next week!

by Greg Johnson / The Grand Rapids Press

Andy Matthews is moving on to the next stage of PGA Tour qualifying, but Matt Harmon will have to start working toward his next attempt.

The two Grand Rapids area golfers were just three shots apart in the recent first stage of play in PGA Tour qualifying in Durham, N.C.

Matthews, who has played the Canadian Tour and South African Tour in recent years, is in his fifth attempt to earn his PGA Tour playing card.

The University of Michigan graduate closed with an eagle-3 on Saturday at Treyburn Golf Club to shoot a closing 68. It put him at 2-over-par 290 for the qualifier, and tied for 21st.

The top 25 move on to second stage play next week at one of six sites. The third and final stage play is Dec. 3-8 at PGA West in LaQuinta, Calif.

Harmon, meanwhile, opened with a 69 at Treyburn but closed with a 76 in the final round to miss the top 25 cut by two shots.

It was Harmon's first attempt at PGA qualifying at the close of his first full year as a professional.

The former Michigan State standout played on the Hooters Tour and Nationwide Tour this summer, and won a tournament on the Hooters Tour.

Matthews had to overcome a second-round 81 last week, but closed with a 71 and the 68.

"I played well except for the one round, and the putter really came around the last two rounds," he said. "Making the tour is my goal, and it feels great to play well at the end of a round and move on."

Matthews, who has worked on his game in recent weeks with his teacher Charley Vandenberg at Thousand Oaks, said he will practice in Florida for the next week before reporting to his second-stage site.

"I'm a better golfer, I'm an experienced golfer and my game is in great shape right now," he said. "I want to carry the confidence over and take advantage of this opportunity."