John Peterson – 2014 People to Watch

Age: 24
Occupation: Professional Golfer, PGA Tour
Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas

There was no better way for John Peterson to make an entrance into professional golf than his par 3 hole-in-one at the 2012 U.S. Open. Just behind him on the tee, Tiger Woods was forced to wait for the crowd frenzy around the then-23-year-old Baton Rougean to die down before taking his swing.

Old, meet new.

Peterson earned his PGA card this fall. The former LSU player and native Texan has also bought his first house, here in the Red Stick.

Though his laid-back demeanor is tested on the course—”I need to learn how to calm down after a bad shot,” he admits—Peterson has adjusted to life on the PGA Tour.

“It’s still golf, which is what I’ve been doing forever,” he says. “The only thing that’s changed is the amount of people watching and the size of the stage.”

That, and the odd perks. Pheasant hunting in South Dakota. Hanging with country music star Jake Owen.

Peterson’s goal is to land in the Tour Championship in 2014. Only the world’s top 30 golfers make the cut. “Only one, maybe two rookies,” he adds. “If I do, I’ll know it’s been a good year.”

“‘Remember who you are and where you come from.'” My mom, Jan Peterson, told me that.”

Follow Peterson on Twitter at @JohnPetersonLSU.