In just a few years, Illini golf fans may have the opportunity to tune their televisions to coverage of the Masters, live from Augusta, Georgia, and watch Illinois alumn Patrick Nagle compete for his first green jacket.

Yes, Nagle really might be that good at golf, and he believes that with his drive and talent that the PGA tour is a legitimate possibility.

“My post-college plan has always been to play professional golf, hopefully becoming a member of the PGA Tour,” he said. “People always ask me what I am going to do if playing golf doesn’t work out, and honestly, I have never thought about it. I can’t imagine myself doing anything else.”

Nagle, a senior, has a great golfing resume since he began playing when he was 11 years old, and has enjoyed a tremendous amount of success along the way.

Since 2002 he has been named everything from California State Amateur Champion to Big Ten Freshman of the Year to being given a spot on the NCAA All-Region Team in 2004.

His teammates also give him high praise, especially junior Kyle Hosick, who has seen what Nagle is capable of.

“Nagle is arguably the best golfer in the Big Ten right now,” Hosick said.

Making the claim that someone is the best golfer is a very difficult thing to prove, especially in a sport where even the very best golfers may only win a few times in their career. However, Nagle has never found it difficult to win.

Up to this point, Nagle admits he has been lucky to have success and win tournaments in every level he’s played at. One of the reasons Nagle seems to be a step up on his competitors isn’t because of luck at all though, it’s confidence.

“All we can do as players is to believe that we have what it takes to win,” Nagle said. “It would be unrealistic to promise that I will go through this entire season without ever losing to someone in the Big Ten or in all of college golf for that matter. But if I didn’t believe that I could win every time I teed it up, I would be looking for another profession.”

Golf is Nagle’s number one priority as far as post-college plans go, but he is still a dedicated student. Currently a senior in ALS with an emphasis on Sport Management, Nagle expects to graduate in December 2006, and work an internship through 2007.

Nagle’s will to graduate and his devotion to go pro some day both contributed to his decision to redshirt as a junior last season.

“I made the decision to redshirt in the second week of the fall 2004 semester,” Nagle said. “The decision was made in order to match both my athletic and academic schedules.”

Nagle spent last season honing his skills and trying to take his game to the next level. He practiced and conditioned with the team, and spent time working out the problem areas in his golf game.

Only time will tell if the decision to redshirt was a good one, but one positive thing that has already come out of the year off is the reinvigoration of Nagle’s love for the game of golf.

“In my time away from competition I began enjoying playing golf again,” Nagle said. “The challenge of playing the game really became fun for me.”

With Nagle back in the lineup, the Illini will begin their season on Sept. 19 at the Inverness Golf Club in Toledo, Ohio.

Nagle said he played in a few tournaments over the summer to prepare to play competitive golf again, and he feels that he is ready to get back out there and contend.

“I am very excited to be a part of this team,” Nagle said. “Coach Small has assembled a great group of guys, and I cannot recall ever being a part of a team with this great of chemistry. We all want to win, and we all believe that each member of the team is willing to do anything and everything to achieve our goals. It should be an exciting year, and I am very eager to get things rolling.”