Matt Hill Quits College Early For A Pro Career

"It's a pretty big step in my life," said Hill, after it was announced he had signed a management and marketing contract with IMG. "It's something I've dreamed about and been looking forward to for a long time."

Hill was one of the top-ranked amateurs in the world last year after winning the NCAA individual championship as well as seven other collegiate tournaments during his sophomore season at North Carolina State. He was also named the Haskins Award winner as America's outstanding collegiate golfer. This season as a junior he finished one stroke out of playing in a playoff for the individual qualifier for this year's NCAA Championship that gets underway this week at The Honors Course in Chattanooga, Tenn.

"I felt like my game was ready last year but now I'm finally ready for that lifestyle," said Hill, who competed in three PGA Tour events as an amateur last summer. "Last summer I just wanted to get the experience playing in those three tour events and go back to college."

(Photo: NC State, Jack Nicklaus, Matt Hill)

One year ago this week, Hill was presented with the Jack Nicklaus Award, given annually since 1988 to the best college players in NCAA Division I, II and III, in a ceremony prior to the final round of The Memorial, the PGA Tour event hosted each spring by Nicklaus at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio.

Hill says he consulted a number of people before deciding to turn pro, including college coach Richard Sykes, Canadian national team coaches Ralph Bauer and Henry Brunton, and his family.

He doesn't currently have official status on any professional tour but can accept up to seven exemptions into PGA Tour events -- he's already received one from the AT&T National in July and will likely get one for the RBC Canadian Open. He admits he is willing to play some of the minor-league circuits as well.

"I think it's important to keep playing and keep getting experience. I'd definitely like to play in some Nationwide events and even Canadian Tour if that comes around. I just want to keep learning about my game and myself."

His main focus will be preparing for the PGA Tour's gruelling qualifying school in the fall.

Hill grew up in the same town as 2003 Masters champion Mike Weir and has long dreamed of being a pro golfer. He hopes to match some of Weir's accomplishments before his career is over.

"It's hard to know what's going to happen," said Hill. "But as long as I'm still walking, I'm never going to give up and I'm just going to keep working as hard as I can. Some day down the road I'd love to be competing for majors and win one some day.

"Right now I'm just going to get ready for this week and go day by day."