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Akron native Harold Varner III is playing in the Masters 2022. Here's what to know about him

dan kadar, akron beacon journal
·4 min read

Akron native Harold Varner III is arguably playing the best golf of his career going into his first appearance at the Masters this week.

Varner currently has his highest ranking in the Official World Golf Ranking, sitting 40th.

That ranking automatically qualified Varner for his first trip to Augusta, Georgia on a quest for a green jacket.

Varner has yet to win a title on the PGA Tour but has two big wins to his name. In 2016 he won the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Pines Resort. It was Varner's first career win as a professional.

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Varner was in contention for his first PGA win at the PGA Championship at Bethpage Black in 2019. He went into the final round tied for second, but shot 81 in the final group to finish 36th.

Varner's best finish on the PGA Tour came last April when he finished tied for second in the RBC Heritage.

Varner won the PIF Saudi International on the Asian Tour in dramatic fashion. He won with a 92-foot putt to eagle and top Bubba Watson.

Here's what else you need to know about Harold Varner III:

Harold Varner III was born in the same hospital as LeBron James and Steph Curry

Akron City Hospital is apparently the birthplace to the stars. From the Beacon Journal in 2015:

Birth records show LeBron Raymone James was born at Akron City Hospital on Dec. 30, 1984. Wardell Stephen “Steph” Curry arrived March 14, 1988, during his family’s brief stay in Akron while his dad, Dell Curry, spent the 1987-88 season with the Cavs.

That same downtown hospital is also Varner's birthplace.

Michael Jordan called Varner to get him in Jordan Brand Nike gear

Michael Jordan's brand at Nike is synonymous with basketball. But the Jordan Brand has plenty of other athletes wearing their paraphernalia. That includes Varner. In fact, according to Slam Online, the basketball great called Varner personally to make it happen.

“Every time I play well, people want to talk about my shoes,” Varner told Slam. “And I’m sure seeing me wearing all this stuff on TV is good for their popularity.”

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But is Varner a Michal Jordan or LeBron James guy?

It is a question that vexes most basketball fans. Here's Varner's take, per Golf.com:

Gosh. Jordan’s the GOAT, man. It’s just, I was born in Akron, so I’m indifferent. Both of them are great for basketball in their eras.

Harold Varner III moved from Akron when he was 6

When Varner was 6 he moved from Akron to Gastonia, N.C. His aunt, Janet Varner, worked at Firestone Country Club in the Rubber City for 15 years.

Even though he moved out of Akron at an early age, Varner still came back to play in the Good Park Junior from ages 9-12.

One of Varner's goals was to play at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational in Firestone. Unfortunately, the tournament moved to Tennessee in 2019.

"The goal is to come back and play Firestone," Varner told the Beacon Journal in 2014. We're going to get there eventually."

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Varner made the PGA Tour by less than $1,000

Varner qualified for PGA Tour play in 2015 after finishing in the top 25 money earners on the Web.com circuit — now known as the Korn Ferry Tour.

The thing is, Varner finished 25th in earning with $161,102. That put him $943 ahead of Rob Oppenheimer, the 26th place finisher.

Varner was the first African-American to make the PGA Tour from the Web.com Tour.

2022 Masters tee time, pairing for Harold Varner III

Varner is in a group with past Masters champion Sergio Garcia. Garcia won the Masters in 2017 in a playoff over Justin Rose. The group with Varner and Garcia is Belgian professional Thomas Pieters.

They tee off at 1:08 p.m. on Thursday.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: What to know about Harold Varner III, playing in the Masters 2022