“That was his lifelong dream to play on the PGA Tour and play in the Masters. That was just fabulous,” said Brian Harman’s mother back in 2015 after Brian Harman’s debut at the major. Growing up with his parents in Savannah, Harman’s family was always supportive. They not only allowed him to walk down the path of an athlete but also helped him decide on the perfect sport. That’s right, little Harman wasn’t fond of golf from that start.
Brian Harman was born on January 19, 1987, to Eric Harman and Nancy Harman in Savannah. Although there isn’t any information about his parents’ early days, it’s confirmed that his father is currently a dentist. Dr. Eric Harman has a clinic in Savannah. Meanwhile, his mother is a chemist by profession. Harman’s brother, Scott Harman, is also a dentist. Despite being professionally excellent, all of his family are world-class scuba divers and spearfishers.
From 1981 to 84, his father, Eric, lived in Augusta while completing his degree in DMD at the Medical College of Georgia. The golfer’s father wasn’t that interested in golf initially. Despite that, he used to go to Augusta during his college days and also suggested his son choose golf over baseball. Brian Harman himself revealed the reason. “My dad sat me down when I was 14, and he told me, ‘Look, if you want to be a professional athlete, it’s not going to be baseball cause you are a tiny little dude, you are not going to make it playing baseball,” he said. With this, Eric not only considered his son’s wish to be an athlete but also showed his caring and loving side.
Back in 2015, Brian played his first Masters. His father wanted to attend his son’s major debut and said to Savannah Morning News, “I would not go if Brian wasn’t playing, and I’m honestly not a huge fan of golf.” However, he couldn’t, as the entire Harman family, with a few friends, was on a fishing trip on the west coast of Florida.
Although they couldn’t make it to the Masters, the golfer’s family has attended his amateur, collegiate, and some of his professional events. Reports revealed that they accompanied him to tournaments in St. Simon’s Island, Hilton Head Island, Jacksonville, South Florida, and several other places. However, when talking about the major debut, Brian Harman had someone else to support him at the Augusta National.
Who was with Brian Harman at his Masters debut?
The golfer is married to Kelly Van Slyke, who was also present with him at the Par-3 contest in the 2015 Masters, as an important pillar of support. She is from a biology background. Born in Syracuse, New York, Van Slyke completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from the State University of New York Genesco in 2007. Currently, she works as a radiation therapist at the UC San Diego Radiation Oncology Centre.
The couple got engaged in 2014, and later, the golfer proposed to her in his own style. He hid the ring in the inside pocket of her new pants, where Kelly found it. He talked about it and excitedly said, “I videotaped the whole thing, her trying on the pants and finding the ring. It was awesome.”
After all these years, Kelly is one of the biggest fans of her husband. Her X bio explains it all, as it says “President of the Brian Harman Fan Club, Traveler, Music Lover, Pilates Enthusiast and Radiation Therapist.” It’s evident that his family and wife are always there, but when on the greens, a good caddie is the most reliable person a golfer has. Luckily, Harman is blessed with that, too.
Brian Harman’s caddie is “very protective” of him
Harman turned pro back in 2009 and has seen a lot of highs and lows in his career. He claimed his first title at the 2014 John Deere Classic, and after that, he started working with his caddie, Scott Tway. They have been working together for more than a decade now and creating “magic together” on the greens. Tway is from Oklahoma City and comes with a strong family background in golf. His elder brother, Bob Tway, is a major winner as he won the 1986 PGA Championship with a hole-in-one bunker shot against Greg Norman.
May 17, 2024; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Brian Harman tees off on the 10th hole during the second round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Valhalla Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports
Using his experience, Scott helped Harman to win the 2017 Wells Fargo Championship and the 2023 The Open Championship. Surprisingly, he also takes care of the golfer’s mental health on the greens. Brian Harman talked about it in 2023 with Yahoo Sports and said, “He’s got a really calming effect. I tend to run kind of hot and kind of cold, and he’s sort of leveled me out. So that’s really good, and he’s been here a long time and seen it a bunch of different ways, and I just think we do good work together.”
The two also have a very good bond, and Harman’s mother, Nancy, has witnessed it over the years. “They are like magic together. I’m not sure what the chemistry is. Scott is very quiet and laid back, except when someone isn’t standing still while Brian is taking a shot. He’s very protective of Brian. They’re great friends and work well together,” she said. And we all know a mother’s eye can’t be wrong.
Overall, Brian Harman seems like a lucky individual, having a beautiful family by his side. What do you think about it?
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