Alistair Docherty still a bit emotional after finishing in second place at a recent PGA Tour event

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

Through all the ups and the so many downs of his professional golf career, Alistair Docherty remained true to his belief.

“It takes one good week to change your life,” he said.

It took a lot of years for the most incredible week of his golfing life, and now the Union High School graduate is on quite a roll in professional golf.

Given a sponsor’s exemption to a PGA Tour event, Docherty took advantage with the tournament of his life, finishing in a tie for second at the inaugural Myrtle Beach Classic in South Carolina. He recorded an 7-under-par 64 in the final round Sunday, climbing up the leaderboard.

From struggling financially, and mentally — wondering if he was ever going to break through during this grind of a game — Docherty took home a check for $356,000. 

Oh, and he is not done with the PGA Tour this summer. His performance at Myrtle Beach qualified him to play in the Canadian Open.

An American citizen now, Docherty was born in Canada and is preparing to play in the Canadian Open. 

Take it all in, Alistair. 

This was not even on the radar a month ago. 

It takes one good week to change your life, indeed.

Docherty graduated from Union High School in 2012 before playing college golf at Chico State in California. He turned pro in 2016.

It has been one crazy ride, this career of his, with more struggles than high points.

Oh, but that high point at Myrtle Beach meant everything to Docherty.

“It made all of those years of now knowing …” he said, before reciting all the questions that have plagued his mind for years.

When is this going to happen? 

Is it ever going to happen?

“It made it all worth it,” Docherty said. 

It is difficult, at times, to listen to Alistair tell his story, his journey. For every little bit of success he had, it seemed there were three or four gut punches he had to endure. 

Early on in his career, he tried a shares program, selling shares of his game in hopes of raising money to travel, to play on the smaller tours. He had a lot of folks who believed in him, but it was a tough go, he said. It was not sustainable.

In late 2017, he started caddying at a club in Palm Desert, Calif., working in the industry, trying to earn some money while also trying to play on mini tours. He gained some playing status in Canada and played there for a while, but eventually went back to California, back to caddying.

In 2019,he won the Reno Open in the Barracuda Championship. He ended up an alternate into the U.S. Open that year, too. He did not get to compete, but he did get to play practice rounds at Pebble Beach. He was gaining confidence.

He was hoping that would carry over into 2020 on the Korn Ferry Tour, but the pandemic hit.

Later, it was back to caddying, and trying to find spots on more mini tours.

“I was always in the negative, money wise, maxing out credit cards to keep my dream alive,” he said.

After more struggles in the 2021 Q school, he was at a crossroads. He hung up the clubs for three months and was just caddying, now living in Arizona.

At one point, he met Sam “Riggs” Bozoian of Barstool Sports fame. It was the start of something that would turn into the biggest break of Docherty’s career. 

First, another up before a huge downer. 

He was back to playing, and he did well enough at the 2022 Q school to qualify for 12 events on the Korn Ferry Tour, the tour that is one level below the PGA Tour. Just before the tour started, Docherty fell ill, lost a bunch of weight, and was weak. He rushed his return, and struggled again, this time playing in Central and South America. 

He missed the cut in Argentina. Suffered from food poisoning in Chile. 

“Already in the hole, traveling out of the country and not playing great wasn’t paying the bills,” Docherty said.

The doubts were heavy.

Riggs, though, saw Docherty’s potential. Docherty, through Riggs, had a deal, representing Barstool Sports, wearing their apparel on the course. Riggs, though, was more than a business associate. He had become a friend, too.

“He told me, ‘You just gotta believe in yourself. Everyone else can see that you can do it. You’re the only person holding you back.’”

Those words stuck with Docherty.

Earlier this year, Docherty, Riggs, and more colleagues were playing a friendly round, celebrating Docherty’s 30th birthday. They stopped in the middle of the round for quite the surprise.

Riggs announced: 

On behalf of Play Golf Myrtle Beach, Barstool Sports, and Sportfive (a leading sports marketing agency), we would like to give you a sponsor’s exemption to the Myrtle Beach Classic.

“I broke down in tears. ‘This is my chance. Thank you so much.’ I face-timed my parents. I finally got my break. People I’m surrounding myself with believe in me,” Docherty said.

Now, Docherty had to believe in himself. He played a few tournaments to prepare for the PGA Tour event. He was ready.

“If you are a pro golfer, it’s what you dream of,” Docherty said. “You want to have a chance.”

He shot a 5-under 66 on the first day. At one point Friday, he had the lead. He did not have a great Saturday, but he knew he had it in him to close strong.

Then it happened. A magical Sunday. Final round of a PGA Tour event. Alistair Docherty from Vancouver, Wash., fired a 7-under-par 64, moving up 17 places to finish in a tie for second place. At an event … On. The. PGA. Tour.

“It felt like I had full control of my emotions, my golf ball. I was so calm and ready to take advantage,” he said of his mindset going into that final round.

When he made a birdie putt on the 18th hole, he let his emotions out for all to see.

“My heart was racing. The fist pump. I was in a zone,” Docherty said. “It was a breath of fresh air. I finally did what I know that I’m capable of doing.”

His parents, Andrea and Lindsay, who still live in Clark County, traveled to watch their son play in this PGA Tour event. So did former Washington high school state champion Dan Snoey, a Camas graduate and former rival of Alistair’s who is now a great friend.

It was Mother’s Day, too. So when Alistair found Andrea after his round … just wow.

“I’m probably going to get emotional now,” Alistair said a few days after the Myrtle Beach Classic. “Past the 18th green, I walked through an alleyway. My mom was standing there. Just seeing her, it was amazing. I couldn’t have had a better Mother’s Day with my mom. She’s a cryer. I’m a cryer. We’re very emotional. There is a video of us embracing. What a mess.”

Docherty returned to the Korn Ferry Tour this past week. He had a great start, leading after the second round. He struggled over the weekend. 

He posted on his Facebook account: “But that’s golf, and I’ll learn from it. Taking a week off to rest and recover before the RBC Canadian Open in a week. Thank you for all the continued support.”

The first round of the Canadian Open is May 30. 

Docherty became an American citizen when he was in college, but he remains appreciative of his Canadian roots. He was born in St. John, New Brunswick in eastern Canada. The family later moved across the country to North Vancouver, British Columbia. When Alistair was 7, the family moved from Canada’s Vancouver to America’s Vancouver.

Alistair loved his time in Clark County, representing Union High School. It was a fairly new school when he attended. 

“Right away, it was known as an athletic powerhouse,” Docherty said. “Being in that atmosphere, knowing every sport was successful, it was awesome. Gary Mills (who is still the school’s golf coach) is a great human and a great coach. Knowing I came from Union High School is really cool.”

Next week, this Union Titan will be back in Canada playing in that country’s biggest tournament. Docherty will be focused.

“You play to win,” he said. “Unfortunately, golf is one of those sports where you lose a lot more than you win.”

But in every loss, a professional golfer learns something about himself.

Alistair Docherty now knows he is good enough to compete, even at the highest level. 

And he has always known that he has family and friends who believe in him.