Veteran golfer Jay Don Blake will join an illustrious group of players this week, having been handed a spot in the Black Dessert Championship – his 500th start on the PGA Tour.

Blake made his first start on the PGA Tour back in 1980 as an amateur, before opting to turn professional a year later. Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, Blake became a regular name on golf’s leading circuit, all the way up until 2004, when things became slightly tougher for the Utah State player.

Blake made 14 starts in total across the 2004 season but struggled to find his best form, having missed 10 cuts and failing to break in the top 40 in any of the 14 events.

He subsequently lost his PGA Tour card and was thus stuck on 496 starts. In the years following, Blake went on to earn entry on three more occasions on the PGA Tour thanks to his status on the PGA Tour Champions, as well as tournament invites, the last coming at the Barbasol Championship in 2018.

For Blake, it looked as if he would be stuck on 499, having since turned 60, but the veteran has been given a dream start this week in his home state of Utah. With the Black Desert Championship falling on the same week as his 65th birthday, Blake was invited to the Black Desert course for a special surprise.

Joined by his family, Blake – who has one PGA Tour win to his name – was handed his special exemption into this week’s tournament, and unsurprisingly could not hold in his emotions. The moment was captured by the PGA Tour’s cameras and later shared across their social media platforms.

Follow us on Xfor the best and latest in sports news

Reading out his invite in front of his family, Blake said with tears in his eyes: “This certificate of exemption is provided to the recipient honoring their 500th start on the PGA Tour hosted at the Black Desert Championship.” Sharing the moment with his family, the Blakes exchanged both tears and hugs, as the 65-year-old raised his invite aloft into the air.

For Blake, the week is an extra special one with the tournament taking place in his home state. “To be a part of the tournament,” he added. “The first event for Saint George, a PGA Tour event. For me to be a part of that is… I mean that is a dream from a little kid.”

Blake has not featured on any professional tour since the start of 2023, having appeared in golf’s leading circuit just twice in the past 11 years. The result however will matter little to the 65-year-old who joins a whole host of big names in making 500 starts, made all the more special with Blake getting to do so in front of a home crowd.