Johnson set to make the most of PGA Tour dream at Riviera

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

PACIFIC PALISADES, California (Reuters) - African-American Vincent Johnson is ready to live out a lifelong dream when he tees off in Thursday''s opening round at the Northern Trust Open.

The 22-year-old from Oregon State University, who turned professional late last year, will make his debut on the PGA Tour after being given the inaugural Charlie Sifford Exemption.

"It''s just been a little surreal, this whole thing," Johnson told reporters at Riviera Country Club on Wednesday. "Finding out that I was a candidate, I was really honored because of what Mr. Sifford stands for.

"And to receive it, you''re like: ''Things like this don''t happen to me''. It''s been an interesting ride and I''m looking forward to the rest of the week."

Created to reward a player who represents the advancement of diversity in golf but was not otherwise eligible for this week''s event, the exemption honors Sifford''s pioneering achievements in the game.

Sifford, 86, was an instrumental figure in helping to break down the circuit''s Caucasian-only rule and became the first black player to join the PGA Tour in 1961.

The linking of the Sifford Exemption to the Northern Trust Open is a poignant one, given that Sifford''s second and final PGA Tour victory came at the Los Angeles event 40 years ago.

"I have always dreamed of life on the PGA Tour and I am prepared to work as hard as possible to make that a reality," said Johnson, who suffers from Graves'' disease, a thyroid condition that he controls through medication.

TAKING INSPIRATION

"My struggle to hopefully get to the PGA Tour one day won''t be as difficult as his (Sifford''s) was, but you just take inspiration on stories like that."

Johnson took up golf aged six and set a course record at 14 with a nine-under-par 62 at his home venue, Glendoveer Golf Club, where his father Daren works as a mechanic.

A resident of Portland in Oregon, he has won 68 junior titles and has played on Junior America''s Cup and Hogan Cup teams.

He graduated from university with a degree in finance after winning two collegiate titles and representing PAC-10''s All-Academic second team.

Johnson can still hardly believe he is scheduled to tee off in the company of fellow American Bryce Molder and Denmark''s Soren Hansen in the opening round.

"It''s really cool to be hitting balls with guys that I''m still idolizing right now," he said. "But I''m just doing my own thing and trying to stick to my routine, because I still have a week of my own."

(Editing by N.Ananthanarayanan)