Craig Barlow was the 1996 Southern Nevada Golf Association Player of the Year prior to turning professional and making 167 cuts on the PGA Tour. For the last three summers, he has spent a week playing in the U.S. Senior Open, earning the trip each year he was eligible. –By Brian Hurlburt
In 2025, Barlow battled nerves and a very challenging Broadmoor course in Colorado to make his third consecutive cut. He finished T36 and was satisfied to earn yet another cut while living his “dreams.” Barlow is now the Director of Instruction at the High Performance Institute of Golf at Reflection Bay Golf Club at Lake Las Vegas.
“I feel like it’s a fantasy that I get to go play in that event,” Barlow said upon his return home. “I get to go play in a big tournament. I get to go live my old lifestyle. I get to see the people that I’ve played with for 30 years. It is great to get the hugs and guys asking me how I am doing. It makes me feel like part of the club for one week a year.”
Barlow got off to a bit of a shaky start, but in his true style, he stayed in the fight to earn the solid finish. He was, however, surprised by the nerves he felt prior to his 2:25 PM first round tee time.
“I still haven’t figured out why, but Thursday morning was the most nervous I’ve ever been in my life,” Barlow said. “I have never felt nerves like that before a tournament. I think the late start definitely added to the feeling, and probably having expectations because I had played pretty well the last two years. At that moment, I wanted out of the tournament, I didn’t like the way I felt. But here’s where the good news comes in. As soon as I got to the golf course, and as soon as I got on the driving range, it started to feel more normal. But I was still sick to my stomach for the first tee shot–just like I am for every tournament first tee shot–but I piped it right down the middle. From that moment forward, everything felt like a normal tournament.”
Barlow said the greens were diabolical, and that the beauty of a U.S. Open is how the event identifies weaknesses amongst the field. The cream rises as the tournament progresses.
“I am in love I’m with big time golf and the competition, and the course set up being so extreme it exposes every little thing,” Barlow said. “This tournament and the golf course asks everything of you. Misses are magnified, but it is important to remember that good shots at the Senior Open are just like a good shot at Las Vegas Golf Club. But bad shots are extremely different. You get punished so severely when you’re a little bit off in an Open. When you get out of position, everything can start snowballing.”
Barlow has a reputation as a fierce competitor, His medalist performance at his qualifier and then keeping it together during the actual Open proved that yet again.
“If I’m the most proud of something, it was my attitude and the ability to control the things that I could control, which was my process, my commitment, my attitude and my toughness,” Barlow said. “I knew I was going to get punched in the face, but when I get punched in the face, I stood back up and got get back to work. I give myself an A-plus for those things. That mindset is the only reason I can somewhat still get good results in these things. My physical game was hit and miss, but mentally, I was very good.”
Barlow said he remains committed to his role teaching everyday players and some of the best talent in the area at HPGI. He has no interest in pursuing the Champions PGA Tour full time, but he is already looking forward to his 2026 U.S. Senior Open Qualifier and a chance to live his dream … again.
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