Bettencourt, a 34-year-old PGA Tour rookie, shot a 1-under-par 71 Friday at the Quail Hollow Championship to make the cut in a star-studded field.
It was just the fifth time Bettencourt — a California native who now lives in Duncan with his wife, Kelly — has advanced to weekend play in 12 starts this season. He’s seven shots behind co-leaders Bubba Watson and Retief Goosen (who are both at 8 under par), heading into Saturday’s third round. That margin hardly fazes Bettencourt, a self-taught golfer who didn’t turn pro until he was 27 and earned his PGA Tour card last season by closing the year with seven straight rounds in the 60s. “I’m getting much more comfortable out here, and that’s what it’s about when you’re playing with the big names,” said Bettencourt, who started Friday’s round with four birdies on his first six holes. “I’m not even close to where I want to be. I want to win out here. I’ll put four solid rounds together at some point this year.” PGA Tour win or not, Bettencourt’s journey to the Upstate has been an improbable run.
He met Kelly, a USC Upstate graduate, while playing in the Nationwide Tour’s BMW Charity Pro-Am five years ago.