2026 Drive, Chip and Putt Championship
Carter Bird
Hinsdale
,
IL
Age: 14 - 15
Gender: Boys
Region: Upper Midwest
The Path to the National Finals
Qualifying Path
Should a player advance through local qualifying, the subregional and regional qualifying sites are pre-determined based upon the local qualifying site. The player is not guaranteed participation in the subregional qualifier unless he/she advances through local qualifying. The player is not guaranteed participation in the regional qualifier unless he/she advances through local and subregional qualifying.
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Local QualifierEvent CompletedWest Chicago, IL 60185Jul 29, 2025
PLAY GOLF RIGHT OR LEFT HANDED:
Right
AGE STARTED PLAYING GOLF:
3 years old
LOWEST SCORE SHOT (9 AND/OR 18 HOLES):
70
HANDICAP INDEX:
1.8
HOW DID YOU BECOME INTERESTED IN GOLF?
Playing with my family
WHO INTRODUCED YOU TO GOLF?
My dad and my grandpa
WHO DO YOU NORMALLY PLAY GOLF WITH?
My dad, grandpa or friends
WHO IS YOUR GOLF INSTRUCTOR?
Dan Shelden
WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT PLAYING GOLF?
Every day is different
WHAT’S THE MOST DIFFICULT THING ABOUT GOLF?
The mental game
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE GOLF CLUB?
Driver
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE GOLF COURSE IN THE WORLD?
Whistling Straits
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN GOLF SO FAR?
Winning every Interclub match in the summer of 2024.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER JUNIORS PARTICIPATING IN DCP WHO ARE TRYING TO REACH THE NATIONAL FINALS?
The drive matters most
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT PARTICIPATING IN DRIVE, CHIP AND PUTT?
Competition and trying to improve each year
MEMORABLE MOMENTS FROM YOUR LOCAL, SUBREGIONAL OR REGIONAL QUALIFIERS:
Keeping all my drives in bounds and sinking the second chip in the Regional Qualifier.
HAVE YOU TRIED TO QUALIFIY FOR DRIVE, CHIP AND PUTT IN THE PAST? IF SO, PLEASE LIST EACH YEAR AND YOUR PREVIOUS RESULTS:
Yes - 2019 (Local), 2021 (Local), 2022 (Subregional), 2023 (Local) and 2024 (Regional at TPC Deere Run)
DID YOU WATCH LAST YEAR’S DRIVE, CHIP AND PUTT NATIONAL FINALS ON TELEVISION? IF SO, WHAT IMPACT DID THAT HAVE ON YOUR PARTICIPATION THIS YEAR?
Yes. I had played golf with Bella Simoes over spring break and we were cheering her on.
LIST FROM STRONGEST TO WEAKEST – DRIVING, CHIPPING, PUTTING:
Driving, Putting, Chipping
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE GOLF ACCESSORY (HAT, HEADCOVER, BALL MARKER, ETC.)?
Hat
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE MALE GOLFER, AND WHY?
Jordan Spieth. He is a great role model and he went to the same high school as my grandpa, dad, uncle and cousins.
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE FEMALE GOLFER, AND WHY?
Nelly Korda
WHO IS THE COOLEST PLAYER IN GOLF, AND WHY?
Min Woo Lee because his nickname is "The Chef"
IF YOU COULD CHOOSE TO PLAY GOLF WITH A DREAM FOURSOME, WHO WOULD THE OTHER THREE PEOPLE BE?
Jordan Spieth, Tiger Woods and Justin Thomas
DO YOU HAVE ANY SUPERSTITIONS AS IT RELATES TO GOLF? IF SO, PLEASE DESCRIBE:
I wore the same outfit to each of my Drive, Chip and Putt qualifiers this year.
WHAT FOOD WOULD YOU SERVE AT YOUR CHAMPIONS DINNER AT AUGUSTA NATIONAL?
Crab, garlic bread, parmesan asparagus and a chocolate milkshake.
DESCRIBE ANY TALENTS OR INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF GOLF:
Hockey
DESCRIBE ANY OBSTACLES YOU’VE OVERCOME IN YOUR LIFE:
I broke each of my legs (my right leg in 2018, my left leg in 2020).
HERO / ROLE MODEL(S):
My grandmother
WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
The past is in the past. Focus on the next shot.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
A professional golfer
DESCRIBE YOURSELF:
I am athletic, competitive and funny
