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Jim Herman used to work at Trump National before finding success on the Nationwide Tour. Donald Trump used to end his TV show "The Apprentice" by telling one of the contestants, "You're fired."
Jim Herman never heard those words, though. The billionaire only offered encouragement when Herman worked as an assistant pro at Trump National Golf Club in the posh New York City suburb of Bedminster, N.J., back in 2006 and '07.
"I used to say to him 'Why aren't you on TOUR?'" Trump said. "Many people have come to me asking for support so they can try to play pro golf. But I understand golf pretty well and I'm a pretty good golfer and I've never backed anybody."
But Trump saw something special in the 32-year-old Herman, who won his first Nationwide Tour event earlier this month at the Moonah Classic in Australia.
The breakthrough victory has given the third-year Nationwide Tour pro a shot of confidence as he prepares for this week's Panama Claro Championship in Panama City.
What made the victory sweeter for Herman was that it allowed him to thank friends back home for their support. He turned pro 12 years ago fresh out of the University of Cincinnati and says if not for those local sponsors—as well as getting a shot in the arm from Trump—the victory might not have ever come.
When Herman was working at Trump National the big boss was often his partner in team competitions. And Trump says that he never played Herman straight up.
"I'm too smart to bet against him," reported Trump, who Herman says is a 4 handicap and knows his way around the golf course.
The victory by Herman came in his 56th Nationwide Tour start and vaulted him to second on the money list through the first two tournaments of the year. He got off to a good start last season as well, but wore down toward the end of the year and wound up 65th on the money list.
Herman says he learned a lot from last season and is better equipped to handle the grind this time around. Of course, it helps to get an early victory under his belt.
"This just validates what I've been doing the last 12 years since getting out of college," Herman said. "Knowing that I can do it and competing at this level, it's just a big confidence builder."
Having Trump in his corner is a nice bonus, too. The men played together at Trump International in West Palm Beach, Fla. last weekend. Trump said that what is great about Herman's victory is it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.
"He was a great teacher and a great assistant, but he also had game," Trump said. "I'd tell him 'You shouldn't be here.' I've seen a lot of nice players but they have not ever been on the level of Jim. I've played a lot in the pro-ams through the years and I've seen the pros up close and Jim is just as good as they are."
Trump said Herman's driving is what set him apart. "Pound for pound, I've never seen anybody hit it as long as Jim," Trump said. "I thought he had the potential to be a great player on TOUR."
Trump admits that forecasting golfing talent is a little different than reading the real estate market, though.
"You can't always project who is going to make it or who is not in golf because there's a choke factor," Trump said. "But every time I saw him play he was tremendous and I decided to back him."
Herman says that getting to know Trump has been a pleasure.
"He's such a polarizing figure and those who really know him realize he's a good man and not a lot of people hear of the good stuff that he does," Herman said. "I'm very grateful for his support."
Trump, who has been estimated by Forbes magazine to be worth $2 billion, says that now Herman has gotten that first victory, the sky is the limit.
"He's young enough and Jim has so much talent I'm surprised it has taken him this long to win," Trump said. "I hope he can get on the PGA TOUR one day because I think he'll do very well out there."
Regardless of how the rest of the season plays out, there's one thing Trump knows about Herman.
"He's no longer an apprentice," he said. John Dell has covered golf for the Winston-Salem Journal in North Carolina for the last 15 years. His views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR.
By John Dell, Nationwide Tour Insider
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