On a rainy, gray Thursday at Country Club of Jackson, you could have seen him at the top of a leaderboard. After one round, his 7-under-par 65 is the best score in the tournament. You could have seen him on the 18th hole in the middle fairway, 347 meters from the hole’s tee. I was right behind the tee when he launched his tee shot. It flew by his clubface so quickly that I couldn’t follow it. It was unbelievable. He was between 80 and 100 yards ahead of his partners when he hit a flip wedge onto the green. He made birdie and hit it close. The 23-year-old Champ is featured on the cover this month of Golf Digest magazine. It features a headline reading “CAMERON CHAMP’S POWER MOVE.” Inside, you’ll find another headline: “Here’s a EXCLUSIVE LOOK AT HOW THIS ROOKIE DECIDED to be the LONGEST PLAYER ON THE PRO TOURS.” He could also have been found in the PGA Tour interview area explaining how he manages to get that distance from his 6-foot 180-pound frame. Champ stated that it was just his natural movement down through the ball. It doesn’t appear like I’m swinging hard …” but he clearly is. He averaged 343 yards per drive on the Web.com Tour this year. Dustin Johnson, who is generally considered to be the longest player on PGA Tour, averaged 310 yard per drive last year. Champ drove the ball to the green on Thursday’s par-4 15th hole, a distance of 330 yards. This was during a drizzley rainstorm on a wet afternoon. He chipped back and made the birdie. Champ is more than a long driver. Champ is a great driver. He shot even par 72 holes at the 2017 U.S. Open. He finished 32nd overall as the second lowest amateur, just behind Westwood, Cink, and Spieth. After that, he turned professional and was granted PGA Tour playing privileges. He finished 11th on the Web.com money lists, winning the Utah Open. He averaged 391 yards per drive in the Utah Open at high altitude. Really. It is easier to get behind him the more you know him. Champ is from Sacramento, Calif. where his best friend is Mack Champ, his paternal grandfather and a veteran of black Viet Nam. Cameron was 2 years old when Mack Champ introduced him to golf. Cameron started with plastic clubs. Mack loved to play golf over Cameron’s house. Cameron Champ stated Thursday that he loved visiting Grandpa’s house. Mack Champ took his grandson to the par 3 course, and then bought a membership so that he could play as much as possible. Cameron Champ’s foundation – yes, he is so certain as a PGA Tour rookie that he has his own foundation – has leased the par-3 course for use in junior golf programs. Cameron Champ stated, “We didn’t have much as a child but I was taught to give back.” Mack Champ married his German wife while he was still in the military. Cameron is the father of their son Jeff, who was born in London. Cameron Champ, who is also the son of biracial parents, has already won awards after African American golfing legends Charlie Sifford, and Calvin Peete. He will likely win his first PGA Tour event sooner than expected. It could happen. This week. The Country Club of Jackson’s course measures 7,421 yards. Thursday’s rain made it longer. It plays extremely short when you hit it as far as Cameron Champ. Champ described it as “scoreable.” He said, “I just have to make some putts.” Golf is always about the distance you hit it – and this guy hits it farther than anyone – but that’s what golf is all about.