Peter Dindinger – NMMI Sports Press

Making five appearances at the PGA Championship is a great accomplishment for any golfer.

David Muttitt, a former cadet at New Mexico Military Institute, obtained that feat this past weekend when he played at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco.

This tournament was different than the past competitions as no fans were allowed on the course due to the new safety guidelines imposed by the PGA during this ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Accompanied by his girlfriend, and caddy Mike Sauer, Muttitt shot a 2-over par (72) on the first day after he notched two birdies on the first and sixth hole.

Entering the second day of competition under the cold conditions, Muttitt was tied for 90th overall. The day didn’t fare as well as he carded a 5-over par (75) to miss the cut.

Regardless, he was extremely grateful to get the opportunity to play on the grand stage.

“(I’m) fortunate enough to have done it five times,” Muttitt said. “Obviously my goal is to play in a lot more. I’m very blessed to have the opportunity.

“Every PGA professional that plays in it is very grateful for the opportunity and enjoys every moment.”

The chance to attend NMMI arose after Muttitt’s father heard that the Broncos were actively seeking golfers for the season.

At the time, David, who started playing golf at the age of 15, was a lifeguard in England and hitting the course every chance he could get.

Sonny Wiginton, who spent 13 years as head coach of the Bronco program, reached out to David about playing.

Wiginton had a storied career producing 13 NJCAA All-Americans while making 15 appearances in the NJCAA National Championships.

Nearly a dozen of his players went on to the professional level. The list includes All-Americans Norahito Sato, Gary Orr and Michael Krantz.

David took the opportunity and enrolled at NMMI in September of 2001. He spent three semesters in Roswell before transferring to Collin College in McKinney, Texas.

He eventually turned pro in 2005.

Despite spending a short time at the Institute, NMMI made quite the impact on David.

“NMMI was a big part of my life,” he said. “It teaches you to do the right thing and it teaches you to work toward what you want to get.

“Sonny was awesome. We got along really well and he helped me a lot. He gave me a couple of good speeches before tournaments. They’ve stuck with me.”

One of the biggest benefits of NMMI’s tight knit community is the lifelong friendships that are created between cadets.

David still keeps in daily contact with his former roommate.

“That’s probably the thing I remember the most is just all the people you get to know so well. It’s such a small, confined space that you really become pretty close,” he said.

David’s first PGA Championship appearance came in 2013 at Oak Hill Country Club in New York where he shot 5-over par after carding a score of 70 on day two. It was his best performance as he missed the cut by two shots.

He then played in 2016 and 2017 at Baltusrol Golf Club’s Lower Course in Springfield Township, N.J. and Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C., respectively.

David scored a low of 69 on day two of the 2018 PGA Championship after tallying three birdies at Bellerive Country Club in Missouri.

For the last five years, David has served as a teaching professional at Los Altos Golf Course in Albuquerque. Muttitt previously worked at Paako Ridge Golf Club in Sandia Park as an assistant pro.

He also has served as the tournament director for the Albuquerque men’s city championship.

Regionally, David has won five Sun Country PGA Section Professional Championships.

The road doesn’t end here. He hopes to one day play in five more PGA Championships and win the club pro title, a tournament he has played in seven times which is the biggest tournament for PGA professionals.

Before competing in San Francisco, David competed in the Richland Sun Classic at Roswell’s Nancy Lopez Golf Course at Spring River in July where he finished with a 6-under par to place second in the professional flight.

David’s next shot to compete at the PGA Championship will be next year from May 17-23 at The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island in South Carolina.