Woodstock, New York, is often synonymous with peace, love and rock-n-roll, but perhaps there's room for something more.

“It means the world. Really. It's been unbelievable,” Woodstock Golf Club PGA pro and Red Hood native Chris Sanger said.

Unbelievable is perhaps the very best way to describe it. Sanger, 37, is the head PGA professional at the small Woodstock Golf Club. Yeah, that Woodstock.

“No, I mean, nine holes. It's about 5,500 yards going around twice,” Sanger said when asking about his club compared to the clubs many of the club pros in this tournament come from.

It’s just a little different than Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, the host of the 2023 PGA Championship.

It’s where Sanger, who had never been out of the Eastern Standard Time zone before, earned his spot by traveling to New Mexico and competing against hundreds of other club pros, also from much richer courses from around the country.

“I am 37. It's my first go around and never really gave up. Just every year. Just kind of plugging away,” Sanger said of his career.

Sanger played so well, he entered the final hole just needing a bogey. And a bogey is exactly what he got. He earned the final spot to play in the PGA Championship.

“Now, it’s special looking back on it, especially coming home and everyone's like, 'Oh, my God, oh, my God, I can't believe I was screaming at you,'” Sanger said with a smile.

It's a putt that left him with hundreds of voicemails and text messages from those who have been supporting him from day one, including friends and family who made the trip to Oak Hill to cheer him on.

“My family is in town. It’s special, and you know, a lot of people from the club and from Red Hook, as well. It’s also faces I haven't seen in a long time,” Sanger said of his support.

It's an achievement also recognized by a former Oak Hill hero. When Sanger took his first swing at Monday's practice round, he did so with the 2003 PGA champion, who was crowned right here at Oak Hill, Shaun Micheel.

“It was awesome. He was great. Down to earth, chatted up quite a bit,” Sanger said of his time with Micheel.

But make no mistake, Sanger is in awe of nothing. He came here this week to compete, to make the cut, to have the lowest score of any club pro in the field, and one more thing -- to add another notch to the legacy of Woodstock, New York.

“Woodstock is kind of known for the music festival, but hey, why not look to add some golf in there as well.

Unfortunately, as it has been for so many players out here, Oak Hill was just too much for Sanger this week. He will miss the cut. But he’ll be making a short trip home to Woodstock and Red Hook for a well-deserved hero’s welcome.