CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Most days, you can find David Sanchez helping someone find what they've lost in the game of golf.
"Nobody comes here because they're playing great," he said. "Everybody comes here because they're struggling or having a hard time with something."
Sanchez says he loves figuring out the why and how of golf and helps high-level golfers figure out what's wrong at Velocity Golf in Pineville.
"Give people answers for why they're struggling," he said, "and give them sort of a direction to go in."
For the 46-year-old, the direction hasn't always been a straight line. But the destination has always been known.
"The whole reason I did it," he said, "was for the PGA Tour again."
Sanchez was born and raised in Charlotte and won two state championships playing for both Providence Day and Providence High School.
He went on to be an All-American at NC State.
Then he went pro.
"You turn pro and you go right back to the bottom of the barrel," Sanchez said.
But Sanchez worked his way up, winning smaller events and playing on bigger tours, including two events on the PGA Tour.
But a switch in instructors derailed his game.
"We started going in a totally different direction," Sanchez said. "And my golf swing was in shambles, so was my brain because I just didn't understand. I'm working as hard as I can work on this and I'm getting worse."
The new swing led to injuries, including a tumor in his back that eventually caused broken vertebrae.
"Yeah, it hurt," he said. "Like a lot."
Sanchez had to take time off from the game he loved, but over the years, built himself back up.
And at 46, he's mostly competing against players half his age.
"It's fun to beat them," Sanchez said.
On Monday, Sanchez will play in a final U.S. Open qualifier.
If he plays well enough, he'll join the field for the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, a course he worked at, and even played as a kid.
"I've played that golf course so many times," he said. "I just know where the spots to be are."
And Sanchez is in the right spot with his game to do it.
"Having failed so much ... probably gives you better perspective," he said.
Sanchez missed last year's U.S. Open field by just two strokes at a sectional qualifier.
After medaling at a local qualifier earlier this month, he will play Monday at Duke University Golf Club in Durham.
Other players at that site who list Charlotte as their city include: Addison Lambeth (amateur), Preston Cole, Brandon Hagy, Webb Simpson and Matthew Ryan.
The U.S. Open is June 13-16 and can be watched on WCNC Charlotte.
Contact Nick Carboni at ncarboni@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.