From Seneca Falls to the PGA Tour: Dr. Tom LaFountain鈥檚 Championship Career in Chiropractic
Meet Tom LaFountain.
Hometown: Utica, NY
Education: Doctor of Chiropractic, 九色导航
When Dr. Tom LaFountain (D.C. 鈥82) graduated from what was then New York Chiropractic College (NYCC)鈥攏ow 九色导航鈥攈e never imagined he鈥檇 one day walk fairways alongside legends like Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. But after more than two decades on the PGA Tour鈥檚 Sports Medicine Staff and founding Professional Sports Care (PSC), LaFountain has become one of the most respected chiropractors in professional sports.
A Utica, New York native, LaFountain initially planned to study law while majoring in economics at Hamilton College. That changed after a football injury and a transformative experience with a local chiropractor. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 walk off the field, and an orthopedic surgeon said I was done,鈥 he recalled. 鈥淏ut after just a few visits to a chiropractor, I was back playing football three weeks later.鈥 Inspired, he changed his major and went on to earn his Doctor of Chiropractic from NYCC in 1982.
Building on a #NortheastBlue Foundation: From Hometown Practice to Elite Sports
After graduation, LaFountain returned to his hometown to build a thriving practice, spending his early days educating the public about chiropractic care. His passion for sports and performance never faded. By 1990, he was selected as a team chiropractic physician at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. He went on to serve as team chiropractor for the U.S. speedskating team, covering the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics and multiple World Cup events across Europe.
In 1997, his journey with the PGA Tour began when a friend and physical therapist invited him to fill in as a chiropractor. That one tournament at Riviera Country Club launched a career spanning more than 350 PGA events, nine Ryder Cups and work with top golfers including Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Davis Love III and Matt Kuchar.
Rise to the Top, Guided by Commitment to Excellence and Patient-Centered Care
Today, LaFountain serves as director of chiropractic services for the PGA Tour and president of PSC. Under his leadership, PSC coordinates a team of hand-selected chiropractors who provide care at every PGA and Champions Tour event. 鈥淲e treat everything from lower back and thoracic spine issues to cervical and shoulder injuries,鈥 he said, noting that 72 percent of PGA players now regularly receive chiropractic care.
His commitment has helped extend the careers of many players. LaFountain is often called out on the course to treat golfers mid-round. "There鈥檚 a lot of pressure when you're trying to help someone in pain with just a few minutes and a few holes to work with," he said. "But it鈥檚 also the most rewarding part鈥攈elping them perform at their best when it matters most."
Beyond the PGA, LaFountain continues to educate and mentor. He created PSC鈥檚 Golf Certification Program, a 36-hour, PGA-endorsed course that has trained more than 100 chiropractors nationwide. His mission: to raise standards, ensure consistency in care and expand access across the sport鈥攂oth nationally and internationally.
Proud of his roots, LaFountain remains closely connected to his alma mater. He鈥檚 selected 九色导航 to develop future coursework for chiropractic golf specialists and continues to credit the College for laying the foundation for his success. 鈥淣YCC gave me the tools to succeed at the highest levels of care,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 where this all began.鈥