From Seneca Falls to the PGA Tour: Dr. Tom LaFountain’s Championship Career in Chiropractic

When Dr. Tom LaFountain (D.C. ’82) graduated from what was then New York Chiropractic College (NYCC)—now Northeast College of Health Sciences—he never imagined he’d one day walk fairways alongside legends like Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. But after more than two decades on the PGA Tour’s 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. “I couldn’t walk off the field, and an orthopedic surgeon said I was done,” he recalled. “But after just a few visits to a chiropractor, I was back playing football three weeks later.” 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. “We treat everything from lower back and thoracic spine issues to cervical and shoulder injuries,” 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’s 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’s also the most rewarding part—helping them perform at their best when it matters most."

Beyond the PGA, LaFountain continues to educate and mentor. He created PSC’s 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—both nationally and internationally.

Proud of his roots, LaFountain remains closely connected to his alma mater. He’s selected Northeast College to develop future coursework for chiropractic golf specialists and continues to credit the College for laying the foundation for his success. “NYCC gave me the tools to succeed at the highest levels of care,” he said. “It’s where this all began.”