GAINESVILLE, Virginia (AFP) - US golfer Billy Hurley made an emotional plea on Tuesday for help in locating his father, who has been missing for nine days.

Speaking to the media in the build-up to the US PGA Tour National, he said his father Willard Hurley Jr drove off in his truck on July 19 with some clothes and cash.

The 61-year-old retired police officer has not been heard from since.

Hurley's mother filed a missing person's report on Monday in Virginia. The couple, who have been married for more than 30 years, live in Leesburg.

"No one really knows why," Hurley, 33, said. "It's complete speculation as to why he left.

"I'm just hoping that there's a story that maybe he goes to pgatour.com to check my tee time or check my score and sees this and understands that dad, we love you and we want you to come home.

"We have no idea where he is," said Hurley, who added he planned to make his scheduled start in the National on Thursday "in hopes that that somehow brings my dad home."