Paulson turned professional in 1994.[2] He was medalist at the 1995 PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament. Paulson was a member of the PGA Tour in 1995 and 1996 and from 2000 to 2008. He was a member of the Nike Tour from 1997 to 1999 and led the Nike Tour's money list in 1999. Paulson did not play in another PGA Tour event until 2011 after sustaining back injuries at the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee on July 21, 2005. He withdrew from that event and was sidelined for an extended period. He earned his card for 2006 through a major medical exemption but did not play in any events due to the chronic nature of his injuries. He returned to competition in 2010 on the Nationwide Tour.[2]
Paulson wrote the book, Rookie on Tour, with Virginiapsychologist Louis Janda. It was published in 1999.[3]
^Paulson, Carl; Janda, Louis H. (March 1999). Amazon.com: Rookie on Tour (9780425166888): Carl Paulson: Books. Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated. ISBN0425166880.