After the Cut

So Pat Wilson didn’t make the cut at the US Open, but took away a world of experience, both for competitive golf and life in general. That’s what golf gives you. Every experience in life has a lesson of course (if one chooses to pay attention), but competitive golf does test strength of character in a unique way. What’s the meaning of life? What rules do we need to live by or be judged by? USGA? State or Federal Laws? God? Personal Moral Compass? Whichever you choose, moments that count to you, provide the relevant test.

Okay, I may be getting carried away here, but Tuesday the summer of local competition continues with the New Jersey State Open Qualifier. So what matters? As we hear from all the golf pundits (the Golf Channel provides background noise at the moment), Chambers Bay may be “unfair” by some standards for the US Open Championship, but in the end, no one cares. This is the venue, this is the situation, play the course! 

Over the years, we (my player and I) have had our share of bad breaks, distractions, injustice, whatever… but no one cares! Play the course, stay patient, comport yourself with dignity (or whatever version of it works for you), and post the best score you can. As you do it on the golf course, you’ll do it in life, and you’ll do it on the golf course, and you’ll do it in life…

Play the course. I mean "Play the Course." #chambersbay

It's the US Open Man!

So here's a touch of reality connecting the dreams of junior golfers, the struggles, and what can happen...

And if you're getting into the US Open this week, this might enhance the experience. Below is a link to a blog being posted to MGAGolf.org, the golf association in the NY metropolitan area. It's written by Pat Wilson, who is playing in his first US Open. Luke has played with Pat, and his younger brother Corey, a number of times in local events (yes I was on the bag). 

Last time we saw Pat was about a year ago when Luke was playing with Corey in a qualifier and Pat was caddying for his younger brother. If I've got my timeline right, Pat had turned pro recently and was playing on the Canadian and Puerto Rican tours, and wasn't having much success. He shared that the reason he was back in New Jersey was because he was a little low on money and had to come back to make some money and regroup. After that, we heard or saw that he was still struggling trying to find a game that could compete on those tours. 

And that's pretty much how it was from our perspective until he recently found his game, just in time to get through local qualifying. Last week, in New Jersey, he was one of four guys to get through Sectional Qualifying. One of those four was Lee Janzen, two time US Open champ. Now he's at Chambers Bay. The two coaches he's working with now, have also been Luke's coaches. Luke spent about 3 years with Jason Birnbaum, and a season of mental coaching with Mike Diffley, so it's easier to imagine how surreal this must be for Pat now at Chambers Bay on the eve of teeing it up for the US Open. Very cool to see it unfold... and hope for good things. Pat's a great kid. Most of them are. Check out his blog... http://www.mgagolf.org/news/2015/june/patwilson_1 (start from the bottom... the oldest posts)