Golf In A Parallel Universe (25 page)

As I am sitting on the balcony, I have a couple of beers and relax. Looks like rain is coming. I see lighting in the distance. I order some food from room service and watch TV for a while and just forget about golf. The news comes on and talks about a big storm is on the way and we should get some good rain tonight. And a little later the rain came in about the time I got to bed. As I was laying in bed I could hear it raining really hard for a long time. And the thunder and lightning was intense. I have never been afraid of lightning. But for some strange reason it rattled my nerves. As I was laying in bed. Every time a big flash of lightning came, it seemed to really scare me. And the strange thing, it felt very familiar to me. I just could not figure that out. I felt like I have recently been in a storm. However, I cannot remember the last time that I have been in a good storm like this. And I have always enjoyed a good storm. I have always liked the thunder and lightning. But tonight I feel like a little kid in bed scared of a thunderstorm. And the rain continued for a long time. It rained so hard that I wondered if that will affect the course tomorrow. Finally I fell asleep.

Day 4 final Round of the US Open

I had strange dreams about playing golf by myself in a lightning storm. I dreamed that I was in great danger of being struck by lighting with a golf club in my hand. And the dreams seemed so real. Finally morning arrived, and it was sunny. As I was waking, I remembered my weird dreams. I just thought that it is logical that I would have dreams playing golf in a lightning storm since there was a big storm last night and I am playing in a big tournament today. It was just strange to me that it felt so familiar to me.

Finally I got out of bed. I looked out, and it was a clear sunny day. I stepped out on the balcony and it was a little chilly. There was a steady breeze coming out of the North. Nothing like yesterday as far as wind, but a good stiff breeze. It was clear sign that we had cool front moved in last night. I watch the weather on TV. They said this was similar to the Polar Vortex we had last winter. But this is June, so not very cold. But it may be a challenge today on the golf course. And there was a lot of rain last night. I got a text from Zack and he told me the course got hammered last night. But things are OK. Luckily this course is on top of natural Sand and it held up good. There are no plans for a delay. I eat breakfast and I feel good. I am not even nervous. I am ready to get out play the round of my life today.

I get to the course and meet up with Zack. He has been here for hours scouting out the course conditions and the pin placements and tee box placements. “It's going to be to be a tough track today," he said. “The fairways are soaked but playable. If it was not for this natural sand base there is no way this course would be ready. But it is. Just do not expect any roll on your drives,," he told me. “Well at least the greens will be soft," I said smiling. “Nope,," he said sharply. “They covered the greens with tarps before the rains came in. And sandbagged them on the high side to keep water from running down. So the greens are going to be fast and hard just like the PGA likes it for the US Open. But one other thing. Because the greens are so big, the tarps could not cover all the green. Basically about 50 feet around the hole was covered, and the rest was in the open. So you will have slow greens on the outside perimeter and super fast around the hole," he said in a matter of a fact tone.

“Great!," any other surprises?", I asked. “Yeah, one big one. Hole 18 they had a little project going on that no one knew about. They had built a tee box 50 yards back. So now you got a long par 4, with wet fairways and it is dead into a stiff north wind."

“You're Kidding me? I said laughing." “No joke and it is the talk of the day. There could be some drama unfolding on the 18th hole," he said smiling. “You got that right," I replied.

We went through our normal routine to get ready. I hit some balls, chipped and putt and just got ready. I felt OK. I was aware of the whole situation, but I did not think much about it. I just prepared as normal. As the time got closer I really started to get mentally prepared. I was a little nervous, but mostly I felt determined. Finally the time came. As we walked out of the clubhouse staging area and walked to the tee, it was crazy. I have never seen so many people. And the crowd seemed mostly Cory McCullough fans. We arrived at the tee box and went through the normal greeting. I felt nervous but under control. Cory had his game face on and he was first up. The started spoke. “Ladies and Gentlemen, from Edinburgh Scotland, Cory McCullough. And the crowd gave a big cheer as usual. He has been through this many times over the last few years. I could tell that he was confident and ready. There was a cool breeze into our face. He teed up the ball and smacked a perfect shot right down the middle. The ball did not roll hardly at all. But he hit it a good 300 yards. “Ladies and Gentlemen, from Orlando Florida Jim Galloway." I addressed the ball and hit a good shot down the left side of the fairway about 290. I was happy.

After that shot, it seemed all the stress was gone as I was walking down the fairway. I have always heard baseball players on TV that are playing a big game like the world series say that once you step between the lines, you forget about the big stage and it is just baseball. Same thing for Football players in the Super Bowl. I have heard them say after the kickoff, it is just football. That's the way I felt here. I felt like this was just another day of golf. Just a bigger stage than normal. Cory and I both parred the first hole. So I am one stroke ahead with 17 to go. The course was playing very tough today. Soggy fairways and hard greens and a good stiff north wind. We both shot one under par on the front nine. I could tell that Cory was not happy. I could tell that he respected me and my game now. I do not think he respected me at The World Golf Championship a few weeks ago when I beat him in match play. That was not like a real tournament since it was Match Play. And I did not have the game I have now. I know he thought that I just got lucky. But now it is a different story. I have a good solid game now and he knows it.

So after nine holes I am still leading by one stroke. And I know that is nothing. Especially on this course and these wet conditions. I could make a bogey and he could make a birdie on a hole, then he would have a one stroke lead. And that's exactly what happened on the tenth hole which is a long par 5. I hit a poor drive in the left rough. I had terrible lie and had to just punch it out of the rough. I was lucky to even get back in fairway. My third shot I was 250 yards from the green. I hit my approach shot in the sand bunker. I was not able to get up and down for a par and made a bogey. I was lucky I did not get a double. In the meantime. Cory hit a good drive. His second shot was 30 yards short of the green and he made a good up and down for a birdie. As we were walking to the 11th hole I started to think a little negatively. One more hole like this and I will not stand a chance. Zack looked at me. “Don't worry about it. There are bogeys to be made today. This back nine is playing tough. Both of you will have a hard time this nine. Just remember, it ain’t over until it is over. Anything can happen here," he said with an encouraging tone.

He is right. There is a lot of golf left today. We both bogeyed hole the eleventh hole which was a long par 4 into the wind. I hit in the sand trap bunker again on my approach shot. I could not get up and down for a par. Cory hit the back of the green and had an insane long put. He was putting from the wet side of the green which was not covered last night and then it was fast around the hole. He knocked it 10 feet by the hole and could not make the par. So he had a nice three putt. He was pissed. We both pared 12 and 13. Hole 14 is a long par 4. I am one stroke behind with five holes to go. I feel like I need to make a move. The wind is blowing from left to right but not really a factor. I want to try to crush my drive. I know with the wet conditions and this hole is playing long. I catch myself getting too amped and I relax and make a good swing. I hit my drive just like I want about 280 yards down the middle Not all that far but a good shot. That felt good. I am starting to feel competitive edge. Cory hits a good shot also down the left side about 10 yards ahead of me.

We get to my ball and I am 193 yards from the pin. The wind seems to have changed a little and is directly in my face. At 193 yards on a damp day into the wind, this is a tough shot. Normally this would be a mid iron shot. But not today with this strong cool damp wind. It will be a long iron today. This would be one of my panic shots in the old days. I think about the time when Gus had me on the range and had me whacking at the ball with a three iron. He was yelling at me trying to get me to hit it harder and trying to get me rattled. And he did that day. He explained how this shot right here is my weakness. Trying to hit a long iron in a difficult situation. And he was right. This shot has always been my nemesis. I think about what Gus taught me. The correct golf swing is one that swings the same with a long iron as a short iron. You do not need to change your swing just because you have a long iron in a difficult situation. The wind is picking up. Zack recommends a three iron. I start to get a little nervous. I think about all the times that I have had this shot and blew it. But then I think of what Gus told me. It's all about the tempo. Tempo is the key to making use of the physics of the golf swing to make good solid shots. So I just think Tempo, Tempo, Tempo. I relax and block everything out for a few seconds and I make a good swing. And it is on the money! About 15 feet pin high just left of the pin. A very makeable putt.

Cory looks concerned. His shot is no picnic either. But he is a pro and has been in this situation many times. He hits a great shot also about 15 feet from the pin high on the right side of the green. If I can make my putt and he misses his, then we are even with four holes to go. We get to the green and he is just barely out, so he putts first. He made a great putt. But not good enough. He played a break to the left, but it did not break like he expected. He was not a happy camper. I went to school on his putt. Zack and I both were looking at a good break on my putt. But after seeing his we knew it was not as much break as we thought. I had practice a lot on my putting the last several days and we will see it pays off. This was a speed put. Just make a good stroke and play a little break let it die at the hole. I made the stroke, and the ball turned towards the hole and dropped! I jumped and made a big fist pump. I was really pumped. The funny thing. I had forgotten about the Gallery. I heard some big cheers so I guess I have some fans here after all. The TV telecast was building this up as a big drama with a big finish. Four holes to go and we are even.

We get to Hole 15 which is a long par three. Zack was correct. There are more bogeys to be had today. Tough conditions, the wind was picking up and swirling on this hole. We both hit good solid shots. But missed the green on our approach shot. I was in thick wet sandy grass. Somehow I was able to chip out of that mess and onto the green. But a long 30 feet from the hole. Cory had his problems as well. He was in the sand bunker with a bad lie. He was able to blast out it on the green. But he had a long putt. We both two putted for bogey. We are even with three holes to go.

We get to Hole 16 which is a very long par 4. I hit a good drive. Then I and hit a good long iron shot on the green about 50 feet from the hole on the front of the green. Not ideal but I am putting. Cory hit his second shot in the sand trap on the back of the green. His second sand trap in two holes and he was not happy. As we get to the green to look things over I see that I was in fair shape. But not so good for Cory. He was in the back Sand Tramp, and the pin was on the back. He did not have much green to work with. I was on the green but I was out. So I putted first. It was a long put. The green was damp where my ball is sitting. But I know it is dry and fast by the hole. “This putt has three putt written all over it” I told myself. But I made a great putt. And I had a tap in for a par. I was very happy and relieved.

Advantage me because Cory has a tough shot. His lie in the sand trap was not terrible, but not good either. I could not see how he could possibly get out of the trap and keep the ball from going way past the pin. Also I could see him not even making it out of the trap if he did not hit it perfect. The trap had a big lip he had to go over. However, he is the best player in the world. And the best player in the world makes great golf shots. And that's what he did. I do not know how he did it. He blasted out of the sand and the ball had great backspin and landed three feet from the hole. The gallery went crazy. He makes his putt for a par. I was not happy about that. However, that was one of the best shots I have ever seen. And I can appreciate a good shot. I can see why he is number one in the world.

Things are getting tight. Two holes to go and we are even. Hole 17 is a long par 3 into the wind. “Three iron” says Zack and hand it to me and smiles. “I got this” I told him. Here we go again. I have long iron shot in a tough situation, dead into a cool wind. But I do not have any thoughts like I used to have. I have confidence now. I blast my three iron 10 feet from the hole. “That was a golf shot” someone said. I turned around, and it was Cory. I thanked him for that comment. And he is right. I am hitting true golf shots now in heated competition. This is fun. And that little voice in the back of my head is having a blast. Cory hits a good shot also but about 20 feet from the hole.

As we get to the green you can feel the tension. The TV cast is happy because drama is building. Cory takes a while to line up his putt a hits a great putt. The ball looks like it is going in all the way, and the gallery starts to cheer, but the ball lips out. He had a little too much speed. And the gallery sighs with disappointment. Zack and I study my putt. Nothing special just straight in. I address the ball, take a deep breath. I make a good stroke and knock it right in the back of the cup. I give a little fist pump but not too much. I am not in celebration mood. I a determined mood. I hardly notice that I got huge cheers from the gallery.