Golf In A Parallel Universe (3 page)

But as time passes things seem to be getting settled in and a lot more people are coming in. A lot of the golfers that are still in town come in. Some of them top money winners and even big name top tier players that have won majors congratulate me. They all tell me that my life will change after you first major. They are all so genuinely nice and happy for me.

One thing about PGA golfers. We are a close nit group and everyone is always willing to help another player. They will give advice or golf tips or whatever they can do to help out. Even the number one tour money winner is just one of the guys in the Clubhouse or on the course away from the crowds. Sure you have the superstar rich famous golfers. But they are just one of the guys when they are together with the other golfers. They know how hard it is to succeed in this business and they just want to be one of the guys and have fun.

The party is cooking along, and then one of the legends of the game, Jacob Regan drops in and comes up and congratulates me. I am so honored and very nervous. He is the all time leading winner of Major Golf tournaments in the world, and considered to be the greatest golfer of all time. “My gosh, he was such a nice guy," I tell myself. He did not just make a 30 second appearance and congratulated me. He told me how it was nice to see me get this win. He was very sincere and happy for me. He knew how I have struggled over the years and told me that this victory will be something very special for me the rest of my life. He also told me that Bernie Sellers, which is probably the all time legend of the game, and a friend of Mr. Regan, asked him to congratulate me. He was not able to make it. I told him to please tell Mr. Sellers that I am grateful to hear from me. We talked for about 10 minutes. And after the first couple of minutes I was very relaxed. He has a way of putting people to ease. We just talked about golf, and life. It seemed he is just one of the guys. So it was a real pleasure.

There were few other big names come in to congratulate me and they were all so nice. I really felt honored. But eventually they mingled in the crowd. There were a few TV stars and some Movie stars here as well. A couple of them congratulated me. But most of them were just here to be seen. As the night went on, things got a little more lively. Some groupies had made their way in somehow. On the tour you have a few women who follow the circuit and work their way to some of the players or whom ever they can get their hands on. Some just are partiers, and some are gold diggers. There have been many of young PGA golfers that have their careers ruined by these girls. I have seen some of my buddies in my young career lose everything, so I made up my mind not to get caught up in that. One of them talked me for a few minutes. She was attractive and I know she would be a good time. But I know these groupies, no way I am getting involved. I politely tell her I have to go. So it's getting late and things are starting rock and it is all a blast. I did not hardly but drink, but I loosen up and I am enjoying the party. This is my night, the party if for me. I feel like this is my special day even though I have never had one like this. I think it feels like the day that I got Married. But why? I have never been married. When you are married you have a big wedding everyone comes to see you and your Bride so they are all here for you. I think that's what it must feel like when you on your wedding day. Strange that I have a déjà vu about a wedding.

About 11:30pm, most of the important or big people are gone. One of my pro golfers buddies wife has been trying to introduce me to one of her single friends for months. She is not a groupie. Just a very nice and attractive girl. She was at the party and we were introduced for the first time. She was very nice and the type of girl that I could see myself getting involved in. Nice, sweet and pretty. We were introduced and talked for a while. She was great and I could tell she is not the type of person who gets caught up in all of the hoopla of the pro tour and money and all that goes with that. She is the perfect girl that I would like to be involved with. As we talked I could tell that she liked me and there may be a possibility that we could see each other in the future and maybe develop a relationship. She was a friend of one of my friends. She had good stable career and I felt she is the same boat that I am in, just looking for a good person for a relationship. But the strangest thing happened. I talked to her for a about 30 minutes and we were starting to get to know each other. I sensed she likes me and I sure liked her. But as things progressed, I had this odd feeling that I was cheating on someone. “What’s going on?” I ask myself. I meet the first person in years where I feel like there may have the possibility of a nice relationship, and now I have this crazy emotion that I am cheating on someone? I am confused. But that feeling is very strong. I eventually bow out of our conversation and mingle with other people in the party. Mostly a lot of my friends and a few other people. Some people are pretty plowed and the night is winding down. They are taking advantage of the free drinks. Then to my Surprise, late in the evening Jerry Churchill walks in. “This guy is old. Is it past his bedtime?," I said to myself. He congratulates me for a couple of minutes, he is very nice and very sincere. Then he mingles with the crowd.

After about 12:30 I am tired and ready to call it a night. People are starting to leave. I sit down at one of the tables which is of the long row tables with white table cloths which are now is stained with food and drinks. I take a breath wondering when do I leave this place. I am not sure the protocol for this. Do I stay to the last person his here? Or can I leave and let the hard core partiers party on? Then to my surprise Jerry Churchill sits down across the table from me and ask how I am doing. I am surprised to see him again. He is so amazing! He is 78 but looks 58. Here is is 12:30am, and he is wide awake and enjoying everything. He does not drink at all. He is a health nut. Gosh, I hope I am in the shape that he is in when I am his age. Heck, I wish I was as good a shape now as he is. I could not believe I was here talking to him. He is a golf legend. He has won nine major tournaments in his career.

So we start chatting. He is a great conversationalist but almost too much of a talker. He is one of those guys that can ramble on for ever and you never know where he going. He tells me how proud he is of me and that he has been watching me for years. I remembered he said that to the 18th green today. I asked him how he even knew me and why had he watched me over the years. He said that when I first came in on the tour that I reminded me of him. I had about the same type of golf game as him and we both started playing golf relative late in our careers both in High School. He said when I first started a lot of people thought that I would never last as a pro over 2 years and he was glad to see that I proved them wrong. Then he mentioned how sorry he was to hear about my parents being killed in the car accident my first year on the tour, and he knew that they were real proud of me. He said after that he started following me to see how I would do. When he told me that, I almost felt like crying, I was really touched. “Thank you very much." I told him. He went on to talk about how he knows the last few years have been difficult for me. He told me that happens to everyone. Then he pulled up his glass of Orange Juice and Said “Cheers! You deserve this day buddy”! I toasted him with my glass of water and we just laughed.

Then we just starting talking about today's round and how I came out of nowhere to capture the prize. “Did you change your swing a little recently by shortening your backswing?," he asked. He went on to explain that as I was coming down the stretch they were analyzing my swing. The TV folks came up with some footage of my swing a couple of years ago and we were comparing my old swing to today's swing. He explained that he was drawing on the screen with the tele illustrator and showing how a couple of years ago that my backswing was way past parallel and now it is right at Parallel. “Is that something that you have changed," he asked. I told him that I have not really intentionally changed my backswing for technique purposes. But I had to shorten it because I am having a problem with my right shoulder because of an old baseball injury. When I go too far back it hurts. So I shorted it up a little and do not have much pain. I told him I never really put 2 and 2 together but it seems that I have had a little more control since I shorted it up and maybe it has improved my game. He told me that when you're young, you can get away with a really long backswing but as you get older you will not be able to get the club face back to square and will have trouble with control. “So if you can keep your backswing about Parallel it will give you more control," he told me. I told him thanks for the advice and I will work on that for sure. “Heck maybe I will start playing better after this big win," I told him. “That may very well happen, you never can tell," he replied. He explained that after this big win, I may have more confidence in my game. “I remember after my first Major I felt very confident and never looked back, he told me. He also told me. not to put too much pressure on myself. A lot of times after a bit win, you try too hard then fail miserably because you have high expectations. “So just be consistent, do what you know you need to do with your game," he explained. He went on to explain that I may find new enthusiasm for the game. Or I may burn out quickly. He told me to just keep an even mental attitude with my game. Try to separate your game preparation from all the extra attention that I will be getting after winning a major tournament. “Everyone will want talk to you and tell you how great you are that you did this. But that is all fluff," he told me. I told him that makes sense and I will work on that. I also told him that I was even pondering retirement but I have not decided about that. He said that is always a possibility and you have to go with your heart. But if I decide to continue to play to give it my all. I told him that is good advice.

It is getting late and people are filing out. People would drop by shake my hand and congratulate me and shake Jerry;s hand as well. He finally got up, “Well past my bedtime, I got to go” he said shaking my hand with a good firm shake. Then he looked me in the eye and said “Keep it Parallel Jim, Keep it Parallel." At that moment I just froze. My grip got weak, and he looked at me concerned “ Are you OK Jim?," he asked.

“Keep it Parallel?," I asked with a confused look. “Yeah, that's what we were talking about on you shorter backswing," he replied. “Ah, yeah, Ok," I replied. For some reason I had some strange Déjà vu, like I have heard that before," I said shaking my head. He just laughed slapped me on the back. “Hey it's been a long emotional day. Your mind will act like that on big days like this days like this. “Don't worry about that," he told me in an assuring tone. “Before I forget,” he told me as he was pulling out his phone. “As I mentioned before I am working on the TV broadcast this year. This is the first year I have done this, and I am really enjoying it. I will be around on the PGA circuit a lot this year. Is it OK if we keep in touch?” He asked. “Uh, sure," I replied. He asked if I had my cell phone with me and I told him that I did. He gave me my number, and I gave him mine. He told me feel free to call me or text me any time. “Sure, sounds great," I told him. “Good”! , he replied. He said my life will be changing very dramatically the next few weeks, and it is always good to have someone to talk to if needed, so give him a call or text any time. “I guess winning a major will change my boring life a little," I replied laughing. He started to say something then stopped. “Ah yea, winning a major will really change your life sometimes” he replied. “Take care buddy, talk to you later," he said as he was walking out. It almost was like he had something else to tell me, but he did not want to talk about it.

By this time, I was exhausted. I was ready to go to bed. The party was winding down and I called it a night. Finally about 1:30am I got to my room. I needed to sleep. As I laid in bed I thought about the events of day. I just could not believe that I won The Masters today. Even though I had won this tournament. I had felt like I had also been somewhere else today. It was very strange. But I was very tired and fell to sleep quickly.

I slept to 9:30am the next morning, and it was great. I really needed the sleep. I feel tired but pretty good physically and great emotionally. I sit down by the window and drink a cup of coffee and ponder what will the future hold for me. The next few days will be busy for me. Today I am off to New York. My agent has sent me my Itinerary for travel and hotel. Tomorrow morning I will be picked up at the hotel at 5:30am sharp and they will take to the “Today's Show” on NBC. Then back to the hotel. Then NBC will pick me up again later that afternoon taping of the “Tonight's Show." I could not believe this is all happening to me. I turn my cell phone on and have a million text and Messages. “That's new, all of a sudden people want to talk to me," I tell myself. I call my agent and he tells me about the trip to New York. Also he said that he has already had calls for some sponsors so things may be getting a little crazy. I tell him to do what he can and keep me posted. “Man I am so hungry," I tell myself. The hotel has a buffet style breakfast so I head down for some food. As I make it down I run into a couple of people that recognize me and want my Autograph. Funny, I never get asked for Autographs. About the only time is when I am at the course and on the practice range or the practice rounds when the gallery has access to the players. Sometimes someone, mostly kids will ask for an autograph, even though they have no idea who I am. But out in public like this, it never happens.

I make it to the airport Monday afternoon. The plan is to fly to New York and get in that night. Then tomorrow morning do the “Today's Show” and then taping of the “Tonight's Show” Tuesday afternoon. I get to the airport and a couple of people recognize me and ask for my autograph. So bizarre that this is happening to me now. NBC booked the flight and I am flying in First Class. “Wow!," I said to myself. The last few years as a no-named professional golfer who has struggled week to week. I was either driving to the next tournament if I could. Or if I flew it was always coach. “Nice," I said to myself as I settled into my nice comfortable seat. As we were flying to New York I was sitting next to this very nice women. She had no idea who I was. But she was a good conservationist, and we had a good visit. She was single from what I could tell, and very attractive and a nice person. She was not flirting with me or anything like that we were just talking. But all that time, I had that same feeling as the night before at the party. I felt like I did not want to talk to her because I was cheating on someone. “Where the hell is this coming from," I ask myself?. I have been single for ever. And as a single guy you are always looking for a chance to meet someone. But the last two days I have met two women who would be the type of person that I would like to get to know. But I feel like I am cheating on someone when I talked to them. “Man! Winning a major, must mess with your mind," I said to myself.