Jerry Kelly hits his tee shot on Sunday on the seventeenth gap at Prestonwood Nation Membership.
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“Johnny, I’m protecting my ft calm.”
“Johnny, I’m protecting my ft calm.”
“Johnny, I’m protecting my ft calm.”
Time and again, over 67 strokes on Sunday, throughout 18 Prestonwood Nation Membership holes, Jerry Kelly mentioned he confused that to himself, and he mentioned he adopted by on it, and wouldn’t you understand it — it labored. He’s your winner this week on the PGA Tour Champions circuit, on the SAS Championship. Sad ft. And a contented golfer.
Similar to Johnny thought he may very well be Saturday evening.
Previous to the week, the 12 months had been arduous for Kelly. He was contending, however was hurting. He mentioned he’s been identified with lyme and rheumatoid arthritis, and therapy led to again problems that not till lately had been cleared up. “Hopefully I don’t need to have surgical procedure in any respect,” Kelly mentioned, including in a really Kelly approach, “and we will simply have that jelly return within the doughnut someway.” The Jon Trasamar information, although, was most making an attempt to him. All of it got here to nationwide mild final November, after PGA Tour professional Erik van Rooyen received in Mexico, and van Rooyen mentioned Trasamar, van Rooyen’s school teammate and finest buddy, was dying. The scene was emotional. Simply days later, Trasamar handed.
He’d additionally been the husband of Kelly’s niece, Allie. Kelly mentioned everybody was shut. They consider Allie as a daughter. She’s been touring a bit with the professional, Kelly mentioned. To South Dakota. To Pebble. To Napa. “Yeah, love is powerful,” Kelly mentioned. Final Saturday, Kelly mentioned of us held a memorial golf occasion for Johnny.
Every week later, on Saturday evening, Kelly mentioned Johnny got here to him in a dream.
Sunday, Kelley first mentioned it briefly in his opening thought in his winner’s press convention, and the complete quote is under.
“Nicely, I performed when Freddie [Couples] received a couple of years in the past and he completely blitzed us all, I believe he shot 60. I used to be making an attempt to channel that a bit of bit. Actually, we simply had a memorial service for Jon Trasamar, Trazzy, final Saturday. That, I can’t let you know, he was enjoying by me immediately. I don’t even know what to say. He got here to me final evening and I’ll always remember it. It’s a present from God. I simply performed for him as a lot as I might immediately, that’s it. That’s why it occurred.”
A short time later, a reporter was curious if Kelly would share extra.
He paused. Possibly all of it sounded bizarre. However Kelly determined you must hear. The total quote is under.
“I imply, I used to be going to maintain this one to me. I had a dream final evening and I used to be hitting balls with my coach, Jim Schuman. We couldn’t work out — the ball was going nowhere. I couldn’t do something. I couldn’t swing.
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“Jon confirmed up final evening, mentioned, ‘Hey, thoughts if I say one thing?’ I imply, largest smile on his face. He had a bit of Southern accent in there, too. I imply, I used to be simply shocked.
“All he mentioned was, ‘You already know, the final time this occurred, you and Coop performed and all you tried to do was hold your ft calm for per week and also you performed nice.’
“Over each shot immediately I used to be like, ‘Johnny, I’m protecting my ft calm.’ I imply, it was essentially the most unimaginable reward. I thank God for that reward, letting him are available in. I can’t — I can’t consider it occurred. And this has occurred. It’s loopy.”
Kelly then described him. Most of that’s above. For extra, we respectfully level you right here. On the finish of the session, Kelly was requested what the win meant to him.
Simple one.
“Due to that, that is my — that is positively my favourite win,” Kelly mentioned. I imply, there’s no query. It simply means a lot extra.
“It’s fairly unimaginable.”
