Alright, folks, let’s talk about that John Deere Classic Monday qualifier. Man, what a day that was!
So, I got to the course at the crack of dawn, like, it was still dark out, you know? I was ready to give it my all. There were tons of other guys there, all with the same dream – get one of those four spots and play with the big boys in the John Deere Classic. Only four spots, can you believe it?
I teed off, and my heart was just pounding. I hit some great shots, made some decent putts. It was a real grind out there. I was trying to focus, just play my game, but it’s hard not to think about what’s at stake.
- First hole: I just tried to keep my tee shot in the fairway, made a decent approach, and two-putted for par. Not bad.
- Midway: Felt good, really in the zone. Made a couple of birdies, that felt amazing.
- Back nine: Things got tight. Nerves started to kick in. Had a bogey, felt my stomach drop. But I told myself, “keep going, just keep going.”
I finished my round, and man, I was exhausted. I’d given it everything I had. Then came the waiting game. I watched the scores come in, and it was nerve-wracking. Names started popping up on the leaderboard. I saw my name up there, but so many guys were still out on the course.
The Results
In the end, I saw the final scores, and my name was still there near the top. But, only the top four get in, right? There was a tie for the fourth spot. Can you believe it? A tie! They had to go into a sudden-death playoff to decide the last spot.
I heard later that some guy named Reid Martin made it through. Good for him. That’s golf for you, a real rollercoaster. I didn’t make it this time, but I learned a lot about myself, about handling the pressure. You know what they say, “there’s always next year.”
This whole experience, it was something else. It’s tough, no doubt, but it’s also exciting. I mean, who wouldn’t want to play in a PGA Tour event? I’ll be back, that’s for sure. I’ll keep practicing, keep grinding, and hopefully, one day, I’ll be the one playing in the John Deere Classic.
