TimTri

Back in July I caddied for a man from Virginia. Over with just his son, who caddies at Kinloch back home. I've never seen a player so nervous. He was terrified to hit in front of people. The first two holes I didn't read a single putt. I just worked on calming him down. I told him I've seen a 67 and I've seen a 172 round here. Since 1998 I've seen it all. You're going to hit some bad shots today and not one person cares. We just want you to enjoy it. Breathe. Slow the swing down. For two holes he couldn't hit a barn door from a yard away. Then he told me something. He'd been talking with his wife before the trip. This week might be the only time in his life he gets to spend a week alone with his son. Just the two of them. And they were doing it here, in Scotland, playing golf, even though playing in front of people terrifies him. He was facing the thing that scared him most, for the chance to be with his boy. Then on the 3rd he piped his drive straight down the middle. The pressure lifted right off him. He turned round and gave me a massive hug. The relief in that hug was palpable. I'll be honest, the relief was there for me as well. It was only a couple of holes in but I already really liked him. There was a lot going on for him. The only time in his life he gets to spend a week with his boy, the nerves of playing in front of people. Playing the hardest course on the Open rota. It was an emotional day for him. I was just as delighted to see him crack that drive down the middle. Here's the kicker. This man was a heart surgeon. He told me that doing this, playing golf in front of people, was harder than heart surgery. That's what this game does to people. A father facing his biggest fear for a week with his son. And that's why the job is never really just about the golf. What's the most nervous you have been on a course?