Jerry Kelly hits his tee shot on Sunday on the seventeenth gap at Prestonwood Nation Membership.
Getty Pictures
“Johnny, I’m preserving my ft calm.”
“Johnny, I’m preserving my ft calm.”
“Johnny, I’m preserving my ft calm.”
Again and again, over 67 strokes on Sunday, throughout 18 Prestonwood Nation Membership holes, Jerry Kelly stated he harassed that to himself, and he stated he adopted via on it, and wouldn’t 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 could possibly be Saturday evening.
Previous to the week, the yr had been arduous for Kelly. He was contending, however was hurting. He stated he’s been identified with lyme and rheumatoid arthritis, and remedy led to again problems that not till not too long ago have been cleared up. “Hopefully I don’t must have surgical procedure in any respect,” Kelly stated, including in a really Kelly approach, “and we are able to simply have that jelly return within the doughnut one way or the other.” The Jon Trasamar information, although, was most attempting 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 stated Trasamar, van Rooyen’s school teammate and finest pal, was dying. The scene was emotional. Simply days later, Trasamar handed.
He’d additionally been the husband of Kelly’s niece, Allie. Kelly stated everybody was shut. They consider Allie as a daughter. She’s been touring a bit with the professional, Kelly stated. To South Dakota. To Pebble. To Napa. “Yeah, love is robust,” Kelly stated. Final Saturday, Kelly stated people held a memorial golf occasion for Johnny.
Per week later, on Saturday evening, Kelly stated Johnny got here to him in a dream.
Sunday, Kelley first stated it briefly in his opening thought in his winner’s press convention, and the complete quote is under.
“Effectively, 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 attempting to channel that slightly bit. Actually, we simply had a memorial service for Jon Trasamar, Trazzy, final Saturday. That, I can’t inform you, he was enjoying via me right now. 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 may right now, 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 it is best to hear. The complete 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 determine — the ball was going nowhere. I couldn’t do something. I couldn’t swing.
Tour Confidential: Rory’s merger outlook, Ryder Cup learnings and extra
“Jon confirmed up final evening, stated, ‘Hey, thoughts if I say one thing?’ I imply, greatest smile on his face. He had slightly Southern accent in there, too. I imply, I used to be simply shocked.
“All he stated was, ‘You already know, the final time this occurred, you and Coop performed and all you tried to do was preserve your ft calm for every week and also you performed nice.’
“Over each shot right now I used to be like, ‘Johnny, I’m preserving my ft calm.’ I imply, it was essentially the most unbelievable reward. I thank God for that reward, letting him are available. 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 undoubtedly my favourite win,” Kelly stated. I imply, there’s no query. It simply means a lot extra.
“It’s fairly unbelievable.”
