A Lesson Learned at Pebble

It’s only day one of the 2010 US Open, but I now have a new favorite golfer.

Morgan Hoffmann is only a sophomore at Oklahoma State University.  Many of his friends are probably spending their summers doing a variety of things us regular Americans might be doing. 

They’re probably working summer jobs, maybe taking an extra class or two, or if they’re lucky… vacationing at a beach resort. 

Not Morgan. 

Nope, Morgan is playing in the US Open as an amateur.  Phil Mickelson is here…Tiger Woods is here…and Morgan Hoffmann is here.

And Morgan Hoffmann was sitting at even par after 17 holes of his first round ever at the prestigious and historic US Open Pebble Beach course.  It’s almost a “super human” thing to imagine?

And then Morgan became human again.

Those of us who have swung a golf club or two can tell you that the game is not as easy as it looks.  The game can be very humbling to say the least.

When Morgan Hoffmann teed off on the 18^th hole, his tee shot settled dangerously close to a fairly big tree that sat directly in front of the ball.

Many of us hackers know this shot well.  You choke up a bit on the club and try to hook the ball around the tree sacrificing distance for placement and hope to “live to shoot another day”.

But something went horribly wrong.  Morgan’s shot rattled off the tree and caromed into the ocean about 40 yards to his left.

His next shot, after the penalty drop, found the ocean as well.

After wrestling a sand trap and losing more than once on this same hole, Morgan finished the 18th with a nine. 

The crowd roared with good wishes as if to say, “Don’t worry about it kid,” and Morgan dug his ball out of the cup and smiled very broadly with some embarrassment as evident by his very flushed complexion.

I’ve done that.  I’ve had nine strokes on a hole.  Actually, I’ve done that more times than I can tell you.

But the way the kid handled himself was a thing of beauty. 

After waving in acknowledgment to the crowd while still smiling, he drew in a deep breath, and promptly threw the ball deep into the neighboring ocean to be with it’s two brothers who had just earlier found their way there too.

I like that kid.  And when round two begins, he’ll only be four strokes over par.

Even if Morgan Hoffmann doesn’t make the cut he’ll take home some great experience that will help lead him to victories down the road.  And I’m one guy who will remember that disastrous 18^th hole when Morgan finally becomes a champion at some future event. 

More importantly, I’ll remember the way he was able to smile and enjoy the moment, rather than crumble and dissolve as many of us would have done. 

Nice job Morgan.  I’d buy you a beer, but you don’t turn 21 until August. 

Go gettum kid.