I have traveled this continent working with many of my players at different events. During this period, I have observed many great players, blind dreamers, and loyal grinders who are all an inch away from pure mental and financial struggle.
For example the Nationwide Tour is full of marvelous and experienced players. The members of this tour are a concoction of ex-PGA Tour players driving around in customized Mercedes Benz and tricked up luxury cars as well as really solid players who have healthy sponsorship from friends or family which helps them to stay afloat and finally the players who are already in debt and getting poorer by the week in this most difficult career choice.
They have alimony payments, broken relationships. Some were the next ‘can’t miss kid’. Some are kidding themselves that glory will somehow be found at the end of this long and uncertain tunnel.
Regardless of the player and their most current reality, there is the love for the game. It is the game they have always succeeded at and as the years go by and thousands more join the pursuit it becomes the game that gets increasingly more difficult to make a living at.
High expenses and weak pay cheques make this a labour of love and not something with a marked margin. Interesting to observe and humbling to understand.
So when a kid tells me he wants to play on the PGA Tour, I say two things. The first is “go for it and work tremendously hard”, and the second thing I say is, “are you sure”?
- Behind the Ropes : GolfScene Magazine | Fall 2008
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