Jerry Kelly hits his tee shot on Sunday on the seventeenth gap at Prestonwood Nation Membership.
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“Johnny, I’m retaining my toes calm.”
“Johnny, I’m retaining my toes calm.”
“Johnny, I’m retaining my toes calm.”
Again and again, over 67 strokes on Sunday, throughout 18 Prestonwood Nation Membership holes, Jerry Kelly stated he burdened that to himself, and he stated he adopted by means of on it, and wouldn’t you already know it — it labored. He’s your winner this week on the PGA Tour Champions circuit, on the SAS Championship. Sad toes. And a cheerful golfer.
Identical 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 therapy led to again problems that not till not too long ago had been cleared up. “Hopefully I don’t should have surgical procedure in any respect,” Kelly stated, including in a really Kelly method, “and we will simply have that jelly return within the doughnut by some means.” The Jon Trasamar information, although, was most making an attempt to him. All of it got here to nationwide gentle final November, after PGA Tour professional Erik van Rooyen gained in Mexico, and van Rooyen stated Trasamar, van Rooyen’s faculty 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 powerful,” Kelly stated. Final Saturday, Kelly stated people held a memorial golf occasion for Johnny.
Every 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 total quote is beneath.
“Nicely, I performed when Freddie [Couples] gained just a few years in the past and he completely blitzed us all, I feel he shot 60. I used to be making an attempt to channel that somewhat bit. Actually, we simply had a memorial service for Jon Trasamar, Trazzy, final Saturday. That, I can’t inform you, he was taking part in by means of me right this moment. 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 might right this moment, that’s it. That’s why it occurred.”
A short time later, a reporter was curious if Kelly would share extra.
He paused. Perhaps all of it sounded bizarre. However Kelly determined you need to hear. The total quote is beneath.
“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 work out — the ball was going nowhere. I couldn’t do something. I couldn’t swing.
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“Jon confirmed up final evening, stated, ‘Hey, thoughts if I say one thing?’ I imply, greatest smile on his face. He had somewhat 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 hold your toes calm for per week and also you performed nice.’
“Over each shot right this moment I used to be like, ‘Johnny, I’m retaining my toes calm.’ I imply, it was essentially the most unbelievable reward. I thank God for that reward, letting him are available in. 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 positively my favourite win,” Kelly stated. I imply, there’s no query. It simply means a lot extra.
“It’s fairly unbelievable.”
