It’s kind of of a fairy story as solely golf can present. By way of qualifying occasions, the PGA Championship, as we all know, presents round twenty spots to PGA of America instructing professionals. Final yr, Michael Block made headlines by enjoying exceptionally properly (ending fifteenth).
This time, even earlier than the primary drives are struck at Valhalla, the heartwarming story revolves round a 61-year-old professional from Oklahoma, Tracy Phillips.
EDITOR’S PICKS
Pga, story
Thought of in his youth as among the best junior golfers in America, Tracy Phillips however didn’t pursue a profession on the skilled circuits.
Blame it on a number of accidents, however totally on an issue that some professionals have sadly skilled: the yips. Just like the Breton François Delamontagne, it was driving yips that saved Tracy Phillips away from tournaments. For over 20 years, he utterly stopped enjoying aggressive golf.
“I used to be utterly disgusted with my sport,” he defined in a confession to Golf Digest in 2020. “I attempted enjoying in a number of regional tournaments. I even tried the Asian Tour. However I used to be spraying it in all places. I made a decision to not contact a golf membership in match play for 20 years.” Alongside Michael Block at Valhalla After briefly making an attempt out a number of professions (fisherman, caddie), Tracy Phillips turned a golf teacher.
After 20 years of hiatus, he slowly returned to competitors in senior occasions the place his expertise rapidly earned him good outcomes. The yips had vanished. And the fairy story got here true. Within the qualifying occasion for the PGA Championship in San Francisco, Phillips clinched a spot by ending within the eighth and closing qualifying place.
The Tulsa-based teacher will subsequently play in his very first Main at 61. He might be at Valhalla from Might sixteenth to nineteenth alongside Michael Block, one other teacher who lit up the match final yr by ending fifteenth, together with a hole-in-one witnessed by his associate Rory McIlroy. Golf is really a sport for a lifetime, the place all goals are attainable, even after 60…
