The moment of truth had finally arrived. It was the biggest golfing event of the year, the annual Rijnmond Open Golf Tournament. This was something I had been looking forward to for the whole year. From the championship back tees, playing against the big boys, many of them young low handicappers, less than half my age and less than half my handicap.
There I was going strong with a nice even par thirty-six on the front nine. Just coasting along fine and after thirteen holes still moving smoothly at even par. Only five holes to go, just keep your cool and stay in the zone my friend. Never before since I was a kid had I made it so far along in an official tournament with such a great round of golf at even par.
Trying not to think.
That's when I started thinking. Never do that, it'll kill you off just like that. I started thinking and figured that no matter what might happen, at least I'd break eighty. Nothing could possibly go wrong. Which was my goal for the tournament, to shoot in the seventies, just once. Anything is possible in golf, and the round is never finished until the little white golf ball falls in the eighteenth hole at the very last putt of the day. Nothing can go wrong now.
But it did, unfortunately. Fame and fortune would have to wait for another day ...
It all started with an easy second shot to the par four fourteenth hole, just a half-swing seven iron to the green. Hit the ball a little fat and pulled it slightly to watch it bounce into the left sand trap. Bogie. After that it was down hill all the way. Bogie, bogie, double-bogie and on the last hole a stellar quadruple-bogie eight, right in front of the crowd.
Funny how they even clapped politely when I putted it in for an eight. Little did they realize the terrible mental torture I had been going through, I just smiled and acted as if I was having a really great time. Holding my ball up high and raising my golfing cap to them all in thanks.
From even par to nine over par in only five holes, I wonder how that is possible. I guess I will never know, even if I replay those disastrous shots in mind head over and over and over again.
My final score was: 82 + 85 + 80 = 247 (10 strokes higher than last year).
