Jerry Kelly hits his tee shot on Sunday on the seventeenth gap at Prestonwood Nation Membership.
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“Johnny, I’m protecting my ft calm.”
“Johnny, I’m protecting my ft calm.”
“Johnny, I’m protecting my ft calm.”
Again and again, over 67 strokes on Sunday, throughout 18 Prestonwood Nation Membership holes, Jerry Kelly stated he pressured that to himself, and he stated he adopted by way of on it, and wouldn’t you understand it — it labored. He’s your winner this week on the PGA Tour Champions circuit, on the SAS Championship. Sad ft. And a cheerful golfer.
Similar to Johnny thought he could possibly be Saturday night time.
Previous to the week, the yr had been arduous for Kelly. He was contending, however was hurting. He stated he’s been recognized with lyme and rheumatoid arthritis, and therapy led to again issues that not till lately have been cleared up. “Hopefully I don’t need to have surgical procedure in any respect,” Kelly stated, including in a really Kelly manner, “and we are able to simply have that jelly return within the doughnut one way or the other.” 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 greatest buddy, 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 night time, 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 under.
“Properly, 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 just a little bit. Actually, we simply had a memorial service for Jon Trasamar, Trazzy, final Saturday. That, I can’t let you know, he was enjoying by way of me immediately. I don’t even know what to say. He got here to me final night time and I’ll always remember it. It’s a present from God. I simply performed for him as a lot as I might immediately, 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 it’s best to hear. The total quote is under.
“I imply, I used to be going to maintain this one to me. I had a dream final night time 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 night time, stated, ‘Hey, thoughts if I say one thing?’ I imply, largest smile on his face. He had just a little 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 preserve your ft calm for every week and also you performed nice.’
“Over each shot immediately I used to be like, ‘Johnny, I’m protecting my ft calm.’ I imply, it was essentially the most unimaginable present. I thank God for that present, 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 undoubtedly my favourite win,” Kelly stated. I imply, there’s no query. It simply means a lot extra.
“It’s fairly unimaginable.”
