Chapter 40
“Ladies and gentlemen,it is a privilege and an honor to welcome your British Open champion, Walker Collins.” The master of ceremonies smiles over at me during the media press conference.
The last eight hours have been a complete whirlwind from putting an eagle on the eighteenth hole to move to first place, to waiting for the golfers who started after me to finish so I could see if my lead would stay, to holding up the Claret Jug in front of dozens of cameras and a cheering crowd. This whole thing doesn’t seem real.
“Walker, congratulations on your great victory.”
I force a smile, even though my head is swimming in shock.
“Two years after your breakthrough at the Masters, here you are again, the last man standing, as a two-time Major champion. Can you describe your emotions as you hit your final putt?”
I draw in a deep breath and lean toward the microphone. “It’s hard to put into words how special this moment is. It’s been a long week.” I shake my head, laughing to myself. “Actually, it’s been a long year and a half since I won the Masters. Golf is so challenging, and when you throw in a back injury and surgery on top of that, it’s been really difficult to get to a place where I felt like I could compete with the best of the best again. To be sitting here and to be able to take home the Claret Jug is an incredible feeling.”
“You mentioned your injury and surgery. What’s different about this tournament than your first tournament back after surgery earlier this year, where you didn’t even make the Saturday cut?”
Jane.
Before I met her, I was wandering in darkness. I was at my lowest low, but she breathed life into me. She filled me with warmth and happiness and gave me purpose outside of golf.
She’s changed me for the better.
But I’m not going into all of that during the British Open post-interview.
“Honestly, I had to change some things since that first tournament. My mental game wasn’t in a good place, and I needed to take a month or so off and get back to a healthier space where I could just play golf and not worry so much about the outcome.”
“And is that what you did here? Play your game and not worry about the outcome?”
“I mean, you’re always worried and nervous about the outcome, but I’m learning my best golf is played when I’m relaxed and not solely focused on winning. I kept my head down and didn’t worry about anybody else.”
“Walker?” Another journalist raises his hand, jumping right into his question. “I know you said you kept your head down, but was there ever any part of the day where you allowed yourself to enjoy the lead you had?”
“Enjoy the lead? No.” I laugh. “But I did enjoy the day. Your mind starts to wander a little bit on the golf course. I mean, you’re out there for four to five hours. I tried to let my mind wander in a productive way and enjoy the moment. I looked around at the crowd and at the blue sky and green grass and really tried to soak it all in. Because with golf, you’re not always in this position, no matter how hard you work. I never got too attached to my lead. I just kept trying to keep my head in a good spot and appreciate where I was.”
I also thought about Jane and all the reasons I like her—maybe even love her. As I walked from shot to shot, the image of her in my mind kept me relaxed. The memory of her skin against mine and the feel of her arms hugging me close calmed me all day long. I’ve never had that before. I’ve never felt a calming influence while I competed.
“Walker, I’ve been following your career for years.” Sam Stewart from Golf World smiles at me. “And with that last answer, I feel like I’m looking at a completely new man. You’ve been outspoken in the past about how golf is the number one priority in your life—all your time, effort, and energy goes toward being the best you can at this sport and winning. So it’s surprising to hear you talk about not focusing on winning and being happy just to be here.”
“Well, that’s what happens when you aren’t playing well or you get injured. You have to reevaluate your life and your goals.”
“And what’s the result of the reevaluation?”
“I found I didn’t like the guy who made golf the only thing he cared about. It’s an empty way to live, and I don’t want to do it anymore. In the last month or so, golf hasn’t been the number one priority for me. I’ve cared more about other things, and I actually think that’s what allowed me to play so well today.”
The same journalist asks a follow-up question: “Can I ask what dethroned golf from being the most important thing in your life?”
I laugh, unable to hide my smile. “Let’s just say something very special.”
“She must be very special,” another journalist yells, and the entire room laughs.
“No comment.” But I can already feel the hint of a blush forming on my cheeks.
Jane doesn’t even know she’s the reason I won today. Actually, she doesn’t even know how I really feel about her. I’m the idiot who left without saying I love you.
But I can fix that.
As soon as I’m done with all the interviews and photo shoots, I’m chartering a plane back to Florida and taking the first ferry to Sunset Harbor…if it’s running by then.
Because when you finally figure out who you want to spend the rest of your life with, the rest of your life can’t start soon enough.