Kyle Reifers PGA Tour calm helps golf writer

Last week I wrote about my apprehension about playing the media day at Muirfield Village Golf Club. The host course for the Memorial Tournament is one of Jack Nicklaus’ greatest layouts and it is visually intimidating. This year, I determined to try to have fun and not let the daunting nature of the course cow me into playing crappy golf.

As it turns out, I played marginally crappy yesterday. The rough is brutal and it’s the kind of course that penalizes the smallest of mistakes. A series of minor misjudgments turns into a pile of insults to your game and eventually, the wheels come off. But I kept a sunny disposition, didn’t let bad shots or breaks bother me and had a great time. Oh, and by the way, my team shot a 59 on a handicapped best ball and won the event. I don’t think I contributed much, but it was fun anyway.

When I arrived at the club, I got a press release announcing that local boy Kyle Reifers, on his first year of play on the PGA Tour, was getting a sponsor’s exemption to the Memorial. He was quoted in the local newspaper today as saying, “I’m not intimidated anymore walking through the locker room. I think if you are, you’re not going to perform and you’re going to be scared.”

Exactly right, Kyle. For you and for me.