Page 22 of Fore-Ever Yours

“Tournament, not game.”

She waves her hand in the air again. “First tournament of the season.”

“It’s actually the season opener.”

“I’ll read up on the golf lingo. But regardless, I need you to look out the window, then turn and walk toward me.”

I take a deep breath, sigh, and do as she says.

“A smile wouldn’t hurt.”

“It might.”

“Matthew,” she says through her gritted teeth.

A pang of something hits me in my chest.That’s odd.

“Okay, fine.” I smile, but it’s forced.

“Maybe not…We don’t want the public to think you’re a serial killer. Act natural.”

“Natural? You’ve got it.” I give her my best goofy face, and she bursts into laughter.

“Just a regular smile! One that doesn’t make you look like you’re in pain or about to go on a killing spree.” She hides her giggles, trying to look professional but failing miserably.

I chuckle and shake my head.

“Perfect! Just like that,” she exclaims.

“Good, cause I’m starving. Let’s eat.”

I adjust my stance, roll my shoulders back, and exhale slowly. First tee of the season. The season where I go from solid potential Horizon Pro to major contender Summit Pro. The fresh air, the neatly mowed grass, the hushed whispers of the crowd—they all weave together into a symphony that’s both reassuring and invigorating.

I draw the club back, and then release it. The ball takes off, cutting clean through the morning air, straight down the fairway. It lands about 295 yards out, sitting comfortably on the green.

My driving distance isn’t the best, but I’ve spent countless hours practicing precision. I can handle the tricky greens and sink long putts when it counts. As long as I know my strengths and weaknesses, I can focus on what I do best and keep working on the rest.

As we walk down the fairway, I scan the crowd lining the ropes, and my eyes land on Beth. She’s in the front of the crowd; otherwise, I probably wouldn’t be able to see her short stature. Her brown hair cascades down past her shoulders. I can picture her bright green eyes behind her sunglasses. She waves and gives me a thumbs up.

I don’t always have someone in the crowd; in fact, most of the time I don’t. I travel all around and can’t expect anyone to consistently be with me. My sister is a senior in high school, so my mom is with her most of the time. She comes when my tournaments are close to home. I don’t expect the few friends I have to come either. While I’m close with my agent, he has other clients and travels around for all of us.

I do have my caddy, Nick, the same one I’ve had since I turned pro, and we’ve grown close.

But today, I do have someone in the audience, and she’ll be at every tournament for the next four months. It’s something unexpected yet calming. In a world where I’m constantly on the move, it’s nice to have something consistent. Even if it’s only for a short time.

We approach where my ball landed, and as long as I play the next three shots correctly, I’m off to a solid start.

Nick hands me a wedge, and I take my stance. The breeze off the water is light but noticeable. I adjust for the wind and take the shot. It lands about twelve feet away from the hole. I line up the putt and watch as the ball rolls right in. Birdie.

Nick claps me on the back, grinning like a fool. “You’re off to a great start! Keep it up.”

I flash him a grin as the crowd begins applauding. Beth, front and center, jumps up and down, clapping like a lunatic. A laugh bubbles in my chest, but I tamp it down. I give her a smirk and a head nod instead. I need to focus.

I need to start the season off strong, show me and my competitors that this is my year to excel, and manage to catch the eyes of sponsors. I’m particularly looking for larger ones, like Precision Pro, an athletic wear brand, or DriveForce, a high-end golf equipment company. I already use and like both companies, so it would be a “great fit,” as Beth says.

We continue moving through the course, my shots flowing smoothly. Each swing is an echo of the time and effort I’ve put into my practice runs. It’s like a well-oiled machine.

If I play well today and tomorrow and end the tournament in the top fifteen, I’ll start this season with a bang. I’ll be one step closer to getting my Summit Pro Tour card and on the way to my ultimate goal: top ten in the world by the time I’m thirty.

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