Last week I played the first stage of the school and I really want to share what I’ve experienced these days. I like writing, but I don’t usually make it public. This time my heart is telling me to do it.
Many of us (professional colleagues) already know what the School means: a magnificent gateway to a path that we all seek with a lot of effort, work, and dedication. A week we look forward to from the start of the year with the dream of overcoming it.
For others, let me give you some context: for us, the school is like having one week a year where your skills, weaknesses, work, effort, and mental strength are evaluated to pursue the job you most desire. It all happens in one evaluation, I repeat, once a year. There are hundreds of entrants in each test and only about 18 will be the lucky ones to pass the first test, then comes another and a final longer one.
To all this, you must add the different weather conditions: sun, rain, wind, and storms. There will be days when you can’t finish the work because the weather and breaks won’t let you, and you have to return the next day to finish that day and complete the next. Sometimes you’re at your workplace for 12 hours and don’t finish… You go to the hotel and many things can happen if you’re not prepared. That time you spend at the hotel you need to know how to use well and that’s where each person’s skills and weaknesses are seen; that’s where mental dexterity comes into play. The ability to adapt to each situation, to be a resourceful person with great concentration skills to achieve the purpose, the reason you’re here. But if you fail, the game is over. You go home and have to wait another year. Sometimes your week can even end on the first day…
Every job has its pros and cons. It wouldn’t be fair to say that golf is tougher than others because many of you have worked hard to achieve what you’ve always wanted, so I can’t say otherwise. I’m simply sharing how I’ve experienced it these past years and what I’ve realised today, in case it helps you at some point.
I’ll start…
I’ve been looking forward to this week with great excitement. With an enthusiasm I haven’t had for a couple of years. I haven’t had my best seasons and this one hasn’t been positive in terms of results either, but it has been in other areas. One of the most important has been learning to know what I want and what I need. My goal has always made me go on autopilot and not realise many things.
This week I played the first qualifying stage of the DP World Tour in Bristol (The Players Golf Club) and it was a super special week, despite not qualifying by one stroke.
I’ve lived it with such intensity, with such passion and enthusiasm, that it was incredible. So much so that it made me doubt if I really loved golf that much. I’ve discovered a new world…
The passion that this week has awakened in me for this sport has been magical. A shame not to have experienced golf like this much earlier… But my happiness has always really depended on my success or lack thereof (results).
What I’ve experienced this week I wouldn’t trade even for my victory in the Alps Tour in 2022. And some will say I’m crazy because winning is winning and yes, exactly, but this week I’ve won something I thought I already had: the passion and the reason I play this sport.
What I’ve fought for this week to try to qualify has been incredible, on very challenging days of rain, wind, and breaks, but I’ve enjoyed it to the fullest. I have no complaints whatsoever. I’m going home without leaving anything on the field: I’ve given absolutely everything I had.
My message today is not to convey that you should try to experience what I’ve just experienced, because many of you surely already do… I thought I did too! I just want to try to make many see themselves reflected in these feelings and not be deceived by the results, because behind this is where the real importance lies.
As I write this, it amuses me because I used to hear the same thing and say that I did enjoy it, but I had no idea what I was talking about. It’s taken me many years to understand this. For me, not getting the card was failing in my life. For me, this was more important than building a family and having a home. My only purpose has been to achieve what I thought would bring me happiness and success. It’s very hard to say this, but until today I didn’t see it any other way… I don’t know how much longer I’ll be playing, but I do know I’m at peace because my perspective has changed.
It doesn’t mean I’m going to play without caring: I’ll continue giving my 100% and I’ll keep getting nervous playing tournaments because that’s the feeling I play for. I love feeling that and being pushed to my limit, but now I’ll experience it in a way that’s more beautiful for me and gives much more meaning to my life. I’ve given so much to this sport that it’s paid me back in the best way. Today I’ve achieved my success. I’ve cried a lot with emotion when I finished the last hole for having experienced this feeling this week. Without a doubt, my best week of golf in my life!
I hope it helps some of you. It’s clear I’m not going to change the way each person lives their life: we each have our process and it will come when it comes, but I hope at least it’s made you a bit more aware. Keep enjoying this great sport because it has it all: it’s cruel and beautiful at the same time!
Thank you for so much, golf.
