An Experience Unlike Any Other - WM Phoenix Open Pt.2

Saturday is well-known for being the most crowded day at the WM Phoenix Open and with the Super Bowl in town, this was no exception. The course was packed to the brim.

I was going to be working at the media center with Taylor to check the media people in and give them their credentials. There were not many people who came by, so we mostly just talked and tried to plan what we were going to do for the rest of the day. That wouldn’t come until lunch, not at a concession stand for once.

After freaking out over seeing Scottie Scheffler’s bag and taking pictures with it, we headed out to watch Scottie and Jordan, our favorite golfers. The moment we saw Scottie, he drained a long putt for birdie on the second hole and we knew we had to stay with him for a while (as his good luck charms).

We fought the crowds off for two hours, trying to see Scottie through gaps in the crowd and by looking at people’s phones videoing the action. Honestly, just from that short period of time, we were tired and decided to head back up to the media center and see if we could meet Rory McIlory. Also known as using our media passes to their full potential.

Rory decided not to do media that day, so we set our sights on Viktor Hovland.

We ended up asking Viktor questions on college golf and how golfers can prepare mentally to play at such a high level. It was interesting to get an inside look at what goes on inside a professional golfer’s mind and how they were able to work on something like that to help them play their best.

And we also got a photo with him 🙂

After doing our little interview, Taylor and I looked at the tee sheet and decided that we should talk to more golfers. We have the opportunity so let’s do it.

Next up we had Sam Burns. One of the nicest guys on tour with Scottie and someone I look up to as he is open about his faith. I’ve heard him talk about his relationship with Christ and how golf doesn’t define who he is, but rather Christ does. It’s honestly so inspiring to hear someone like Sam say these things and it makes you realize he’s just another human like me.

And you already know it, another photo with him.

In between meeting all these people, we also met some pretty cool media individuals. First, it was a woman named Lauren who helped launch the PGA Tour on social media and now runs her own sportsbook company. Impressive if you ask me. Then, we met a guy from Syracuse who was at the tournament covering the event for his media company. Next, we met two of the guys who run the social media for Golf Channel, a dream job for me. And finally, we made friends with a couple guys from my school, one of whom I even have my 7:30 class with. So all around us, we were making connections and learning about the industry in a fun way.

Then Taylor talked to Rickie Fowler and got a photo with Jordan (I can say I talked to him because I took the photo). By this time, it was getting late and the final groups were starting to come in for the day which meant Scottie would be coming soon.

Now we didn’t fangirl in front of Scottie. Not until we were in the safety of the media center to have our freak out moment because it took a while for it to sink in that we had talked to Scottie Scheffler.

I kid you not, I still smile at this. We asked him questions in the small press conference he had and got a photo with him. Like Sam, Scottie is one of the most down to earth people out there who shares his relationship with Christ. Another one to look up to as he too sets an example of how Christ leads him and that there are bigger things in life than golf.

And that was our day. One that I will never forget. One that never would have happened if Taylor wasn’t there. We pushed each other to take risks and not have regrets later because we didn’t take a chance. It’s a friendship where we are better together and make a great team. And we continued to make a great team for Sunday, the final day.