Hello and welcome back to TaylorHarveyGolf! I first want to thank everyone who was involved in giving me an incredible opportunity to experience Waste Management in an awe-inspiring way!
Before I get into my Friday at the Open, I will give you some backstory into why I wanted to come back home for this tournament.
It all started when I first introduced myself to Scottie Scheffler at the Houston Open Pro-Am. Honestly enough, I was in fan-girl mode and completely blanked on how he is a great inspiration and role model for Christian golfers around the world. Not only is he a man of God, but he is a man of great character and a stellar golf game as well. After speaking with him for the brief minutes I had, as I walked away from him I could not help but feel like I was missing something. After I came home from an incredible day playing with Matthew NeSmith and Stewart Cink, I realized that I could have picked his brain and learned what faith means to an accomplished human like him.
From that day forward, somehow someway, I knew I was going to meet him again.
Over winter break after spending time with my family and relaxing after a stressful last first semester of my college career, I bit the bullet. I purchased my ticket home for The Waste Management Super Bowl weekend and am thankful I did. I could not help but think about how I was going to meet Scottie, but I knew I had to have faith and trust that God was working on my behalf.
As I talked with one of my best friends Katie, she told me about her opportunity to work with the media center and recommended I ask if I could work with her! Hesitantly, I sent an email and hoped for the best. Not long later, I got an email back from my former internship boss with news that I could!! Shortly after that, I was sent my media credentials; the rest is history.
Additionally, I could not help but reminisce on the past and how my life changed when I first stepped foot on Waste Management property. If it were not for my dad winning tickets to the Phoenix Open when I was eight years old, I would not be where I am today.
With nostalgia at an all-time high, I took a leap of faith and got in contact with my First Tee of Phoenix coaches and asked them if there were opportunities for First Tee alumni at the open. Once again not long after, I received amazing news about an opportunity to meet with the CEO of Accenture and an invitation to their BayClub suite on hole 17! The cherry on top was being able to share this experience with my lifelong childhood best friend Mika!
Now that we’re up to speed, let's get into Friday at the People’s Open!!
The day started with being able to park in the media parking lot! Unless you have been to Waste Management, you do not know how much of a luxury it is to not have to utilize the busses to get to the main entrance. #blessed
Once we elbowed our way in, we made it to will call and picked up our BayClub wristbands and headed towards the media center. After picking up our credentials, we ran into our First Tee coaches; Coach Mike and Coach Scottie! Not only have these coaches watched us grow up, but they continue to support and teach the future generations of young golfers!
At the BayClub, we met with multiple executives and the CEO of Accenture, Jimmy Etheredge. It was amazing being able to meet him and hear about his company’s involvement with PVAMU and more. After our chat, we were asked if we would like Bird’s Nest Cabana tickets to Machine Gun Kelly’s concert that night and we graciously accepted!
The day was filled with laughs, golf, pictures, and networking within the golf industry.
After heading back to the media center, I ran into Max Homa and Stewart Cink! It was amazing getting to see Mr. Cink after playing with him at the Houston Open Pro-Am and getting to catch up on what’s been new!
I did a quick interview with him and asked him a few questions about his experience and how he operates on 16 tee box.
“It’s really great practice for us, it teaches you to really rely on your process because it is super easy to get consumed on where the ball goes. Here more than anywhere else you’re putting your self-belief on the line every time you see that golf ball because if it goes some places you’re going to get booed, and you can easily suffer. It’s a good time to really trust the process, and that’s what we do when we play our best golf anyway. Getting to that process and controlling what you can control,” Stewart Cink.
After a few more pics, shopping, and time spent at the Greenskeeper tent, we made our way over to the Bird’s Nest and had a blast at Machine Gun Kelly’s concert. Although I was a fake fan for the night, I enjoyed my time and would not trade the experience for the world!
My Friday at the WMPO was such an amazing experience and I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to be back in my hometown for this event.
The lesson that I learned from this week was that it never hurts to ask, especially God.
I leave you with this verse and some anticipation about what my Saturday at Waste Management was like! Believe it or not, it gets even better from here!
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Matthew 7:7-8
*** I highly encourage you to keep reading but baby steps are better than no steps!
As always I love you, but God loves you more
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