by John Hamarik

In 1982, my fifth Professional tournament was in Caracas, Venezuela. I was fortunate to have won my third tournament in Santiago, Chile. I will write a story about that experience later.

Anyway, I played an incredible back nine in the pro-am tournament on Wednesday. I shot 35 on the front nine and then it happened on number ten. I began to get in the "Zone". You have heard that term used by many athletes over the past few years. Well, I was there for a couple of hours. Everything I hit went near the hole and every putt dropped. I remember standing in the fairway on seventeen already five under par on the back nine.

I had a shot of 175 yards to a small green with a substantial breeze moving right to left. My focus was so strong, that I honestly thought that I was going to make the shot for two. I remember telling my caddy that I could finish birdie, birdie. I had a six iron in my hand and after checking the wind once more, I grabbed a five and started it to the right side of the green and the damm thing hit the pin on a fly. It bounced about fifteen feet from the hole and I rammed that putt in to go six under.

Standing on the eighteenth hole, a tough uphill dogleg right, I choose a three wood to put the ball in play. My second shot was 135 to the pin and I was so pumped up that my eight iron landed some thirty feet past the pin to the back of the green. Getting back to the "Zone", I honestly had no fear of that slippery downhill putt. My mind was so confident that I actually saw a gutter right down to the hole. I rolled the putt right in for a back nine score of 28. Definitely the lowest score I had ever recorded for nine holes.

The next day I was playing one group in front of Art Wall, who won the Masters in 59 and we had a long wait on the sixth hole, a 220 uphilll par three. I watched Mr. Wall two putt for par and as he was walking over to the tee, I began to walk towards him and introduce myself. Just as he turned and saw me walking to him, he smiled, extended out his hand and said, "John, what a great round of golf you shot yesterday"! I was stunned that he even knew who I was. I thanked him and told him that I would be honored to have lunch with him after the round.

He was so helpful and offered advice and told me what to expect in this business. He even gave me his home address and phone number and for a few years afterwards, we stayed in touch. I will never forget his calm demeanor and wonderful stories and advice. Art Wall, the former Masters Champion will always bring back wonderful memories to me. Thank you Art, for spending time and offering advice to a 22 year old rookie.