This month Compleat Golfer’s playing editor BRANDON STONE reveals how he nearly missed out on playing on the PGA Tour.
While the life of a professional golfer has moments of glitz and glamour, more than many other professions, we do have moments that are not that glamorous.
More often than not these moments are highly stressful and costly. But sometimes, when looking back, it can be somewhat amusing. One such event happened to me a few weeks ago.
After my result in Dubai I was given the opportunity to participate at the WGC-Workday Championship in Florida. There was just one problem: my US visa had expired in November 2020. People asked me why I didn’t just renew it then, well … I had no reason to.
At the end of 2020 I was 200th in the world and had no planned events in the US. It just goes to show how quickly life in professional sport can change. The moment I knew I was going to qualify to play the WGC I asked for a visa appointment. Again, there was a problem.
With President Joe Biden’s administration coming into power, there was a travel shutdown between South Africa and the US of A. This meant the US Consulate was closed and no visa appointments were being issued, unless specific criteria were met. There was also no guarantee on a timeline for the issuing of the visa.
Basically, I had no idea if I was going to get an appointment, and even if a did, I wasn’t guaranteed to get my visa in time to make it to the event.
READ: Stone Column: Grinding it Out
For two weeks I sat by my phone, waiting for a call, waiting for an appointment. I called in every favour possible and the Sunshine Tour used every contact under the sun. But nothing.
Having almost given up hope, I received the call. I had been given an appointment for the Thursday before the tournament – way too close for comfort.
Going into my appointment with an overload of documentation, I wasn’t going to miss out because of faulty paperwork.
After going through the required processes I was informed that my visa would be processed, but there was still no guarantee when I would get it back.
Friday came and went. The weekend flew by, still nothing. When Monday arrived I was optimistic that I would get my visa, even taking a Covid test and booking my flights. Again I found myself sitting by the phone, waiting for the call for me to come and collect, but nothing. I had to cancel my flight. I’d officially lost hope and even unpacked my luggage.
On the Tuesday morning I felt despondent. I felt like a massive opportunity had passed me by. But, at 11am I received a call from the US Consulate. My visa was ready for collection at 1pm. My brain was everywhere. I had to book flights, hotels, rental cars and so on. And I had to do it fast. After all, the US is faaaarrr away from South Africa.
Luckily, my agent managed to do it all. I collected my visa, rushed home to pack my bags and headed off to the airport.
As far as journeys went, this was one of the longest I would take. First an eight-hour flight to Doha, where I’d have a four-hour layover. Then a 14-hour flight to Boston, followed by a three-hour layover. The final part of my journey would be three-hour flight to Tampa before the short one hour drive to Sarasota, my final destination.
Would you believe, I made it there in time. After the 30-plus hour journey I got to my hotel at 11pm on the Wednesday evening, the day before the first round.
Sitting in the players lounge that Sunday afternoon after the event had concluded one thought ran through my mind … ‘What a life’. I wouldn’t change my life for anything. I’m living my dream. And yes there are these stressful moments, but it’s damn worth it!
It’s not the first time something like this has happened to me, and I’m certain it won’t be the last. But you can’t bet you ass I’ll be ready for it.
