Golf In A Parallel Universe Read Free

standing straight up. This from Static Electricity from the lightning storm. Same thing happened to me and my buddy in high school on the golf course one time. We were stupid and thought it was funny and laughed. Fortunately lighting did not strike that time. I always thought if it ever happens again, I am not sticking around. But here it is happening to me again. “Do I get the hell out of here now? Or do I stick it out?," I asked myself. I decided foolishly to stick it out and finish. I am sizing up a 15 foot putt. If I can make this, I will break 80.
    It is really dark now because of the dark clouds. I take my time. “just give me a few more seconds." I say to myself as I line up the putt and address the ball. I make myself relax, I do not want to get tense. I am ready now. I make a smooth stroke and the ball is on the way to the hole. The thunder and lightning is getting more intense as the ball rolls. It looks good, but then maybe not hard enough. I crouch down with my putter in the air. The ball hangs on the edge of the cup. And drops! I wait for the sound of the sound of the clink of the ball hitting in the bottom of the cup. And then, Boom!! So incredibly loud and Super Bright light. I know what just happened. Or at least I thought I did.
    I open my eyes. The light is so incredibly bright as I stand back up with the putter in the still in sky. I am looking directly at the Sunlight. The gallery cheers and I look around. I am stunned. My Caddie Zack runs over and gives me a big hug. Then I shake hand with the other player and walk off the green, smiling and dazed and confused. All this is new to me. But at the same time it feels familiar and normal. Sort of like a dream. When you have a dream sometimes, no matter how strange, it all seems normal. Dave Johnson, the Masters Chairmen walks up to me with a big smile shakes my hand, “Congratulations Jim!
    I know exactly where I am, and what I just did. I only have a faint memory of playing by myself and trying to break 80. But I am still confused. I feel like there are two of me in one body. We proceed to the tent to validate our score cards. I have done this a thousand times, but it seems new to me for some reason. My caddie Zack and I go over each hole and we validate the score and I sign the card. Finally it is official I am the 2014 Masters Champion.
    In the world of Golf, the Masters is one of four major tournaments. Major tournaments are different than normal tournaments that you have every week. They are basically like the Super Bowl or the World Series of golf. You have four major tournaments in a year. The Masters, The U.S. Open, the British Open, and the PGA Championship. Most players dream about just winning one of those in a lifetime. The top tier golfers try to get multiple in a year. They are going for the “Grand Slam” which is to win all four Majors in one year. That has never been done in modern golf history.
    After the score cards are validated we go through the ceremonies. It feels surreal and my memories of my other life are fading away quickly. They introduce me to the crowd. And there are lots of hands shaking and interviews. And then the Big Sit down on TV and the Green Jacket. I can hardly talk. I am so stunned and nervous. In the interview we went over the last few days. I had played out of my head this week. First, I made the cut which I was very happy about. And going into today, I was 5 shots off the lead. But I made a run for it with a little luck. I holed out for an eagle from 170 yards out on one hole. Then I got on a hot streak with a string of birdies on the back nine. The leaders going in the day both stumbled going down the stretch. I sank my birdie putt on the 18th green and shot a 64 to captured the prize. I am shocked and happy. After the ceremony, a lot of my fellow players congratulated me and gave me a hard time. One of the Legends of Golf, Jerry Churchill came and congratulated me. He talked and rambled on as usual. But I