You were the one who made me my first ever golf club that you gave me the day I was born. From that day forward we had a relationship that would end up meaning more to me than you will ever know. At the end of the day my golfing career all started with you. Mum has forever been my coach, but she learnt everything from you.
The last month has been one of my hardest in life so far. I went 27 years without ever losing a family member or friend – a decent effort, I guess. Receiving that phone call that you were in hospital and unwell filled me with so many emotions. It’s not the news you ever want to receive but being on the other side of the world away from friends and family makes it even harder – although this year I was fortunate enough to have Mum by my side, but that also meant we both felt all the emotions twice as hard.
This life and career path that I have chosen may seem so glamorous to many but there are more sacrifices and tough days than most would imagine. That day in Slovakia being one of them, but little did I know at that point that harder days would follow.
Slovakia was the easy week, knowing you were okay and waiting to hear more following that event gave us hope things would get better. I played that week as best I could and to make you proud – my final round golf balls marked for you, your birthday, your name and ‘3rd GEN’. Returning to London made me feel at ease, knowing that we had phone reception and only a 45-minute drive to Heathrow with countless flight options to get back to Australia if needed made me feel a little better.
A week I had been looking forward to for a while ended up turning into a week I would like to forget – and not because of a golf result. Playing in a pro-am on Tuesday where I ended up shooting 3-under and finishing in second would be where my last round in Europe was played for the unforeseeable future. Wednesday morning started so normal, I woke up, forced myself to go for a run, then getting home to Mum telling me the news that things didn’t look promising. I was in shock. So many emotions running through me. I did not know what to do. When you haven’t been in this position before how do you know what the right choice is?
Knowing Grandpa, he would have wanted me to stay. Golf was his life; he knows the sacrifices and hardships that us professionals go through. I couldn’t do it though. I needed to see him and be with my family, as I said before, we had a relationship that not many would understand. We connected so much because of golf. He had 10 grandchildren, but it was only me to take it up competitively.
Coming home early to be with my family may mean I don’t currently have status for next year but there are some things in life that are far more important than hitting a little white ball. There will always be another golf tournament I can play in but those final moments with my Grandpa are something that last a lifetime. That can never be replaced.
It is not easy to lose someone who you hold so close to your heart, but I am grateful to have had a relationship that was so special – not everybody gets that in life. Golf may have taken a backburner for the last month but now we push forward and work towards my goals. You’ll see me back on leaderboards come the end of October for the first Webex Series at Willunga.
Cherish every moment with family, travel and explore every continent and just live life to the fullest. You do only have one life, may as well enjoy it!
KB x
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