“Gosh, I am lucky to have Bobby on our team. He has been my agent my entire career, and he has always been there for me," I told Zack. “You're lucky," replied Zack. “I have seen a lot of players go through agents like some guys go through girlfriends. It's good to have a good agent in your corner.”
About that time my cell phone was rang, and it was Emily. “Speaking of girlfriends, I will leave you alone for a few to talk. I will be back in a few." said Zack as he walked out of the room smiling. I answered the phone. “Hello Emily." She was crying. “Are you OK?," she asked as she continued to cry. “I am fine, everything is OK. It's so good to hear from you," I told her. After a few seconds she was able to gain her composure. “My gosh, I could not believe what happened. We were all so happy, then that crazy guy jumped you. The TV cut off to a commercial just a few seconds after it started to happen. But we could see exactly what happened. I was terrified," she said as she starting crying some again.
Eventually, I was able to calm her down and assure her that I was OK. She asked why he did this to me. I explained what we found out about this guy and the possible mental issues and trying to protect his grandfather's record and all of that. “When are you coming home?," she asked. I told her that I am not sure. I should be out of here in the morning. I was supposed to play in another tournament next week's tournament. But it looks like I am going to be out of commission for a couple of weeks. I told her that if I get out in the morning, I will stay here another night in my hotel and regroup and most likely come home Tuesday.
“I want to be there when you come home. I want to help you," she told me. With cracked ribs, and a bruised lung you are going to be very sore for a few days."
“Ah, you don’t have to do that” I replied. “No for sure. I want to be there for you," she insisted. Those words really struck a chord with me. Now I felt like crying. I never had anyone tell me that. And this is a woman that I may be falling in love with. And to hear her say that she wants to be there for me, made me feel really good. “Uh Sure, that's very nice of you," I told her. “I told her that I will call her tomorrow afternoon or evening. By then I should have a better idea if I will be coming home Tuesday. "Sounds good," she replied. We talked for a few more minutes and said good night.
I really enjoy talking to her. It just seem so natural. And her showing that she really cares about me, means a lot to me. I start to think that maybe we do have a real future together. Finally, after a few minutes Zack came in with about a half dozen Pros that I know. “Look who I found wandering the halls and chasing nurses," Zack said as they walked in. These were guys that were some of my best buddies on the tour. And they are a rowdy group. After they could see that I was OK, they were not going to let me off easy. They started Razzing me about letting US Open Trophy Cup get broken. And how I do not know how to throw a punch. They laughed and said that I would do anything to get out of paying the expenses for a big Victory Party tonight. We all had a good laugh, it was good to see them.
But after all the laughing a couple of the guys were really pissed. They wanted to go after Dafford Hilton. I told them to cool it. I told them about what we found out today about his possible mental issues. I told them to just leave it alone. It is not worth doing anything about this. They agreed. We visited for a few minutes and had a good time. There were a couple of other people came in and out the next few minutes, but eventually everyone was gone.
“I will be here in the morning” said Zack. I told him basically what I told Emily. I will most likely just spend one more day here at the hotel and figure out what I will be doing. “Looks like you have next week off," I told him. “We will see he replied." Eventually he left, and it was getting late.
After they all left. I was alone for the first time since the incident and I can think about what happened today. Here I am in a stupid hospital room on one of the biggest days of my life. I tried to think how I should handle this. And then I made a decision right there to not let this incident with Dafford Hilton ruin my day or ruin my life. Heck, he has bigger problems than me. I played four great rounds on an extremely tough course in bad conditions and I won the US Open. No one is going to take that away from me. So that one thing to be thankful for. Another thing to be thankful for I found that Emily really cares about me. And I could not be more happy about that.
Finally I fell asleep. I had those recurring dreams again. I dreamed about playing golf as a hacker like I always do. And I would hear that voice “Keep it Parallel Jim. Keep it Parallel.” In the dream I seem to understand what that means. I did not dream about the incident that happened with Dafford Hilton. But the family in my dreams seemed to be happy and relieved that I am OK because something had happened to me. They are happy to see me but they are crying. They were asking me to come home. I was confused because I was already home. It was such a strange dream. And it seemed so real.
The next morning I wake up and I am really hurting. My ribs are killing me. They ran several test on me and I checked out fine. The doctor came in. “Don't expect to be hitting any 340 yard drives for the next few days, but you will be fine," he said smiling. I laughed and told him it takes me to clubs to hit that far when I am healthy and he laughed about that.
“Here's the deal” he said. “I don’t expect you will be ready for competition for a while. I do not want you to even touch a golf club for a week. You're bruised lung is most what we worry about. Just take it easy the next few days. If you start coughing a lot or have trouble breathing or spitting up blood, then get medical help right away. But I think you will be fine. As far as your ribs. You have two cracked ribs, but they really very minor. It could have been worse. Ribs are hard to gage on how you will feel. Sometimes people get cracked or broken ribs and they do not have much problems on recovery. Other people have lots of problems. So you can never tell. Swinging a golf club, there is no telling how they will feel. But they will be fully healed in about 6 weeks. "Six weeks!” I yelled out. “I am out for six weeks?," I cried out. “No, not necessarily. That's just how long it takes for the bones to heal. You can still do things while they are healing, they are not major cracks. I would say that after two weeks you may be able to swing. It all depends on how it feels. But give it a week without doing anything. Then the following week, go slow and see what happens. You may be ready after two weeks, or maybe longer, It just depends on how you feel," he explained. “Well they do not feel so good now” I replied. “That's normal. The next couple of days will be the worse, but it will get better," he replied.
The Doctor wished me luck and left. A few minutes later Zack comes in and I fill him in. I told him that next week at the Travelers' Championship is out for sure. I have the week after that off anyway. Then I am scheduled for The Greenbrier Classic the first week of July. So that gives me about a month and I will only miss one tournament. “I am sure I will be fine within a month," I told him. “I bet you will be fine by then," he replied.
I checked out of the hospital and Zack takes me to the hotel. I still have my same room and he took my gear back to hotel last night. After I was settled in Zack went the airport to fly out. He told me he will keep in touch and we said goodbye.
I was hurting. But I could tell that this is something that I can handle. I took it easy all day, and I walked a little. My body was very tired after four days of hard competition and a banged up body. I relaxed and watched TV. I saw the highlights of my round and the incident at the ceremony. That was really weird watching that. But I have made up my mind to put that in the past. As far as I am concerned that is a non-issue on wasting my emotions over Dafford Hilton. I just hope he gets the help he needs. And I hope he leaves me alone.
As I was watching the Golf Channel, the commentators talk about the issue. They did not know why this had all transpired. I am sure it will come out eventually that he is the grandson of Ben Armstrong and has some mental issues, trying to protect his record. But they put the incident aside and just talked about the tournament and my play. Jeff Barlow, who ha
d been ripping me the last few weeks on how he did not think that I was the caliber of golfer to compete in a major tournament was talking. He had changed his tune. He said that in the past that I have not been a top tier professional golfer. But now things have changed. “I was wrong” he said straight up. “I am not just saying this because I am feeling sorry for him because of the incident yesterday. But Jim’s game has gone through some transformations the last few months. And now he is showing that he is for real. Good for him. I hope he continues having a successful career. Besides, if he is able to recover from his injuries the British Open will be here soon. He will have a chance to make history," he said. “Wow!” I said to myself. Old Jeff Barlow is not such a jerk after all. And he even said he is wrong. I have respect for him now," I told myself. Then I started thinking about what he said. The British Open is just a few weeks ago. I believe if I can recover from these injuries, I have a real shot. Then I started daydreaming. If I can win the British Open then there is just the PGA Championship left to seal the Grand Slam. Finally I laugh at myself. "First, I just need to be able to walk across the room," I tell myself laughing. But at the same time, I feel like I am halfway to the Grand Slam and I am going to give it a shot.
I took it easy rest of the day and I felt like I could travel back home tomorrow. I made flight arrangements for Tuesday. I talked to a few people on the phone and answered text and emails. I let everyone know I was fine. I talked to my Bobby, my agent. He said that they got the restraining order. He told me that it looks like they will be holding Dafford Hilton for a few days for psychiatric evaluation. That was fine with me. Finally, I called Emily. She sounded much better today than yesterday. She asked how I feel and wanted to know when I will be home.
“I leave in the morning and I will be home tomorrow afternoon," I told her. “What time does your flight arrive?” she asked. I told her I will arrive at 2:00pm. “How are you getting home?," she asked. I told her that my car was parked in the parking garage and I will drive home. “Is anyone going to help you?," she asked intently. “No, I can manage," I replied. “Nope!” she said in a stern but concerned voice. “You need help. I will be there. Me and my father will take you home. There's no way you need to be carrying bags and golf clubs with your injuries. "You do not have to do that” I replied. “Nope done deal, we will be there."
I finally agreed and gave her my flight information. We talked a while and as usual she was so easy to talk to. It really enjoyed talking to her. After we hung up, I started thinking. “Gosh! I cannot believe this. I am so use to being alone, and it looks like I may be getting into a relationship” I said to myself. I will be home for a few weeks. She is not to far away. Maybe we will see each other a few times. Then I just ran all the possible scenarios in my mind like I have always done when I meet someone. I just wonder if all hopeless single guys like me do the same. But this may be for real this time.
As the afternoon wears on I start to get restless and bored. I start to hear that stupid little voice in my head that I have been dealing with the last few weeks. That voice is always thrilled to play golf or just practice and hit golf balls. It is not really a voice, but more like a subconscious feeling. I never understand why this is happening. I just thought that after I won the Masters I was running on an emotional high for a few days or weeks and I was just really enjoying golf. I figure it was just some crazy emotion that would eventually go away. Today, I just laugh to myself and told that voice, or whatever it is to just shut up, because I am out of commission for a while.
Then it got weird. That little voice was not happy of all. It was almost like a little kid arguing with me. So I ended up talking to myself or arguing with myself. I know as humans we talk to ourselves and even argue with ourselves to get ourselves motivated or to work out a problem. I have done that before, especially on the golf course. But this was not like that. Total different feeling. It as like there was a separate person, or more strangely a second person inside my head. It was really starting to worry me. In the past few weeks, it was just a happy little subconscious voice. But now it is a very strong presence. I am starting to wonder if I got hit too hard in the head yesterday or if I am just going crazy. That little voice wanted to play golf now and was getting very angry. I got up and took a walk outside the hotel.
“This is too weird," I told myself. But after a few minutes, I was able to settle down, and the voice was gone. I went back to my room and Jerry Churchill called me on my Cell Phone. He asked how I was doing and asked what my prognosis is for my injuries. I told him that I believe I will be fine. I think that I should start being able to practice again in a couple of weeks.
“How are you doing emotionally” he asked. I told him I am fine. And that I have made up my mind to put that past me and just write it off as something that just happened because Dafford Hilton may have some psychiatric issues. “That's good” he replied. Then he went on. “Anything else bothering you?," he asked. “Ah, No” I replied. However, I had the feeling he knows something. “Well” he paused. “I am sure it is tough emotionally to go through a traumatic event like yesterday," he told me. “Yeah, I guess something like this can mess with your mind," I replied. “Yeah maybe so, he said slowly.
“I tell you one thing, Jim. Don’t be surprised if you have any strange emotions going through your head next few days. Just don’t be alarmed," he told me in a serious tone. “Like what? "Something related to this incident yesterday?," I asked. “No not really. But it may accelerate some things that you will be dealing with," he replied. “What the hell are you talking about?" I blurted out. “Look, Jim. I just have something that I want to tell you about what you are going through. But this is not a good time," he said in a serious tone. “When is a good time then?” I asked impatiently. “I have said too much already, he replied. My intention was not to get you upset. But you asked me when is a good time?” He paused and took a deep breath. “You will know when it is time to talk. Right now you just need to concentrate on getting healthy again."
“OK”!, I said sharply, and I hung up. “This guy is nuts! What the hell is he talking about” I yelled out. I started thinking about him. It seems like he is just weird sometimes. Then he seems normal for a while. Then back weird again. I think he is just nuts. But then again. I feel like he knows something. I have had that feeling before. It just seems like he knows something about me. It is all very strange.
I eat dinner and get ready to leave for tomorrow. I am still upset about the conversation I had with Jerry Churchill . I finally get to bed. That stupid voice is coming back, and it is getting stronger. It is scolding me because we, or I cannot play golf for a few days. I start to argue again. “What am I doing?", I ask myself. Somehow I am finally able block it out. Then I wonder. “Is this one of those things that Jerry Churchill is talking about? My gosh this is weird."
Finally I fall asleep. I have wild dreams. I have the same recurring dream that I am in a small town and have a family. But still cannot see any faces. I dream of playing golf on some golf course and I am a hacker, not a pro. I have some short chubby old man giving me lessons. He tells me to shorten my backswing and stop flopping my wrist past parallel. “Keep it Parallel Jim, Keep it Parallel." I still do clearly see his face, but he looks so familiar. I dream of driving home and living in a nice small house, and I have two kids and a wife. But I still cannot see their faces. But I feel like a belong here. I feel like this is home.
Finally I wake up in the morning. I remember the dreams and it makes me feel peaceful, even though they are weird. I seem to remember hearing that phrase, “Keep it Parallel Jim, Keep it Parallel." But I do not remember what that is about in the dream. I get out of bed, and my ribs hurt so bad. I think the second day after something like this is the most painful. I know in the past if I did something really physical the next day I do not feel bad. But the next day my muscles are sore and much more tired than the day before. Maybe the same thing with injuries. I want to get out of here. Even though I try to put the in
cident with Dafford Hilton out of my mind, this place does not feel like a happy place. I am ready to get home. I am supposed to meet Emily today and I am happy about that. I drink coffee, take a shower and get ready. I look in the mirror. I have a black eye, fat lip, and a few scratches. Not exactly the look, I want since I am seeing Emily today. But then I joke to myself. “Looks pretty good” I look like a tough guy now.
I eat breakfast. I try to get my luggage and my Golf clubs to take down stairs to check out. I find out, right away, there is not a chance. I cannot lift anything. I start to worry that my recovery may not be so fast. The hotel has Bell Service and I get them to take my things down. They load everything into the shuttle and take me to the airport. We get to the Airport and I check in everything at the curb. “Easy” I tell myself. As I am walking through the airport I can tell some people recognize me. I hear whispers and see some pointing. No one would talk to me. Of course if that incident would have never happened for the whole world to see. I would probably have people coming up and talking to me and asking for autographs since I just won the US Open. But now everyone is avoiding me like the plague. However eventually, a couple of people did smile and even gave me the thumbs up and that made me feel better.
Golf In A Parallel Universe Page 22