Brad Adamonis recently posted a blog entry to the young players competing in the 2011 Challenge Cup. I felt it sums up what he has been through these past few years.
I was so moved by his words, I asked Brad if he was alright with my copying the following.
For me, what follows shows the depth and breath of his relationship with his father doing so better than I could ever hope to do and demonstrates why I am so honored to be following his climb up the ladder to regain his status on the PGA TOUR.
In his own words:
The past year and a half has proven to be the most challenging time frame in my professional golf career. The day before my dad’s 63rd birthday (in the fall of 2009) he lost a 4 1/2 year battle with cancer.
At the time of his death I was playing my second season on the PGA Tour. I had gotten off to a decent start on the West coast finishing T9 at the Bob Hope. I was looking forward to another season of improvement. Just before the Tournament Players’ Championship my family and I were dealt the devastating news…..my dad had six months to a year to live. Despite playing well at the Tournament Players’ Championship, the last tournament my father would watched me play at in person, my season hit a wall.
The TPC was a special event for my dad and I. Even though my father was struggling with lung cancer he was determined to watch me play in the biggest tournament of my career. Fortunately, during the opening round my dad ran into one of his former Providence College buddies (Joe Monahan). Joe recognized my father’s plight, and helped coordinate the use of a cart for my father (for the remainder of the tournament), through his son, Tournament Director, Jay Monahan. It was a special week. I am indebted to the Monahans for their kind gesture.
After the TPC, golf lost some of its meaning to me. My focus was primarily on my family, most notably my dad. While I continued to play on the Tour it was not with the same attention to detail or enthusiasm. A part of me wanted to be play for my dad, as I knew how much he enjoyed following my career, but I just didn’t feel right playing a game, while my dad was living his final days. To make matters worse I developed an arch injury shortly after the TPC. In retrospect I probably should have shut it down considering the circumstances, but I wanted my dad to see me win a PGA Tour event before he passed away.
After my father’s passing it took close to eight months before golf became a focus in my life again. I wasn’t ready mentally to deal with playing golf without my dad around. My father was the person most responsible for my success. He played so many roles in my life as golfer.
To date the road back to the PGA Tour has been a bumpy one. It is a challenge trying to balance having a family with playing professional golf at the PGA Tour level. I am committed to earning my PGA Tour card back though. This season I will be competing primarily on the Nationwide Tour. Obviously, I would love to play in the Travelers Championship again this year (my home event). I am confident by this time next year I will be a PGA Tour member.
As a former Challenge Cup player, I am constantly checking the results on the website. I take great pride in the organization my father started and my brother has taken to another level. My family is most proud of what the Challenge Cup represents. While there is a highly competitive element to the program, my father and brother shared a deeper vision. Through the circle of people in the game of golf many wonderful relationships are formed and opportunities provided. The entire Challenge Cup staff believes in this credo. The Challenge Cup is like a big family.
About Steve Riggs
30 year Teaching Professional. Originally from Central Ohio. Co-host pro of 41st USGA NATIONAL JUNIOR GOLF TOURNAMENT, Yale Golf Club in '88. College golf at Indiana University. Facility/Program consultant in U.S. and Caribbean. Host/Producer of mynegm LESSON TEE radio show and is a Member of the Golf Writers Association of America.
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- New Blog Feature: THE ROAD BACK for Brad
- The Road Back for Brad Update #3
- The Road Back for Brad
- Brad Adamonis is back while Tim Petrovic keeps hanging around the top of the leaderboard
- A FEW WORDS ABOUT GOLF TRAINING AIDS
