After a tricky opening spherical on the RSM Traditional, Joel Dahmen knew the strain would ramp up on Friday.
He started his spherical two photographs off the reduce line. A missed reduce this week would finish any hopes of him ending among the many prime 125 within the FedEx Cup Fall, and thus forestall him from incomes a PGA Tour card for the 2025 season. So, after a pedestrian spherical that featured an opening-hole bogey and three birdies, Dahmen confronted a 40-footer for birdie on the 18th gap.
Sitting at 1-under-par for the championship, and proper on the 36-hole reduce, Dahmen raced it six toes previous the opening. This putt abruptly had every part on the road. If he made it, he earned a Saturday morning tee time, which might give him a chance to enhance his standing within the rankings. If he missed it, he may kiss this season—and subsequent yr—goodbye.
“You possibly can’t get away from something,” Dahmen defined in regards to the strain this week.
“The room’s a little bit extra quiet round you. Like a pitcher throwing a no-hitter, but it surely’s a little bit totally different. As soon as I missed the reduce in Bermuda final week, stress has been excessive. You don’t sleep as nicely.”
So Dahmen stepped as much as his putt, lined up his ball a little bit exterior the appropriate edge, and drained it. He even gave an emphatic fist-pump, understanding all too nicely what that make meant.
“It was an awesome putt. I used to be very nervous,” Dahmen admitted.
“However there’s nonetheless work to do. It wasn’t the sport winner, it was just like the half court docket shot to get us like at halftime. However with out that and the way in which I performed as we speak, I wouldn’t have something this weekend. I’m hoping I play nice this weekend and I hit 36 greens and I simply sort of plod my means round and it’s tremendous straightforward, however that’s not the way in which golf is. Actually pleased with myself as we speak, however there’s nonetheless work to do.”
Loads of work stays because the PGA Tour presently tasks Dahmen to complete at 126th. That might be a heartbreaking end ought to it come to that.
However he wouldn’t have this chance had he not drained one of many ‘most annoying’ putts of his profession.
“I feel it’s by far received to be essentially the most,” Dahmen mentioned when requested the place this putt ranked when it comes to stress degree.
“I’ve had different annoying conditions, however understanding like that’s all on the road for the yr was robust. To hit my lag putt to 5 – 6 toes was not nice, I hoped simply to stroll up and faucet that one in. Simply made it extra annoying. However I feel the end result of every part, this can be a lengthy yr and hasn’t been the way in which I wished it to go, however understanding not having your finest stuff you’re nonetheless sort of hanging round and to have the ability to grind it out as we speak was actually nice.”
Dahmen has now given himself an opportunity this weekend, however he trusts himself, his household and his sport, understanding that no matter occurs, occurs.
“I nonetheless received extra to write down this weekend, for certain, however with out having the chance to play this weekend, my story could be rather a lot shorter this yr I might say,” Dahmen mentioned.
“You recognize, no matter occurs this weekend, my story’s nonetheless not executed. I’ve rather a lot left in me and I’m going to present my all, however this weekend’s massive, for certain.”
For it to work out for Dahmen could be an effective way to finish what has been a rollercoaster season for the previous Washington Husky. But when it’s not meant to be, Dahmen shall be again—in some type or one other. He at all times finds a means, it doesn’t matter what.
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By means of. Remember to try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as nicely.