Welcome to GHIN & Tonic: Volume 11! This is my first go-round, and I am quite nervous about it. I was “voluntold” this assignment by our Editorial Director, which is cool because I wouldn't have raised my hand to do it without his push. (Note: KVV also told me via his Twitter this week that I won a used MacBook and new’ish iPad Air. Who knows what to believe anymore?)
Writing scares me. Which is wild to say for a person who used to write Intelligence Reports for a living. The last time I sat down to write with this much struggle was in Spring 2020. Now, this edition of G&T is not the Afghanistan withdrawal plan (which was clearly scrapped), but it is still a mess for someone with ADHD. It makes me even more grateful for the written word and those who sit down and wrestle with it for a living. And most importantly, their editors.
GHIN
Glass Half Full: I would like to start by saying how damn proud I (we) are of Lauren Coughlin.
If you are unaware, our Young Hitter finished solo fourth at The Amundi Evian Championship this week. Her third-round 65 put her in a prime position for a chance to win her first major. And on Sunday, she was there! LC was so calm and in control of her golf ball, turning with a 4-under 31 before opening her back nine with six straight pars.
There were multiple moments where she was tied for the lead with Steph Kyriacou and others where she sat alone. I cannot remember the last time I was that excited at 6:30 a.m. Texas time.
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I was glued to the TV when my three girls finally woke up. They made their way downstairs for some quality snuggle time, right as a tough three-putt bogey struck on the 16th hole. By the time LC’s group arrived at the 17th tee, I was visibly nervous. The girls asked me if everything was OK.
Why did Dad have so much energy this early in the morning? Well, because it felt like it was slipping away. Not even because of LC’s bogey but because of everything else happening. Patty T made an eagle on 18 to get into the clubhouse at 17 under. Kyriacou, playing in the final group with LC and Ayaka Furue, made back-to-back birdies. Ayaka had made three birdies in a row and was very much in it. Guided by caddie/husband John Pond, LC’s tee shot on 17 found the right side of the dogleg right fairway. With a tree in her line of sight, she took dead aim. And it looked great. Unfortunately, the greenside bunker short right that seemed to be the front right pin’s only defense got in the way. She missed her number by a foot. Two at max.
As she and John walked up the 17th fairway (for all of half a second that Golf Channel aired) you could see the momentum leaving her body. Her shoulders hung a bit lower.
And back in Texas, there was a sinking feeling in my stomach. I felt for my friend. John did a great job talking her through the bunker shot, trying to keep her locked in. The same thing he did down 18. Ayaka made a great eagle putt on 18, claiming her first major championship. LC and John, standing side by side as the putt was rolling towards the hole, turned and laughed to each other. They quickly turned to give their customary hugs before the champagne and water celebration engulfed the 18th green.
Lauren has been on the professional grind for a long time (turning pro in 2016) but it feels like she is growing into her own. This solo fourth finish and her T3 earlier in the year at the Chevron Championship are all coming during the first year she is automatically into all five majors. Rightfully disappointed about a couple of bad holes, she is quick to point out how great the week – and year – has been overall.
She is in serious contention for an automatic Solheim Cup pick. Simply awesome stuff.
So when the girls asked me, “What is the matter, Dad?” I used the moment to talk about LC, someone they already know, and how things sometimes do not go how we want. The result doesn't define who we are or what we are capable of. We also talked about what defeat is and how it makes us better in the long run.
And I was really into the speech, talking to them in the eyes and everything. I paused in between points, making sure they were taking it all in.
And when I was done, the littlest one, with a look of confusion, asked “Can we watch Bluey now…?”