Memorial: Travellin’ Matt
He did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. In fact, two weeks ago at a Holiday Inn Express in Dallas, Matt Bettencourt loaded his golf clubs into the trunk of his courtesy car and walked back into the hotel for breakfast. 20 minutes later he returned to find his car window busted out and his golf clubs long gone. What’s more, Bettencourt’s new wedding ring was in his bag.
That’s real life on the road for a mid-level professional golfer. Bettencourt’s been toiling on the road as a pro for a decade and just last year he made his biggest breakthrough. He finished first on the Nationwide Tour money list and earned his PGA Tour card. In fact, just last year at the Nationwide Tour event at OSU Scarlet, Bettencourt finished 70th.
Sunday he starts his day tied for the lead at one of the biggest golf tournaments in the world.
How tough will it be on him? Very.
Saturday Matt told me his usually hits his 3-iron about 240 yards, but when he started moving up the leaderboard he got so excited that he started swinging harder—-hitting his 3-iron 290yds off the 14th tee. “I’m just gonna go out and play the golf course.“ Matt said. “I can’t worry about what everyone else is doing… I have to be myself.“
That attitude will surely change Sunday, when 5 former major champions will pursue him and his co-leader, Mark Wilson. He’ll likely press to make birdies, he’ll likely make mistakes, nobody will pick him to keep the lead.
With a set of two week old clubs and a new wedding ring waiting for him at his home in South Carolina, it’s the peace of mind and position in life he’s always wanted.
