The winning pro says he dreamed he’d lost a boyfriend – who offered him 1 tip

“Johnny, I’m keeping my feet still.”

“Johnny, I’m keeping my feet still.”

“Johnny, I’m keeping my feet still.”

Over 67 shots Sunday through 18 holes at Prestonwood Country Club, Jerry Kelly said he stressed that to himself, and said he followed it, and wouldn’t you know it – it worked. He’s your winner this week on the PGA Tour Champions circuit, at the SAS Championship. Unhappy legs. And a happy golfer.

Just as Johnny thought it might be on Saturday night.

Before the week, the year had been rough for Kelly. He was fighting, but he was hurting. He said he was diagnosed with lyme and rheumatoid arthritis, and the treatment led to back complications that not until recently cleared up. “Hopefully I don’t have to do surgery at all,” Kelly said, adding in a very Kelly way, “and we can just make that jelly turn into a donut somehow.” However, Jon Trasamar’s news was the hardest for him. It all came to national light last November, after the PGA Tour pro Erik van Rooyen won in Mexico, and van Rooyen said Trasamar, Van Rooyen’s college classmate and best friend, was dying. The scene was exciting. Just a few days later, Trasamar passed away.

He had also been the husband of Kelly’s niece, Allie. Kelly said everyone was close. They think of Allie as a daughter. She has traveled quite a bit with the pro, Kelly said. In South Dakota. To the pebbles. In Napa. “Yes, love is strong,” Kelly said. Last Saturday, Kelly said people held on a memorial golf event for Johnny.

A week later, on Saturday night, Kelly said Johnny came to him in a dream.

On Sunday, Kelley first said this briefly in his opening thoughts at his winner’s press conference, and the full quote is below.

“Well, I played when Fred (pairs) won a few years ago and he absolutely blew us all away, I think he shot 60. I was trying to channel that a little bit. Actually, we just had a memorial service for Jon Trasamar, Trazzy, last Saturday. That, I can’t tell you, he was playing through me today. I don’t even know what to say. He came to me last night and I will never forget him. It is a gift from God. I just played for it as much as I could today, that’s it. That’s why it happened.”

A little later, a reporter was curious if Kelly would reveal more.

He stopped. Maybe everything seemed strange. But Kelly decided you should listen. The full quote is below.

“I mean, I’d keep this to myself. I had a dream last night and I was hitting balls with my coach, Jim Schuman. We couldn’t figure it out – the ball wasn’t going anywhere. I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t swing.

“Joni showed up last night, said, ‘Hey, mind if I say something?’ I mean, the biggest smile on his face. He even had a little southern accent. I mean, I was just shocked.

All he said was, ‘You know, the last time this happened, you and Coop played and all you tried to do was keep your feet still for a week and you played great.’

“On every throw today I was saying, ‘Johnny, I’m keeping my feet still.’ I mean, it was the most incredible gift. I thank God for that gift that let him in. I can’t – I can’t believe it happened. And this has happened. It’s crazy.”

Kelly then described it. Most of it is above. For more, with respect I direct you here. At the end of the session, Kelly was asked what the win meant to him.

An easy one.

“Because of that, this is my win — this is definitely my favorite win,” Kelly said. I mean, there’s no doubt. It just means so much more.

“It’s pretty incredible.”

Nick Piastowski

Editor of Golf.com

Nick Piastowski is a senior editor at Golf.com and Golf Magazine. In his role, he is responsible for editing, writing and developing stories across the golf space. And when he’s not writing about ways to hit the golf ball farther and straighter, the Milwaukee native is probably playing the game, hitting the ball left, right and short, and drinking a cold beer to wash down his score. . You can reach him about any of these topics – his stories, his game or his beers – at nick.piastowski@golf.com.