The current world number two, Australian Jason Day, has written an emotional letter to himself as a 12-year-old about life, death, trust in family and, of course, golf.
“Trust me on this,” he writes, “you are going to be the number one golfer in the world. No, I’m serious, man. Number one. Top of the mountain.
“You’re laughing. But not just laughing: now I know, you’re going to try.”
Day writes about how his father’s death will affect him, and how he will turn his back on golf. “You’ll get drunk and get into fights.”
But also how his mother will be the one to keep it all straight, and give him the advice that will change the course of his life: “She’ll tell you it’s time to play golf again.”
Jason says, “Listen to her…. You will be too young to fully understand what that means, and the sacrifice it will require of your family for you to attend the Academy. But you will have some feelings. Trust them, and be grateful.”
He urges his younger self to remember that turning pro won’t be easy, and that while all his focus will be on keeping the Tour card, the most important thing is to give it your all.”
“Playing to keep the card is the enemy of playing to win,” he writes.
“You’ll soon realize what it takes to win on the Tour, what it takes to be great: you have to give it your all, you have to play to win.”
Jason writes how 2012 will be the worst year on Tour in terms of results, but it will be one of the best years of his life. “You’re going to be a father,” he says.
“Every time you’re given the choice between golf and a family that needs you, there’s going to be a voice in your head telling you to choose the family. That’s a good thing. Listen to that voice.”
“You won’t regret it. Being a parent is the greatest satisfaction you’ll ever experience….. And when the time is right – and you’ll know it when it comes – the golf will still be there. I promise you. So be patient, because then comes the victory.”
Day writes to his 12-year-old self that all the efforts he makes, such as getting up at five in the morning to go to school, will be worth it because he will eventually become a great golf champion.
“You’re laughing again,” he ends his letter. “You’ll think I’m crazy, but you just have to trust me on this. I know times are tough right now, and I know you miss your dad, but you just have to trust me.”
“It won’t always be easy, but it will get less and less difficult. Things won’t always go well, but they will get better and better.”
“And if you can’t see that, look up at the sky in Beaudesert (his hometown) and believe me: from the top of the mountain you can see everything very clearly.”
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