After a tough opening race at the RSM Classic, Joel Damen knew the pressure would be on Friday.
He started the round two strokes off the cut line. If he misses this week, he will have no hope of finishing in the top 125 at the FedEx Cup Fall Tournament and will not be able to earn a PGA Tour card for the 2025 season. So, after a pedestrian round with a bogey on the opening hole and three birdies, Dahmen faced a 40-foot birdie on the 18th hole.
Dahmen, who was sitting at one under par for the championship and just outside the 36-hole cut, raced six feet past the hole. Suddenly everything was on the line with this putt. If successful, he will earn a Saturday morning tee time and an opportunity to improve his position in the rankings. If he misses it, he could be kissing goodbye this season and next year.
“You can't run away from anything,” Dahmen explained of the pressure this week.
“The room around you is a little quieter. It's like a pitcher getting a no-hitter, but a little different. I've been under a lot of stress since missing out on Bermuda last week. You don't get much sleep either. I don’t think so.”
So Dahmen went for a putt, lined up the ball just outside the right edge, and slotted it in. Even he gave a strong fist pumpI know exactly what that make means.
“It was a great putt. I was very nervous,” Dahmen admitted.
“But there's still work to do. It wasn't the game-winner, it was more like a half-court shot at halftime. But without that and the play today, we'll have nothing to do this weekend.” I wouldn't have gotten into the 36. I hope I can play great this weekend. I hit a lot of greens, so I was just walking slowly and it was very easy. But golf doesn't work like that. I'm really proud of myself today, but there's still work to do. .”
There's a lot of work left to do, as the PGA Tour currently projects Dahmen to finish 126th. If that were to happen, the outcome would be heartbreaking.
But he wouldn't have had this opportunity if he hadn't hit one of the “most stressful” putts of his career.
When asked where this putt ranked in terms of stress level, Dahmen replied, “I think this is definitely the best.”
“There have been other stressful situations, but this year with all of that at stake was tough. It wasn't great to hit a 5- or 6-foot lag putt. I just wanted to walk in and make the putt. But I think it was the culmination of everything. It's been a long year and it didn't go the way I wanted it to, but even though I know I don't have the best, I still hung around and it was really great to be able to get it done today. ”
Damen gave himself a chance this weekend, but he knows that whatever happens, he believes in himself, his family and his game.
“I certainly still have a lot to write about this weekend, but without the opportunity to play this weekend, my story for this year would be pretty short,” Dahmen said.
“You know, no matter what happens this weekend, my story is not over yet. I've got a lot left in me and I'm going to give it my all, but this weekend is definitely important. ”
If it works out for Dahmen, it would be a great way to end a roller coaster season for the former Washington Husky. But Damen will come back in some form, even if it wasn't meant to be. He always finds a way, no matter what happens.
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation's Playing Through. Be sure to check it out @_PlayingThrough Cover more golf. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko In the same way.
