48 Context-Free Observations from Jessica Hadwin at The RSM Classic

It’s RSM Classic week, the last tournament of the season, and Adam has found himself on the wrong side of the increasingly delicate PGA Tour bubble for the first time in his career. We hadn’t planned on joining him this week, but after hearing the fatigue in his voice as the pressure continues to mount, we decided to join him and be there with him whatever the outcome.

Friday thoughts at home in Kansas watching the leaderboard and cut line

-it’s been 4 months since I traveled to watch Adam golf and that has to be the longest stretch I’ve gone since his first season (2014/15) outside of being pregnant

-random useless fact, “Adam golf” was Adam’s contact in my phone for a good while after our fateful Tinder match

-he’s been permanently upgraded to “Adam 💙” except for when he makes me angry

-I wasn’t planning to go to RSM, but it feels like Adam needs some non-golf related support and family time (he’s been gone for 3 weeks)

-I badly wish I could bring Beverly, our 180 pound emotional support Mastiff, to give him slobbery pup love

-it’s somewhat weighing on me that in a *very* worst case scenario, this could be the last time I get to watch him play in a PGA TOUR event, and I want to be there with him and for him

-most importantly our daughter misses him and he misses her, and it’s time

-a lot has gone on in our life the last couple of months and golf has felt very secondary although Adam would probably beg to differ

-Adam’s been grinding so hard physically and mentally to get his game and career back on track, and it’s frustrating to not be able to help him in that aspect

-I’ve only been to RSM once, but we stayed in a quaint little beachfront condo and loved our time on the island

-this year we are at the Hampton Inn so same, but different, and yay free breakfast!

Saturday

-4am alarm hits, and I immediately decide it was a terrible idea to fly to Sea Island despite all of my above musings

-I surprise Maddox at 4am with our little last-minute plans, and she is beyond excited so on we go

-in the spirit of air travel, our flight is delayed, and I’m hoping we get there in time that I can still watch the back 9

-I get Maddox to tour school when we land which is basically Disneyland Georgia with an arcade, aquarium, pools, beachfront playground, etc

-and suddenly kindergarten isn’t looking so exciting anymore for our girl

-a lovely volunteer gives me a lift to the course where her and I try to track down Adam’s car which happens to be number Sixxxxxx Sevennnn (big bragging rights for our child)

-Adam’s on his 14th hole, and I desperately need a snack so I find my way to player dining by following a significant other who looks like she could legitimately be my child.

-Still not sure how we became the old ones on tour, but we have.

-the only other time I came here when Adam played, we didn’t come to the course because of the whole Covid situation

-this place is gorgeous. I see why everyone lives here. I kind of want to move here

-I did not come dressed for the occasion. I am in leggings and a fluffy Sherpa jacket, and I am in purgatory. Not cool Weather Channel predictions!

-I find Adam on his 17th hole just in time to see a nice approach and subsequent birdie

-we give each other a little half hearted fist pump from across the green

-I don’t normally feel strong emotions about golf, but watching Adam finish up the round, I have a twinge of sadness and anxiousness

-those emotions fade quickly when we pick up our daughter and watch her dance and twirl around the beach oblivious to any golf rankings or their consequences

-we grab food to go and settle in for the night

-tomorrow, come what may because we already have it all

Sunday

-it is another stunning warm sunny day and all I have to wear is another set of full tights, long socks and long sleeves because the weather channel can not be trusted

-took Adam to the course at 7:45am for a 9:50 tee time

-grabbed some breakfast, took Maddox to "Disneyland Georgia" and proudly got to the course on time to catch Adam’s tee shot and full round

-sitting in the grandstands ready to go before they’re even on the tee, and I’m feeling very accomplished

-Adam greets me with a kiss and a quip about “wow are you gonna go all 18 today, if you don’t get it in the last round of the season you won’t”

-walking in these sandy cart paths is possibly the most exercise I’ve done as of late and I’m not proud of that

-5 over in 4 holes, and I can see (and hear) his resolve fading

-I’m sad for him, not because this is some “real world” struggle in the scheme of life, but because it’s his career and passion and his effort and grind does not seem to be paying off for him at the moment

-I have to go in at the turn to wipe the sweat from my body and find some sunscreen and go across the island to grab our daughter so she can come back and watch Adam’s finish

-I text Adam my plans as I walk off his 9th and he texts back “quitter!” and now this is about to be a real quiet flight home cuz we are definitely beefing

-decide to have a light lunch of fried chicken, pimento mac & cheese, and collard greens in the clubhouse

-I don’t have much experience with collard greens, but I feel like these are the best ones ever made.

-Maddox and I get back to the course and catch Adam on 8 and get to see a birdie

-Adam’s group finishes and the 3 of us head to the parking lot to pack up and head home

-the bag pipe player warms up with a melancholy tune next to us in the parking lot in preparation for the closing ceremony and it feels fitting

-Adam didn’t get that Cinderella moment this week that he wanted, but I’m glad we got to be in this moment with him nonetheless

-it feels weird to go into the off season in new unknown territory

-Adam shares and decompresses a bit about his round and mental headspace on the flight home and it’s always nice to be able to be his listening ear and offer whatever support I can

-we get home, unpack, and start prepping for our next adventure

-life goes on with or without golf