PGA Tour golfer Erik van Rooyen broke down in tears after dedicating the second tour title of his career to his terminally-ill friend. The South African sank a 15-foot eagle putt on the final hole to win the WWT Championship at the Tiger Woods-designed El Cardonal course in Mexico on Sunday.
The South African appeared almost motionless as he raised a single fist in the air before sharing a long and deep stare with his caddie Alex Gaugert before the pair eventually shared an emotional embrace on the green.
Van Rooyen had successfully held off the challenge of veteran Amerian Matt Kuchar to land the title, and when he was interviewed after his triumph the reason behind his emotional reaction with Gaugert became heartbreakingly clear.
The pair played collegiate golf alongside friend Jon Trasamar at the University of Minnesota, winning the 2014 Ben Ten Championship as a team.
But Trasamar was diagnosed with melanoma and although he was in remission, a text message on Tuesday broke the devastating news to Van Rooyen and Gaugert that the cancer had returned and spread through their friend’s body.
When Van Rooyen was asked by a CBS Sports reporter how he was able to remain so calm when the stakes were at their highest the South African took a long pause before saying: “Sorry. I was calm because there is bigger stuff in life than golf. If you look at my ball, there’s a little music note on there and the initials JT and that’s for Jon Trasamar our best friend, who’s got melanoma and he’s not going to make it.
“Every shot out there today was for him and when you’re playing for something bigger than winning some silly trophy it puts things into perspective. At the end of the day, whether I won here or I lost here it really did not matter. When something motivates you like that if you make the putt or miss the putt who cares?”
The CBS reporter went on to ask Van Rooyen how he had prevented the devastating news about his friend from dragging him down whilst successfully competing in the PGA tournament.
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He replied: “It dragged me down. After Friday’s round when we shot eight under I get to my towel room and I just break down in tears,” before he broke down again in front of the reporter.
“So it wasn’t that calm all the time but when I step onto the golf course I’ve got a freaking job to do. And that’s what it comes down to at the end of the day. Do your job and now we can celebrate and cry and do whatever you want, but until that last putt drops its focus and its do it for Trasy.”
When asked if he had a message to convey to Trasamar and his family, Van Rooyen added: “Just that we love him so much and I’m still sort of in disbelief what he’s going through and I wish I could take all his pain away but we’re flying up to Minnesota tomorrow (Monday) to go and see him on Tuesday morning. I’ll give him a high five then.”
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