Editor’s note: This is the second of a four-part series with 21-year-old Symetra Tour rookie Sierra Brooks, who will chronicle her 2020 season on Golfweek.com. The former Florida standout finished second at last year’s NCAA Championship to Maria Fassi and was a finalist at the 2015 U.S. Women’s Amateur. She won three times in college and represented the U.S. at the Curtis Cup, Junior Ryder Cup and Junior Solheim Cup.
In some ways, my professional debut on the Symetra Tour in March feels like a lifetime ago. In other ways, that feeling of wanting to push my golf bag into the water on the 10th and just sink right along with it is as fresh as if it happened yesterday.
My debut didn’t go as I’d dreamed, and by now, I thought I’d have dozens of tournament rounds in the memory bank to push it down. But the fact remains that after opening with a 71 at the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic, I blew up with a 10 on the par-5 ninth hole of my second round at the Country Club of Winter Haven. I tried to go for the green in two and hit it in a bunker. Then I skulled the next shot into another bunker over the green. The next thing I know, I’m walking off the hole with a 10. I don’t even remember the number of putts I took.
My dad, Brent, who was watching from outside the ropes, disappeared after that (probably to go grab a drink somewhere). Can’t say that I blame him, he’s usually living each shot right along with me.
Especially after I hit it in the water on the 10th tee, dropped one and hit it in the water again. That’s when I wanted to disappear.
I posted an 84 that day and missed the cut. Gosh did it ever sting.
I could never have imagined that a global pandemic would put that embarrassing 10 squarely in perspective.
Back in March at the pro-am party in Winter Haven, Florida, some of us wondered if the coronavirus would impact our California swing. We never dreamed it would push our entire season into an unprecedented level of uncertainty. We recently received word that our restart has been pushed back again to late July, canceling two more events on our schedule.
I’d already booked flights for those two. Maybe I’ll drive everywhere now.
I was ready to sprint into this next chapter of my life, having given up my last semester at Florida to move closer to my dream of an LPGA card. I miss competition. It’s frustrating to watch so many events fall off our calendar but I’m trying to make the most of this time.
But, in a way, this time at home in Lake Mary, Florida, has been refreshing. I’ve been fortunate to have my course, Heathrow Country Club, stay open throughout the spring. It’s actually been hard to get on the course sometimes because it’s so packed with members.
Never in my life have I had so long of a stretch to really work on my golf game. My dad and I would get a small window here and there, and then I’d be off to another tournament. I’ve always struggled to make something we’ve been working on become my own. That’s what this great pause has given me. The gift of time.
I did take two weeks off completely. I was sad to finish the most recent season of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” She’s my favorite. My workouts have moved to the garage gym, where we have dumb bells, a squat rack and bench. My brother, Brayden, is finishing up his senior year of high school at Lake Mary Prep. My mom, Lora, teaches AP government there so she’s always keeping us updated with the current events. They’re on their computers eight hours a day.
At first, I was glued to all the COVID-19 news. Now I’m mostly sick of it.
I miss watching real-time sports. I can’t wait to watch Rory, DJ, Rickie and Matt Wolff at Seminole. I played in so many of the same junior events as Matt, and at this time last year we were both gearing up for the NCAA Championship in Arkansas. It’s so cool that he’s playing with these guys in a celebrity skins match. His early success is inspiring.
I have no idea when our tour will really start up again. I had planned on using host housing, but it sounds like that’s not going to be an option. After my memorable start in Winter Haven, we decided that I should take a caddie on the road for the rest of the season. Initially, my plan had been to go it alone with a push cart.
I’m trying to mentally prepare for whatever comes next. Whether that means we have a whole slew of events this summer and fall, a wrap-around season or another go at Q-School. I’ve considered all the scenarios. Whatever it is, I’ll be ready for it.
I’ve taken up bike riding during quarantine life. There’s a trail next to my house and I go there when I need an outlet, a space to clear my head and dream of what will be – someday.
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