Hard Lesson: McGowan Rallies After Tough First Round

By Ken Klavon, USGA

Shoal Creek, Ala. – Zero guarantees.

Michael McGowan has learned a lesson, albeit the hard way. Last year McGowan capped off an unfathomable run, progressing to the quarterfinal round at Boone Valley Golf Club in Augusta, Mo. He felt prideful in the same way a toddler beams after first reciting the alphabet properly. McGowan gushed after showing moxie in eliminating James White, 3 and 1, advancing the farthest he’s ever been in a USGA event.

McGowan

He had made match play before, in the 2006 U.S. Amateur, but his stay there was short-lived.

On Tuesday at Shoal Creek, McGowan was more reflective and matter-of-fact. Polite and well-grounded, he took responsibility for his aggregate 7-over-par 151 that put him on the precipice of those who get snipped.  

“It’s my fault,” said the 17-year-old O’Neal High School senior from Southern Pines, N.C. “I know I left a lot of shots out there.”

It wasn’t so much a concession speech as it was an admittance of getting away from the things that has made him a top amateur. What’s most impressive is that his ego could peacock because of his background yet it does not.

McGowan’s lineage in golf leads to the legendary Peggy Kirk Bell. She, of course, is the irascible 86-year-old hall-of-famer known for her exceptional instruction and as one of founders of the LPGA. It doesn’t stop there. McGowan’s father, Pat, not only serves as director of golf at Pine Needles, but also has his card on the Champions Tour. He played on the PGA Tour from 1978-1993 and then from 1993-2003.

McGowan’s dad and mother, Bonnie, were on hand Tuesday. He also received support from his godparents, Dino and Phyllis Nicholau.

Not once did his father ever push him into the sport. McGowan took it up when he was 9. Since then he’s dabbled in basketball, soccer and swimming, earning a varsity letter as a sophomore in the former two sports.

“I intentionally didn’t push him,” said Pat McGowan. “As a [father], my job is to encourage him and give him the opportunity to play in all these events. He’s different than me – he has his own personality – and we have a great relationship. He’s at an age now where he will come to me for advice.”

Pat McGowan clearly defers to Bell and other instructors at the Pine Needles resort. A year ago McGowan said that grandma felt so much about his game was perfect that he knew better than to take the bait. He knows that only hard work will get him where he wants to go in the future. He desires to turn professional but not until getting through North Carolina. He recently verbally committed to play there, beginning in the fall.

“She thinks everything is perfect about my game, thankfully,” he said, laughing. “She’s doing alright for 86 going on 87. She complains when she doesn’t hit the ball that far, but I’m hoping I can even hit a ball at her age.”

Seriously, though, divorcing himself from his thoughts as a father, Pat McGowan marvels every time he sees his son’s swing.

“I really believe when you see someone swing a club for the first time, that’s their swing,” said Pat. “He’s got a natural golf swing.”

Watching him, his swing is right on plane. And as Pat McGowan added, a swing more on plane breeds consistency. That leads to more informed choices, better shots and lower scores.

Make no mistake, McGowan doesn’t always heed dad’s advice. Prior to the practice rounds they discussed strategy, particularly the par 5s. McGowan shamefacedly confessed that maybe he shouldn’t have gone for it each time on Monday. He bogeyed all four par 5s. During the second round, he navigated these holes more conservatively and fared much better, carding three pars and an eagle.

The eagle, on No. 3, was borne out of 3-iron approach shot from 220 yards out. The ball landed on the fringe before he finessed in the 25-footer.

If McGowan is to advance to match play, no doubt he’ll look to several par saves on his closing stretch: the sixth, seventh and ninth holes. On all three, he got up and down from greenside bunkers.

His final one, on No. 9, appeared inconceivable when he smashed his approach shot into the left greenside bunker, short-siding himself. He got within 3 feet of the flagstick, eliciting whoops from his entourage, and knocked it in to finish level par for the round.

“You saw that last up and down,” said his dad, shaking his head. “You can’t teach stuff like that. You can’t teach passion.”

What McGowan was taught is that expectations can be blown to smithereens as quickly as a watermelon tossed from a three-story building. Entering the event, the allure of last year’s success had him thinking grand thoughts. The prospect of missing a couple of 2-foot putts Monday pierced his psyche.

He may still get in, but he realizes he may need help.

“Oh yeah,” said McGowan. “I expected to be in the last match. After yesterday, it put me in reality.”

Ken Klavon is the USGA’s Editor of New Media. E-mail him with questions or comments at kklavon@usga.org.