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The Toughest Man In The Golf.com World Am

It took less than two holes to determine the toughest player in the 2010 Golf.com World Amateur Handicap Championship.

When you get clunked between the eyes by an errant shot from your playing partner, endure 12 stitches, and return to finish your round, all at the age of 68, there can little doubt about one’s fortitude.

Jim Stryker, playing in his 13th World Am, proved his mettle in the Golf.com World Am’s opening round. Stryker parred his first hole at Quail Creek and thought he caught a break on the second, getting a good lie on a shot he thought had gone in the woods.

That’s where his good fortune ended.

“Just as I was starting to feel good and get my perspective on where I was on the golf course, somebody yelled, ‘Jim.’ I saw a ball for just about one second coming right at me. It hit me square in the glasses. The glasses, because of the steel rim, cut my face and knocked me down.”

It took less than two holes to determine the toughest player in the 2010 Golf.com World Amateur Handicap Championship.

 

When you get clunked between the eyes by an errant shot from your playing partner, endure 12 stitches, and return to finish your round, all at the age of 68, there can little doubt about one’s fortitude.

Jim Stryker, playing in his 13th World Am, proved his mettle in the Golf.com World Am’s opening round. Stryker parred his first hole at Quail Creek and thought he caught a break on the second, getting a good lie on a shot he thought had gone in the woods.

That’s where his good fortune ended.

“Just as I was starting to feel good and get my perspective on where I was on the golf course, somebody yelled, ‘Jim.’ I saw a ball for just about one second coming right at me. It hit me square in the glasses. The glasses, because of the steel rim, cut my face and knocked me down.”

Stryker, with a gash on his forehead shaped like an uppercase A, began bleeding profusely. His playing partners rushed to his side and summoned help. 

The Quail Creek staff called an ambulance and Stryker, after some hesitation, made the trek to a local hospital.

“I thought about the lady that ran into the tree and died six hours later,” said Stryker, who briefly considered not completing his first round. “I think all old people think about tomorrow. But I really wanted to come back. I wanted to try and finish the tournament.”

So Stryker, with multiple stitches, returned to finish his round. A 27.2 index, he recorded a solid opening round, finishing with a net 73, despite a headache. He shot a net 79 at Grande Dunes on Tuesday, giving him a chance to reach his goal.

“I want to finish one person above the midpoint in my flights,” Stryker said.

After three rounds, the retired accountant he is in 14th place in among the 42 people in flight 56, putting him in good shape to reach his goal.