Joel Dahmen retains PGA Tour hopes alive by making excessive stress putt

After a troublesome opening spherical on the RSM Traditional, Joel Dahmen knew the stress would ramp up on Friday.

He started his spherical two pictures off the lower line. A missed lower this week would finish any hopes of him ending among the many high 125 within the FedEx Cup Fall, and thus forestall him from incomes a PGA Tour card for the 2025 season. So, after a pedestrian spherical that featured an opening-hole bogey and three birdies, Dahmen confronted a 40-footer for birdie on the 18th gap.

Sitting at 1-under-par for the championship, and proper on the 36-hole lower, Dahmen raced it six toes previous the outlet. This putt out of the blue had all the pieces on the road. If he made it, he earned a Saturday morning tee time, which might give him a chance to enhance his standing within the rankings. If he missed it, he might kiss this season—and subsequent yr—goodbye.

“You may’t get away from something,” Dahmen defined concerning the stress this week.

“The room’s a bit extra quiet round you. Like a pitcher throwing a no-hitter, nevertheless it’s a bit totally different. As soon as I missed the lower in Bermuda final week, stress has been excessive. You don’t sleep as nicely.”

So Dahmen stepped as much as his putt, lined up his ball a bit outdoors the correct edge, and drained it. He even gave an emphatic fist-pump, realizing all too nicely what that make meant.

“It was an ideal putt. I used to be very nervous,” Dahmen admitted.

“However there’s nonetheless work to do. It wasn’t the sport winner, it was just like the half court docket shot to get us like at halftime. However with out that and the way in which I performed right this moment, I wouldn’t have something this weekend. I’m hoping I play nice this weekend and I hit 36 greens and I simply form of plod my approach round and it’s tremendous simple, however that’s not the way in which golf is. Actually happy with myself right this moment, however there’s nonetheless work to do.”

Loads of work stays because the PGA Tour presently initiatives Dahmen to complete at 126th. That will be a heartbreaking end ought to it come to that.

However he wouldn’t have this chance had he not drained one of many ‘most demanding’ putts of his profession.

“I believe it’s by far acquired to be probably the most,” Dahmen stated when requested the place this putt ranked by way of stress stage.

“I’ve had different demanding conditions, however realizing like that’s all on the road for the yr was powerful. To hit my lag putt to 5 or 6 toes was not nice, I hoped simply to stroll up and faucet that one in. Simply made it extra demanding. However I believe the fruits of all the pieces, this can be a lengthy yr and hasn’t been the way in which I wished it to go, however realizing not having your greatest stuff you’re nonetheless form of hanging round and to have the ability to grind it out right this moment was actually nice.”

Dahmen has now given himself an opportunity this weekend, however he trusts himself, his household and his recreation, realizing that no matter occurs, occurs.

“I nonetheless acquired extra to jot down this weekend, for positive, however with out having the chance to play this weekend, my story could be rather a lot shorter this yr I might say,” Dahmen stated.

“You realize, no matter occurs this weekend, my story’s nonetheless not accomplished. I’ve rather a lot left in me and I’m going to present my all, however this weekend’s huge, for positive.”

For it to work out for Dahmen could be a good way to finish what has been a rollercoaster season for the previous Washington Husky. But when it’s not meant to be, Dahmen will likely be again—in some kind or one other. He at all times finds a approach, it doesn’t matter what.

Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By way of. Make sure to try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You may observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as nicely.