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The PGA Tour: Stories of Firsts

July 13, 2022 By Caroline Trudeau 14 Comments

Reading Time: 4 minutes

First off, I don’t play golf. Though I have been on more golf courses than most. Always on foot and most likely on the cart path. Traveling light and staying hydrated. Watching players that are usually really good at the game. Maybe once inside the ropes. On mostly hot and sunny, often humid and worst, buggy American summer afternoons. It’s kind of a grind. The game of golf. It’s a long game. And everyone loves a clutch shot.

I don’t play golf because the first time I ever teed up a ball in regulation, at a suburban Montréal, Canada country club in the 1980s, I shanked it. It was the shot I’d had nightmares about the night before. Completely horrible. Especially for this teenager, in front of her golf class buddies. All of whom were consistently hitting the fairway, far. I wasn’t good at all. And most importantly, I wasn’t having fun.

Meanwhile, and in contrast, my brothers, especially Julien, 6 years my junior, were receiving accolades from far beyond the club. In the form of all-star team invitations and crystal, of course. Watching them play (and win!) was part of the family’s cadence of life. They were talented competitors. And being part of that was way more fun.

This memory is one of the earliest I can recall about my competitiveness. Over the years, it has shaped my definition of and approach to leadership: to genuinely inspire, empower and support others to find and maximize their strengths so that together, we can create the exceptional change we seek.

Above: Chaparral High School – 1998 AZ State Golf Champions
Julien (Senior, 17) & Alex (Freshman, 14)

I don’t play golf, but I love golf stories. And I am blessed that my life is filled with beautiful tales of golf. Thanks to Julien’s incredible career as a collegiate and professional golfer and for a decade, as a PGA Tour caddie. Thanks also to his impeccable choice for his “the One”, Mallory Blackwelder. Yes, the daughter in the Blackwelders of Lexington, Kentucky y’all! Worth, Myra, Myles and Mallory are all golf professionals. They each have been on Tour. And they are each passionate storytellers. It’s so much fun!

Above: The Trudeau-Blackwelder famclub after the deluge on Saturday.

No golf story of mine would be complete without a shout out to golf legend Myra Blackwelder. My mother-in-law-once-removed. Mimi. She is the first ever female full golf scholarship recipient at the University of Kentucky. She is the LPGA Rookie of the Year for 1980 and slayed 13 seasons on Tour, while raising 2 children with Worth, carrying all the bags. Pause. There is more. She now dedicates her life to teaching golf and creating programs that aim to make golf more accessible to the American youth. Her most recent initiative, USA Golf Development Program, recently got some shine when USGA CEO Mike Whan announced a significant funding initiative for those interested in the game that otherwise don’t have the means. There is a lot of work to do to bring equality and sustainability values to the forefront in the golf industry agenda. This funding announcement is a step in the right direction. And I am confident we can do more.

Above: Julien, Trey’s ball and a happy kid.

The Barbasol is a family affair. Last weekend, I found myself in Lexington, KY once again, for what we call in the Trudeau-Blackwelder family, “the Barbasol reunion”. It’s the one weekend a year where the road takes the Tour to the KY-Trudeau’s hometown for a smaller-sized community friendly tournament. It’s a calendar date we traditionally gather around.

This year, we would meet a new family for the first time. That of our caddie’s new boss, Trey Mullinax.

Above: Trey & Jules setting up for their second shot of the round on Friday. This is my favorite from the whole weekend.
The only face forward pic of Trey I found in my ginormous collection!
I spy KK, Tracy and Dana. Bonus: chasing sunset.
I spy Myra, Mallory, Mom, the Mullinax ladies and Teena.
I spy Chip and Chris. And the orchestration of the production that is media.

So many stories in the game of golf. I learned that Trey’s mom Kristy and I share the same nickname. I learned how young Trey picked up golf after a devastating football injury. I learned why everyone loooooves Chip. I heard about struggles and successes, and superstitions too. Maybe even created my own “mindfully grounded barefoot walking practice” because I made most egregious of rookie moves by picking the wrong shoes! I learned that memories of Eagles (or beagles, like Mads calls them!) last forever. I double high-fived Chris like a kid in the crowd at 18 after that clutch putt the whole world now knows and loves. I sobbed in Dana’s arms, the first Mullinax-Trudeau-Blackwelder famclub I then found after the win. And I just learned about a silver coin.

To experience all of that on my first time ever following a leader, that then won with my brother on his bag made Sunday and the whole weekend simply unforgettable. It was definitely the most fun I ever had on a golf course. One that brought us loads of intimacy to build upon. Next time, we pause to remember and rejoice together.

Photo: Golfweek. | Trey’s First First.

Sunday. I saw my brother reach a pretty significant and cool milestone in his career in golf: his first PGA Tour victory. In reality, I have been watching him crush dreams all of our lives. But for that one moment, to see him at the top of the game, and to recognize him as literally the best at his craft on the field, after being resilient, patient and excellent all those years was mega special.

And completely bananas. Y’all getting to the British overnight after a win like that on that Sunday is no joke. And it takes a village. And in this village, one of my jobs is to celebrate out loud. So I prose, because onlyew can reach this moment, yet millions can be inspired by these stories.

And I cheer, usually loudly. Bravo!

When Alex texted me: “How’s our boy?”, my answer was: “Brahhhhhhh, he is built for this.” For real. Competition, discipline and dedication.

The game of golf. It’s a long road. And everyone loves a clutch shot.

Photo: IG @malblackwelder | Mads and Daddy on 18 green on Sunday. Watching you as a dad, also fun.

—

Extra! Monday. By pure luck, we were on the same flight for Julien the first leg of his trip to Edinburgh.

9C & 9D

Once we reached cruising altitude, I pulled out my iPad to curate a collection from all the pics I took over the weekend. I had promised everyone a link and I did not want to disappoint the famclub! He pulled out 3 yardage books from The Old Course at St. Andrews. To study his notes from his previous visits, ahead of getting there and walking the course the following morning. Hours of grind. Years of it. We spent the rest of the flight talking about altheticism, maps, and math, through the lens of his experience, as, I’d say, the best caddie in my world.

Now that, was fun.

You are exactly where you need to be. Keep going. The fun is only just beginning.

Above: The business of note-taking, as observed on Sunday 7/10/22.

As we move on to the excitement that is the British, one final content offering about the 2022 Barbasol Champion: Trey’s Golf Channel interview immediately after the round. #purpose

Above: Shot on my iPhone.

—

Caroline Trudeau is a freelance storyteller, technology consulting executive and experience innovation strategist. She is available for hire.

Related content: Mallory Blackwelder’s To The LPGA Tour And Beyond.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nicole says

    July 15, 2022 at 02:40

    I love the way you are taking us all right into the story, the happenings, the fun and laughter of your family gathering and reunion. Thanks for sharing this special moment with us. It takes a village – and it takes all those different contributions, perspectives, strengths, hopes, supports… to succeed. And once again it becomes clear that success is built on many. Love tour writing.

    Reply
    • Caroline Trudeau says

      July 15, 2022 at 16:15

      My dear Nicole 🙏🏼. Thank you for the kind words and observations. It’s a delight to share with you 😍

      Reply
  2. Bob McMillan says

    July 15, 2022 at 16:14

    Caroline, that was a great article about Julien and his family and the fantastic success at The Barbasol last weekend. Very moving story!

    Reply
    • Caroline Trudeau says

      July 15, 2022 at 16:15

      Thank you 🙏🏼

      Reply
  3. Cynthia Freibert Burunoff says

    July 15, 2022 at 16:40

    Great prose…super story teller! Enjoyed the read & thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Caroline Trudeau says

      July 15, 2022 at 16:42

      Hello Freiburg family member ❤️❤️❤️. Thank you so much for reading my words and sharing in our story! 🙏🏼

      Reply
  4. Ayron King says

    July 15, 2022 at 20:23

    Jules stayed with me during the 2012 BMW Championship @ Crooked Stick. I’m going to bed and this dude is studying the weather for an hour. Then I wake up and he’s been up since 6am staring at his notes while flipping to the weather app, while enjoying his coffee on the patio. The preparation, dedication, and aura of this man is undeniably magnificent. Cheers to the weekend!

    Reply
    • Caroline Trudeau says

      July 15, 2022 at 20:25

      Wow Ayron thank you for sharing this story! It resonates with me big time. And I’m sure for everyone else who has seen him work at his craft all along. Thanks for being in our circle 🙏🏼

      Reply
  5. Teena Freibert says

    July 15, 2022 at 22:39

    Caroline, thanks for telling the tale. What an amazing Sunday that was. And now the boys have made the cut! The saga continues!!!

    Reply
    • Caroline Trudeau says

      July 16, 2022 at 13:38

      The whole weekend was fantastic 👏🏼🙏🏼⛳️. I’m so glad we got to spend time together. And we keep the cheers going!!! 😘😘

      Reply
  6. Rob Ricketts says

    July 16, 2022 at 07:48

    What a great story! Thanks for sharing…I just read this while watching Mullinax make his birdie putt on 18 in
    the 3rd round.

    Reply
    • Caroline Trudeau says

      July 16, 2022 at 13:46

      Hi Rob! Thanks for reading. And cheering from the motherland! 🇨🇦. And I have both my Ricketts reading my content 😍😘😇

      Reply
  7. Manon Trudeau #2 says

    July 16, 2022 at 12:36

    Bravo Doune xo

    Reply
    • Caroline Trudeau says

      July 16, 2022 at 13:46

      Thanks Manon! Xo

      Reply

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