Golf's Longest Day: A Personal Reflection
Good morning...
My son Max recently had an incredible experience caddying for his friend Zander Winston during the US Open Qualifiers, often referred to as golf’s longest day. Despite Zander feeling he didn't bring his best game, he persevered through the grueling 36 holes, ultimately tying for 8th place, just two shots shy of qualifying.
Max is a talented player himself, having played alongside Zander earlier this year while Zander was auditioning for our local Grass League golf team, ‘The Hat Tricks’. We were thrilled to select Zander for our team of eight golfers.
Following the qualifiers via the official website was a breeze, and Max was glued to the scoreboard while he caddied. Remarkably, young amateur Preston Summerhays, who plays at our home course Silverleaf in Scottsdale, emerged victorious in the qualifier, earning his spot in next week's US Open. Interestingly, his older brother, regarded as the better player, did not come close to qualifying.
As Zander was grinding through the first round, Max texted me, reflecting on the challenge of excellence in golf: ‘It is so hard to be good.’ Indeed, Max, it’s a valuable life lesson.
Max Homa, who ranks 10th in the world and is Max's favorite player, carried his own bag during his qualifier yesterday, but unfortunately did not qualify for the event.
This embodies the essence of Golf's Longest Day!
6x @PGATOUR winner Max Homa out here grinding 36 holes with his own bag on his back in an effort to play in his sixth-consecutive U.S. Open.
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) 4:37 PM • Jun 2, 2025
In golf, it’s not just challenging to be good; it’s nearly impossible to maintain that level of excellence.
Personally, I haven’t played golf in months and have lost interest due to my commitments as the CEO of Social Leverage and Stocktwits. While I would miss the game if I had any skill left, my golfing days have long faded. I envision a time when I might take the game seriously again, but my passion for work, cycling, and fitness currently leaves me little time to improve my game to a level where I could enjoy it again. However, my love for watching golf has never been stronger, especially when I have the joy of watching Max play.
So, here’s to all the golfers out there striving for excellence on the course and at the range. In no other sport or profession—barring injury, of course—can one go from being in the Top 10 to struggling to find the ball and having to start from scratch if they wish to compete in the US Open.
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