Keeping things in perspective, no matter how hard that may be

Published 12:00 am Friday, August 26, 2016

NORTH PLAINS — Perspective can be hard to come by in trying times, when a disappointment seems catastrophic and strife seems rife.

So cut Joel Dahmen some slack when he was at least temporarily torn up over his performance in the WinCo Foods Portland Open at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club.

The Clarkston, Washington, native shot 5-over-par 73-74—147 and missed Friday’s 36-hole cut by seven strokes, all but torpedoing his bid to earn a free pass this week to the PGA Tour next year.

Dahmen entered the week ranked No. 22 on the 2016 Web.com money list with $150,267 in earnings. The top 25 money-winners after Sunday’s final round are handed their PGA Tour cards for 2016-17.

It figured that all Dahmen had to do was make the cut, add something to his money total for some cushion, and a card was all but in the bank.

But Dahmen’s failure to advance means that if four players behind him on the Web.com money list pass him with their earnings this week, a golden opportunity is lost.

That is likely to happen, and it was Dahmen’s assumption as he struggled to control his emotions moments after signing his scorecard Friday afternoon.

“It’s really tough to put into words right now,” said Dahmen, 28, who now lives in Scottsdale, Arizona. “It hurts, and it’s going to hurt for a long time.”

Dahmen’s girlfriend of five years, Lona Skutt, said she didn’t notice anything different about his demeanor as they drove to the course Friday.

“Joel has been pretty level-headed,” Skutt said. “He’s trying to take it as it is, and whatever happens, happens. I don’t know if he had nerves. If he did, he was hiding them. I think I get more nervous than he does just watching.”

But Dahmen is human. With so much on the line, it was hard to stay calm.

“I didn’t have butterflies or hands shaking, but I had anxiousness,” he confessed. “Thoughts are racing through your head at all times. You have to quiet those down or accept those thoughts. I didn’t do a great job with that this week.”

Dahmen is in his sixth year as a professional, the last two as a regular on the Web.com circuit. He had a solid year in 2015, finishing 62nd on the money list with $86,344 in earnings. This year, he has finished third twice and has nine top-25 finishes in 21 events. Dahmen was so close to gaining a PGA Tour card this week, he could taste it.

“Never having been in this position, and realizing my goal and dreams are so close …” he said, not finishing his sentence. “I had a good week of practice, and I felt pretty good about my game coming in, but it was like and out-of-body experience. It was like somebody was playing a video game with me, and I was walking around and somebody else was controlling me.

“Some of the shots I was hitting, it was like, ‘You have to be kidding me. I’ve never hit that shot before.’ My putter was awful. It was a really weird experience. I hit it really well (Thursday), but I struggled on the greens both days. I felt it on the range this morning warming up. I hit it OK to start, but then I really struggled trying to find my swing. And when you can’t putt, you’re just a mess.”

Dahmen felt he took every psychological precaution heading into the week.

“I blocked off everything from the outside,” he said. “I didn’t go on social media. I didn’t talk to anybody. I didn’t take phone calls. I did a great job blocking all the extras out. But every time you hit a shot, you’re thinking of the …”

The ramifications?

“Exactly,” he said. “It’s so huge. It was very difficult to avoid that.”

Dahmen, a two-time Washington 3A champion in high school, played a year at the University of Washington, but “didn’t take care of the school part.” He lived in Seattle for a couple of years, moved back to Clarkston and then headed for Scottsdale in 2010 after earning his status on PGA Tour Canada.

“A lot of kids dream of playing the PGA Tour from the time they’re 5 years old,” Dahmen said. “I wasn’t one of those guys. I wanted to get my college paid for. Then it was, ‘I don’t want a real job, and I’m pretty good at this thing.'”

The PGA Tour as a goal “really took hold three or four years ago,” he said. “It was, ‘This is real, this can happen,’ and I had buddies who were out there making it happen. I played really well at times the last two years. I’ve put in a lot of time, a lot of blood, sweat and tears. I almost want it too bad now.”

But there is a bigger picture — there almost always is in life, isn’t there?

In 2005, when Dahmen was a junior in high school, his mother, Jolyn, died of pancreatic cancer.

“She was everything to me,” he said, tearing up, his voice choking. “I was Mama’s boy. Still am. Times like these make it tough.”

In 2009, older brother Zach was diagnosed with testicular cancer. After chemotherapy, he beat it.

In 2011, Joel was diagnosed with the same disease. Doctors caught it early. He underwent two months of chemo, recovering in time to play six PGA Tour Canada events that summer, good enough to finish No. 55 on the money list and retain status on the circuit. He was 31st in 2012 and 22nd in 2013.

Dahmen takes a deep breath when reminded that he is alive and well and cancer-free.

“It’s tough to lean back on that,” he said. “You don’t want to use it as a crutch, but this is not life or death. In the big scheme of things, it’s not that big of a deal.

“I’m playing golf for a living. I’m doing pretty well. I’m having a great time. I have a lot of support out here. (Failing to gain a PGA Tour card) really doesn’t matter.”

There is solace in something else.

The top 75 players on the Web.com Tour advance to a four-tournament playoff series that begins in two weeks. The top 25 finishers in the playoffs will earn their PGA Tour cards. Dahmen will be among those players teeing it up in the first of the four events Sept. 8-11 at Beachwood, Ohio.

“I have to look forward to that,” he said. “To play well all year long is tough. I played well for about 15 events. You have to play well for 20 or 21 of them. I fell just short, which is very difficult.”

Dahmen has played in one PGA Tour event in his career — the 2014 Canadian Open. He tied for 53rd, earning $13,034.

“I was two shots out of the lead with 27 (holes) to play,” Dahmen said. “I played the final day with Ernie Els. I know I belong out there (on the PGA Tour). It’s just a matter of time, and hopefully my time comes in a month.

“In about an hour, after lunch and a cold beer, I’ll realize what happened here is not that big of a deal. I’ll sleep just fine. I’ll wake up, practice next week and play another golf tournament.”

The hope here is that Joel Dahmen realizes that his words are the truth. He has a lot for which to be thankful, and plenty of good things ahead in his future. That’s where perspective comes in handy.

keggers@portlandtribune.com

Twitter: @kerryeggers