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Fearless Murphy takes on challenge
49ers senior takes his shot, lands in field of dreams
RON GREEN JR.
rgreenjr@charlottreobserver.com
When Trevor Murphy was a skier -- he was good enough to represent the United States in the world junior championships -- everything on the mountain was a blur.
For two minutes, it was about finding the fastest way down the mountain, tucking fear into some faraway place.
Many times, Murphy reached the bottom of the mountain and couldn't remember much about how he got there.
A serious knee injury pushed the Charlotte 49ers senior to golf and the contrast -- from frozen and fast to green and gentle -- could hardly have been more dramatic. Golf is all about having time to think.
If there is a carryover from Murphy's ski life to his golf life, it's a matter of style. He plays his best golf when he plays like he skis -- aggressively.
"There's a balance between nerves and fear. He's got a fearlessness," Jamie Green, the Charlotte golf coach, said.
"The reality of it is there isn't a flagstick tucked he can't take a look at. At this level, these guys can hit amazing shots and shoot amazing numbers no matter how they set up the golf course.
"If there's a guy who can come out here on a hard golf course and challenge it, he's one of those guys. That's kind of what got him in here."
Murphy was scheduled to be in Orlando, Fla., this weekend with his 49ers teammates playing in the Atlantic 10 tournament. With Green's blessing, he entered the Wachovia qualifier and when he shot 69 Monday, he found himself in a playoff with Paul Claxton on Tuesday morning for the final spot in the 156-player field.
Two holes later, Murphy was in.
He'll tee off today at 2 p.m. with Dustin Johnson and Chez Reavie.
"I knew I was capable of doing it," said Murphy, who will graduate this month. "One round and you know what you have to do. But I'm surprised I'm here. I'm not going to lie."
If the reality hadn't hit when Murphy checked in at Quail Hollow Tuesday afternoon, it did when he went in to eat lunch in the locker room and saw Trevor Immelman and Brandt Snedeker sitting nearby.
Less than two weeks earlier, Murphy and his teammates had been watching the Masters on TV while on the road at a tournament.
"It's surreal," Murphy said.
With the 49ers poised to make a serious run at the national championship, Murphy is one of the key components in the program Green has built.
Murphy wasn't a big-time recruit, but came to Charlotte with the desire Green sought, envisioning a program that is deep and dedicated.
"All I was looking for that first year was for some guys who were hungry and said give me a chance. Trevor was one of those guys," Green said.
At breakfast Tuesday, Green talked to Murphy about what makes his game go. It goes back, in a small way, to what made Murphy a good enough skier to make the U.S. junior team five times.
Murphy told Green he plays his best when he tries to make as many birdies as possible, understanding that sometimes means an extra bogey or two when he gets too aggressive.
"When he plays the golf game of look and react, he's fearless again," Green said.
