The primary field? That was the simplest to test, just because Madelyn is a fighter and she or he has extra get-up-and-go than a Tiger Woods stinger tee shot. However the second field? Oh, does she have a narrative. 

And it’s so very, very cool. So let’s have her inform it, as a result of 9-year-old ladies and boys are literally the perfect storytellers. We’ll simply ask some questions.

It’s Saturday, and so they’re taking part in professional golf close to the place she performs. Dad purchased Genesis Invitational tickets the night time earlier than, and so they roam throughout historic Riviera Nation Membership. Madelyn carries a white poster board.     

All the golf is inspiring. However these boys want to observe her. Madelyn’s mother, Alyson, and pa, Greg, a former educating professional, have movies, and it’s as for those who’re seeing one thing out of a how-to ebook. 

Who’s your favourite participant? 

“Tiger and Phil. Adam Scott. I like Rory McIlroy. I like Jack Nicklaus, though he’s not likely taking part in anymore; he was actually good. I like Collin Morikawa. I like Justin Thomas. I like Jordan Spieth. I like loads.” 

Why is Tiger your favourite?

“As a result of he’s the best. He’s kinda the GOAT. And I did a ebook report on him final yr. I believe it was a biography. I don’t actually bear in mind. It was like a yr in the past. It was fairly cool.” 

How’s your recreation? 

“I believe for those who would put it like 1 to 10, I’d most likely put it 10. I am going principally day-after-day. I’m having pals get into it, in order that’s going to be extra. And I have already got a pair good good friend golfers. And I play in a bunch of tournaments. I principally win a medal in each match. More often than not I shoot 40 to 38. On 9 holes.” 

When did you begin taking part in?

“I began taking part in — I had a membership in my hand once I was 2. I began taking part in competitively a yr and a half in the past. And for those who depend them, 25 medals. And 5 of these tour championships glasses. And I’m the junior membership champion at my membership.”

Who do you mannequin your recreation after? 

“My caddie slash dad.” 

What sort of participant is he?

“He’s fairly good.” 

Have you ever beat him?

“Yeah, I beat him loads. I’m fairly good. He’s fairly good. He offers me a pair strokes at our residence course, and it’s fairly enjoyable. We play a buck a gap, and I normally get two bucks on the finish, or he will get a buck. [Dad whispers: It’s always really close.] It’s at all times actually shut. I imply, I at all times beat him.” 

On Saturday at Riviera, her white poster board is drawing some appears, however that’s kinda the purpose. For one, it’s very effectively carried out. The penmanship is immaculate. It’s colourful. It tells a message. On the high, in black marker, it says: “My bucket checklist.” Proper beneath that, in pink marker, it says: “Get coronary heart transplant,” and subsequent to that could be a pink checkmark. At 1, Madelyn had one. She’s had 4 coronary heart surgical procedures total. 

How are you feeling as we speak? 

“I’m feeling wonderful. It was most likely — I principally don’t bear in mind all of it. I used to be going by means of some robust occasions once I was one and a half, nearly 2. I don’t actually bear in mind it. I’m feeling wonderful. I maintain my coronary heart wholesome by going to the physician each three months, and I take meds twice a day and I simply attempt to maintain my coronary heart wholesome. I typically train with my mother and pa and I eat actually, actually wholesome.”

Dad goes deeper. He says it’s a miracle. 

“The day we received her again, on March fifth, we couldn’t imagine our eyes. All we had identified was this little lady with no power, and pale, and chilly to the touch, and unexpectedly, rosy cheeks and she or he was heat to the touch, though she was simply mendacity there incubated and knocked out, we may see the distinction. She awoke, got here to, she had her first meal. They warned us that she would doubtless must go residence with the feeding tube in her nostril as a result of she didn’t learn to eat. Effectively, they rapidly pulled that out as soon as they noticed her scarf her first plate of meals and ask for a second plate of meals. And there’s been no turning again.”

Daughter, dad and grandpa make their technique to 17 inexperienced. They seize a pair of seats, although everyone seems to be standing. Madelyn remains to be holding her signal. In blue marker, the third line on it says: “Meet Tiger Woods.” And guess who’s strolling up. 

Once you noticed him on the seventeenth inexperienced, what had been you pondering?

“He hit a drive into the gang, after which he hit it on the inexperienced and bounced to the perimeter. However then he putted it. He nearly made the birdie. But it surely was a millimeter away from the cup. The gang was going wild. The gang was similar to ohhhhhh. If he made that birdie, the gang would have went loopy.”

Then he received near his bag.

“So whereas he was placing, the caddie [Joe LaCava] appeared over at my signal, after which when Tiger completed the outlet, Tiger got here near his caddie, and the caddie whispered one thing to Tiger like, look behind you, I believe there’s a woman with a very nice poster. And Tiger appeared behind for a number of seconds and stared at it after which received a Sharpie out from his pocket and began signing his glove. After which I used to be like, please come over, please come over, as a result of I used to be like, dad, I believe he’s signing one thing. And my dad was like, oh, that’s cool. After which he came to visit, and I used to be simply all sweaty and shocked.” 

Then he began to stroll over.

“My coronary heart began pounding. I used to be getting the chills. I’m like, is that this a dream, is that this actual? This couldn’t be taking place proper now. I used to be simply watching him, and I used to be speechless. I didn’t know what to say.”

Then he gave you a signed glove and checked the field in your poster.

“I seen he was simply coming as much as me with a pen and glove, and I used to be like, oh, um, I ponder what that pen and glove is for. And he handed me a glove and I noticed it and it was along with his signature on it. After which I appeared down and he was writing one thing on the poster that I made. And I assumed he was signing his title, however then after he left, I picked up the poster and I noticed it and that he checked the field to “Meet Tiger Woods.” I’m nonetheless in numerous shock. It was fairly cool.” 

Then he gave you a hand slap when he went to 18.

“I assumed it was fairly cool. I used to be nonetheless fascinated by the glove and the poster. He double high-fived me. It was fairly cool.”

And Woods was off. Madelyn left quickly afterward. Riviera was enjoyable, however she herself had a match on Sunday. 

There is a bit more to share. 

One, there’s a fourth line to her poster. It reads, in inexperienced marker: “Play Augusta.”

How can we get that final field checked? 

“Are you able to assist me?”

If I may, I’d. Perhaps this story. What’s your plan? 

“I’m going to attempt Drive, Pitch and Putt. I made it to the semifinals. It was fairly arduous. It was in Arizona. It was just a little difficult.”

Why Augusta?

“It’s principally the perfect golf course on the earth. And Tiger Woods has performed there and it’s his favourite course. Mainly each PGA man, that’s what they suppose is the perfect course. I actually need to play it. That’s why it’s on my bucket checklist. I actually need to go play there quickly.”

The rest you’d like to inform me?

“I simply need to say Tiger, for those who learn this, I problem you and Charlie to a match in opposition to my dad and I. We’re each single-digit handicaps. …”

Her dad whispers: “Inform him what you informed us the opposite night time.”

She does. 

“It makes me really feel so pleased that everybody is trying on the image of me and Tiger. I simply need to inform my story to inform youngsters who’re ready for a coronary heart transplant or no matter surgical procedure they want, simply to make them not nervous and extra snug. 

“Simply to have hope. Not be apprehensive anymore.”