Virginia Tech junior Drew Weaver became the first American since 1972 to capture the British Amateur Championship. The victory earned him a spot in the 2008 Masters Tournament. The High Point, NC native is writing an exclusive, web-only diary for masters.org on his first experience as a Masters participant. Weaver was an on- campus witness to the horror of 32 Virginia Tech students being shot and killed last April. He rebounded to help lead his team to the ACC title.
Weaver is writing his daily diary during Tournament week. This is his final entry.
It’s hard to believe that after all the work and focus and thought I put in this week, it’s finally over.
It wasn’t a good day (80-154), but that’s the way it is sometimes. It just didn’t work out today; I didn’t hit many good shots, and when I did, I didn’t make the putts.
I got off to a rough start (bogeys on one and two) and just didn’t have it today. Finishing up the second nine, I was just totally spent, wasted, done. I put so much into this week, I thought I was ready. It really comes down to experience, on the greens, and on the course.
Another thing I learned is that a major championship like this is totally draining, mentally and physically. I was just spent out there.
That’s why it was so good to have so many of my family and friends here. To have an experience like this, and to be able to share it with everyone, is really special.
After dinner last night, I went over to my parents’ house and hung out with all of my friends and family. It was a pretty crazy, but it was good to see everybody.
That’s why it meant so much to me and I got a little emotional after the final round. Just seeing them behind the 18th green, and getting their hugs and congratulations meant a lot.
I can certainly say this is the toughest course I’ve ever played. But I just have to look at this as a good experience for the future. This golf course is certainly unlike anything I’ve ever played before.
Because I had an early tee time, I had a pretty early start. I got up at 7 a.m. and went down for an breakfast and then went out to the range.
I had a really good warm-up and felt good on the range before I started. I can usually tell how I’m going to play, but it didn’t happen today. I hit it in the woods twice and it wasn’t good from there.
Playing with a past Champion like Raymond Floyd, he told me to keep working at it and that’s what I plan to do.
I’m planning on staying over the weekend. I need some time to decompress and rest.
I can still stay in the Crow’s Nest and take my meals here, so that’s what I think I’m going to do. We leave Wednesday for the ACC Championship and I probably need to catch up on some school work.
I’ll probably go out on the course Saturday; certainly I want to watch Johnson (Wagner) and support him. When he came up to me behind the Clubhouse and gave me a hug, it brought tears to my eyes.
I’m going to continue to represent Virginia Tech the best that I can, wear the colors and carry the bag, and I want to support a fellow Hokie like Johnson.
When you work so hard getting ready for something and it ends like this, it’s tough. But this is still a great week, a dream week, the greatest week of my life so far. To be here and play in the Masters is incredible.
It’s an experience I will always remember and cherish, and one I will always be grateful for.
