The Sanderson Farms Championship concluded with a leaderboard showcasing an impressive array of emerging talent, including the champion Sam Burns, along with Cameron Young, Hayden Buckley, and Sahith Theegala. However, amidst this youthful exuberance stood Nick Watney.
At 40 years old, Watney’s co-runner-up finish on Sunday might have raised eyebrows a decade ago when he was consistently ranked among the top 10 players in the world. Fast forward to today: it has been nearly ten years since his last victory on Tour at the 2012 Barclays—his fifth career title. Currently, he is competing this season under a one-time career-money-list exemption after starting the new season ranked No. 50.
Watney described this exemption as an “incredible lifeline.” Last season was particularly challenging for him; he finished No. 204 on the FedExCup list and missed both the Tour playoffs and Korn Ferry Tour Finals by just four spots. His struggles were highlighted by an alarming streak where he missed cuts in 18 consecutive individual events—a disheartening run that began at last fall’s Sanderson Farms Championship itself. The only silver lining during that period came from a T-11 finish alongside Charley Hoffman at the Zurich Classic.
“I found myself in such a deep hole,” Watney reflected on his tumultuous previous season.
Determined to turn things around, Watney reconnected with his longtime swing coach Butch Harmon in July. “He’s witnessed my progress over many years,” said Watney about Harmon’s influence. “We regrouped and so far it has been fantastic.” Despite finishing his previous campaign with four made cuts out of five starts, he entered the Fortinet Championship last month ranked No. 732—his lowest position since turning professional back in 2003.
This isn’t Watney’s first battle against adversity; back in 2016, a herniated disc sidelined him for most of that year and caused him to drop outside of the top 500 rankings shortly thereafter. Yet within just one year following that setback, he managed to fulfill his major medical extension obligations and returned to being recognized as a top-100 player globally.
This latest challenge is not due to physical injuries but rather stems from significant mental hurdles he’s had to overcome as well—recalibrating his mindset to align with his skills at age forty.
“I’m focusing on being completely honest and authentic with myself,” said Watney regarding his mental approach during play. “[On Sunday] at hole number sixteen I made an errant swing; instead of simply reacting instinctively like I should have done while hitting my shot—I found myself instructing myself what needed doing instead.”
A Season Transformed
What initially appeared daunting for Watney has transformed into something promising; after tying for thirtieth place in Napa before nearly ending his winless streak in Mississippi recently—he now finds himself fourth overall in FedExCup points as he gears up for another competition—the Shriners Children’s Open taking place right at home this week in Las Vegas.
Looking ahead rather than dwelling on past difficulties is key for Nick: “There were definitely some tough times last year,” he admitted candidly.” But I’m not focused on those anymore—I’m committed towards continuous improvement moving forward.”
The journey back into competitive form hasn’t come without its challenges or moments of self-doubt—but through perseverance combined with expert guidance from Harmon along with introspective work aimed towards enhancing mental resilience—it seems clear that Nick Watney is ready once again not only compete but thrive within golf’s elite ranks once more!
The Road Ahead
The upcoming Shriners Children’s Open presents yet another opportunity for growth—and perhaps even redemption—for someone who has faced numerous trials throughout their career thus far! As fans eagerly await what lies ahead—they can rest assured knowing they’ll witness firsthand how determination coupled alongside experience can lead someone like Nick toward reclaiming former glory!