And:
"Can I break 100 out there? I think to myself, If I can beat America's deadliest cancer, then I can definitely break 100 at its Open."
Soon enough, as the contest gained attention, along came teaching pro Bob Scott, from The Players Club at Deer Creek in Omaha, offering to help the local finalist. They convened regularly in Atkinson's basement, where Scott put down a grid designed to guide footwork. At every meeting, they concentrated on fundamentals of alignment, pre-shot routine and relaxation under pressure. In time, Scott promised, Atkinson might even leave the basement to take a full swing. One day, a phone call. A member at Dismal River Club. Hey, John, if you need to play a great course with Open-like conditions, come on out. Dismal River is an exclusive golf destination in the Sandhills of central Nebraska. Absolutely, he'd do that. Only a five-hour drive from Omaha. No, no, we'll send a plane for you.
Atkinson with wife Lori; daughters Machaela (10) and Andrea (8); and son Christopher (5).
Scott and Atkinson had never talked about Open conditions, but the pro knew the first sight of Torrey Pines could intimidate any 8-handicapper. So he said, "Before, you ought to go play some place like Dismal River." That gave the smiling Atkinson reason to say words he'd never imagined saying: "Guess who'll send a plane for me."
Atkinson is a medical-devices sales representative who plays once a week, Saturday mornings at Indian Creek, 6:45 a.m., with a regular group of Dave Leahy, Ted Plugge and John Knicely. His golf season is short, "28, 29 rounds a year," because winter comes early and stays late in Nebraska. Besides, there's another irresistible force of nature every Saturday in the fall, Cornhusker football. ("We got 80,000 for the spring game.")
Serious about golf while attending college, Atkinson first played at age 13 with his father, Ed, an 8-handicapper. John's younger brother, Kevin, a golf-course architect, says his handicap "bounces from 0 to 2.5." (Nice bounce.)
Early voting in the contest showed an unmistakable trend: Everyone loved John Atkinson. He won in a landslide.
So, the day after the other finalists play a round at Torrey Pines without NBC cameras and celebrities, Atkinson will join Lauer, Romo and Timberlake in a round filmed for a show from 2-3 p.m. EDT June 15 on NBC immediately preceding the final round of the Open.
That day will close the circle on a series of events set in motion last December when Atkinson went to a basketball game.
Since the diagnosis in March 2007, he had been lost in darkness. "Almost 24/7," he says, he thought of cancer and death.
Then he and a friend had a good time with their sons at a Nebraska-Oregon game in Omaha. "I caught myself thinking, It'd be great to come back here in March for the NCAA games."
First time he'd thought ahead.
Then he remembered the Golf Digest contest.
"I decided, Let's start living."
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