“It’s all about trying the game and seeing if you like it. If we have inspired one person with a disability that golf could be great for them, it is all very much worthwhile.”
Audio:
It was St Andrews – the ‘home of golf’ – and surely the most eagerly awaited Open Championship for decades. Staged against a backdrop of 290,000 spectators from all over the world, millions more golfers and non golfers were experiencing The 150th Open on their screens and phones.
On the Monday practice day, The R&A hosted the ‘Celebration of Champions’, a unique four-hole team match now established during Open Championship week whenever the event is played at this historic golf venue; the fans saying thank you to the likes of Tom Watson, Tiger Woods, Gary Player, Georgia Hall, Nick Faldo, Bob Charles and more; all played out on the iconic golfing acres of the first, second, 17th and 18th holes on the Old Course.
This year’s event brought an extra reason to be cheerful. An international quartet of EDGA players with a disability: Monique Kalkman of Holland, Juan Postigo Arce of Spain, Kipp Popert of England and Jennifer Sräga of Germany were able to meet, talk with, compare swing tips, practise alongside, and then play in the Celebration with these very legends.
Some of the former champions showed a few nerves on the day, but Jennie Sräga appeared comfortable and confident as she teed off on the first alongside Henrik Stenson and Mark O’Meara.
“I didn’t feel nervous on the first tee as there was just a sea of faces really, said Jennie.
“I have learned that I have to trust myself and test myself, so this felt like a wonderful moment, not a scary one.”
As the crowds lining the 18th hole cheered Jennie, she drilled her second shot over the ‘Valley of Sin’ and onto the green. A lovely lag putt earned a closing par but the statement of Jennie, Monique, Kipp and Juan to people watching around the world resounded clearly: golf can be a game that all of us can play, a sport that can include everyone.
In the days that followed the four EDGA players signed hundreds of autographs and when walking around St Andrews they were consistently stopped by interested people wanting to ask questions about their golf games.
For the rest of Open week Jennie returned the support she received from The R&A in attending the championship by taking part in golf activities to grow the game staged in the R&A SwingZone in the Spectator Village at St Andrews.
Jennie’s golf is steadily improving (her handicap is 3.2) as she works on all facets of her game. Her chipping and putting can be particularly impressive and helped her to secure a place in the Diversity Cup, played as part of the Solheim Cup in 2019, an event that first put Jennie in the international spotlight.
Back at the R&A SwingZone, Jennie captivated her audience on a number of occasions, meeting families and their youngsters to talk about getting a start in golf, playing ‘Golfway’ games with youngsters connected to UK children’s charity the Golf Foundation, and even giving a couple of security guards working at The Open their first golf lessons on their lunch breaks!
The 22 year-old from Ulm in Germany was with her Mum, Sonja, for the week and both of them helped the Golf Foundation create a great vibe for boys and girls new to golf; Jennie’s sense of humour and her skill saw her playing ‘keepy-uppy’, against-the-clock challenges and putting games before signing golf balls and caps for the youngsters.
Jennie said: “I was delighted to help in the SwingZone and it’s nice to help encourage more children to try golf because it is such a fantastic game, it really is. So it was so much fun for me to help kids with their very first hits!”
However she could help, Jennie would help; the Golf Foundation team later saying that the part all four EDGA golfers played was simply fantastic.
Jennie added: “It’s all about trying the game and seeing if you like it. If we have inspired one person with a disability that golf could be great for them it is all very much worthwhile.”
We are sure that Jennie will certainly have inspired many watching to try golf. Her story is an interesting one. EDGA first caught up with her in 2019 and it’s a story worth reading and listening to on our website. Simply click on https://bit.ly/3v5rgCz
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