From battling weather delays and qualifying for the U.S. Open to changing several flights and playing the opening round of the Made in Himmerland presented by FREJA with someone else’s golf clubs, Johannes Veerman’s week has already been one to remember.
When Veerman entered Monday’s U.S. Open qualifier at Dallas Athletic Club, it was with the expectation that he could play 36 holes and then fly over to Europe for the Denmark event that night.
But bad weather forced a delay on Monday, and while a further delay on Tuesday saw many of the field pull out, the 29 year old was playing well and chose to continue – at the expense of several changed flights.
The decision paid off for the American, who finished in a tie for fourth to gain one of the 10 qualifying spots for the third Major of the year at Torrey Pines next month.
He then managed to fly to Denmark on Wednesday morning, but when his golf clubs failed to make it, he had to play his opening round at Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort with someone else’s. And while that first round ended up being a four over par 75, Veerman was still all smiles when talking about his eventful week.
“U.S. Open qualifying was on Monday, and I had originally booked a flight for Monday evening so I thought I’ll just play 36, whether I make it or not it’ll be fine, I’ll catch a flight,” Veerman explained after earning his place in the first Major of his career.
“But no. It had a rain delay so I had to cancel that flight and booked on Tuesday afternoon, and then it rained Tuesday afternoon as well so I had to rebook again for Tuesday night.
“I ended up getting done at 6.30pm, and I got through so it ended up being completely worth it repaying all those flights and staying through the rain delays and everything because I got through to the U.S. Open.
“I ended up leaving Wednesday morning and I had to take a bunch of PCR tests along the way because Denmark has this rule where you have to have a test 48 hours before. I didn’t sleep much on the plane, arrived here and then my golf clubs didn’t show up so I played pretty jet-lagged and with someone else's clubs.
“A lucky break that I was playing in the afternoon because if I had a morning tee time I probably wouldn’t have come because I don’t think I would have made it in time but I had an afternoon tee time so I thought ‘hey I’m playing pretty well, let’s just rock up and see how it goes’.”
