Living the dream

Johannes Veerman is one of a number of Americans plying their trade in Europe at the moment, and he’s loving every minute...

- MICHAEL WESTON

It’s not the done thing for a player to celebrate another’s misfortune. Even so, Johannes Veerman could have been forgiven for uttering a few encouraging words under his breath – nothing audible or over the top, of course – when Tapio Pulkkanen dunked one in the water on the final hole of the Czech Masters last August, an error which left the door wide open. After a few nearlies, this was Veerman’s opportunity – and he grabbed it with both hands.

You have to strike while the iron’s hot at this level. In July, Veerman had come third at the Irish Open and tied eighth at the Scottish Open – lucrative finishes, yes, but when you keep coming close, the pressure builds to get the job done. Miss out and who knows how long it’ll be before another opportunity to seriously contend presents itself? That Veerman had “never been so nervous” on a golf course is quite understandable. He could have talked about “staying in the moment” and “sticking to the routine” – which he probably did – but the affable American is not one to answer questions with a series of cliches. He prefers to be open and honest, which is refreshing.

“Oh my gosh, that win was huge,” he says with excitement. “It was a surreal position to be in. I was thinking, ‘You don’t have to make birdie here. It’s right there in front of you – just put it on the green and don’t mess it up!’