Full Swing

Chapter 1

The clapper board slams shut, and the cameraman sticks his thumb up from behind the camera, signalling that he has started recording.

"Can you tell us who you are and what you do?" The Netflix director says, and I slip my phone back into my pocket.

"My name is James Carey, I'm 21 years old, I'm from England, and I play on the PGA Tour and the European Tour." Another Netflix associate holds up a prompter with questions on it, presumably so that the director doesn't have to keep cutting in.

"I made my debut on the PGA Tour as a pro at 17 in 2019, and I won the Open Championship that year as a rookie - and winning the US Open last year was something special. This year, I'm aiming to win at least one of the majors, and to prove myself worthy of a place on the Ryder Cup team."

"And cut!" The director yells out, and I unclip a microphone from my polo shirt collar and walk out of the room, sitting outside on the porch of my house, the sun standing proudly in the sky. Having that film crew follow me around for the year is going to be a handful, but my agent wagers that the publicity we'll get will be worth the bother. My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I answer the phone.

"Hey, it's James."

"Hey James, it's Clive, TaylorMade says that your new clubs are en route."

"OK, thanks for keeping me posted Clive."

"How's Netflix treating you?"

"I can tell it's going to be a pain, but -"

"It's a pain worth bearing for the moment, James. Just let them do their thing, and they'll let you get on with the golf. Alright, I'll speak with you soon. Ciao."

Clive hangs up, and I slip my phone back into my pocket and walk down the corridor, the lights in the trophy cabinet lighting up behind each cup as I walk past. US Open, The Open, Wells Fargo, Memorial, and my most recent trophy standing at centre stage from the BMW PGA Championship; albeit with one glaring absence - the Masters.

I can envision it - the silver clubhouse trophy standing elegantly in front of the famed green jacket, hanging proudly as the centrepiece of the entire cabinet. I leave the corridor and head back to the living room, the lights switching off behind me, the Netflix crew long gone. I pick up my golf clubs and walk to the back door, locking it, before making my way to the garage.

"What did I have planned for today?" I ask myself whilst waiting for the garage door to open. Once the door is fully open, I'm greeted with my options: my newly purchased Aston Martin DBX; a BMW i5 M50 that I won at Wentworth; and a Maserati Levante. Having made my decision, I pick up the keys for my Maserati and load my golf bag and clubs back into the boot, before I pull out my phone and see it vibrating in my hand.

"Hello?" I hear an unfamiliar voice on the other end.

"Hello, this is James Carey."

"Hi James, I'm Madison Beer's agent." I nearly forgot that I'm meant to be filming a YouTube video with her. "Just calling to say we're on our way to the course - TPC Prestancia, right?"

"Yeah, you're right, I'm just leaving now."

"Cool, we'll see you when you get there." The agent hangs up and I climb into my car and begin the short drive from my house to the golf course.

*****

After a relatively short drive, I pull into the car park at TPC Prestancia, and I notice a familiar group of cameramen carrying equipment through the lobby of the clubhouse. One of them approaches me as I step out of the car.

"Nice seeing you again James. Shame about the Open." Cody, the main cameraman says, and I flash a brief smile.

"Let's not bring that up." I say, trying to keep my embarrassment in check.