Grant Haefner's debut on the Asian Tour took an unexpected turn when he arrived in Morocco, only to find that his golf clubs had not made the journey with him. Despite this setback, Haefner impressively managed to tie for 12th place at the International Series Morocco, trailing just five strokes behind the illustrious former Masters champion, Bubba Watson. The clubs Haefner used during the event were not his own; he was forced to rely on a set borrowed from the Asian Tour's Commissioner, including a conventional-length putter that he hadn't used in nearly four years since switching to a broomstick style.
The unique opportunity for Haefner to compete in Morocco began months earlier at Congaree Golf Club in South Carolina, where he played alongside Jean-Frédéric Dufour, the CEO of Rolex and a supporter of the Asian Tour. At that time, Haefner was facing challenges in securing spots on the HotelPlanner Tour due to his conditional status. Dufour offered to assist him with an exemption for the Asian Tour, which prompted Haefner to reach out via email to inquire about opportunities in regular Asian Tour events in Taiwan. Although he hesitated to request a spot in an International Series event, Haefner was pleasantly surprised when he received an email two weeks later inviting him to participate in Morocco.
After a disappointing attempt to qualify for the U.S. Open, Haefner promptly flew from Cincinnati to Casablanca, only to discover that his clubs were missing upon arrival. He spent hours at the baggage desk trying to locate them, but as the night wore on, he had to accept that they were nowhere to be found. Undeterred, he headed to the Royal Dar Es Salam Golf Club the next morning to walk the course, taking notes and preparing as best he could for the tournament. When the Tour called to invite him to participate in the pro-am, Haefner explained his predicament, but they assured him that they would find him a set of clubs. Unfortunately, the emergency set they provided proved inadequate, prompting Haefner to borrow equipment from fellow competitors during the round.
After playing, he made another trip to the airport, hopeful that his clubs would finally be located, only to learn that they might still be in Cincinnati. Faced with uncertainty and a lack of equipment, Haefner returned to his rental accommodation, unsure of what the next day would bring. However, as his tee time approached, the Tour managed to secure a set of clubs belonging to the Commissioner. Although they were not ideal, they were certainly better than playing with borrowed gear. With low expectations, Haefner delivered an outstanding performance, carding six birdies and just one bogey for a five-under 68, showcasing remarkable resilience in light of the circumstances.
Despite the challenging situation, Haefner's round was a testament to his skill and determination. Yet, the looming issue remained: the Commissioner would be leaving Morocco with his clubs. In a repeat of his earlier experiences, Haefner found himself making another late-night drive to the airport, where a sympathetic supervisor spent hours searching for the missing clubs, but to no avail. Back at his Airbnb, he faced another night of uncertainty regarding his equipment. Fortunately, on the morning of his next round, the Tour delivered good news: the Commissioner had left his clubs behind, ensuring that Haefner had a set to play with for the remainder of the tournament.
Although Haefner's second round was not as stellar as the first, he still managed to score a respectable one-under 72, keeping him tied for 12th place in a highly competitive field. The evening brought another email regarding his clubs, but this time, Haefner chose sleep over another trip to the airport, confident in the assurance that his equipment would eventually arrive. As the tournament progressed, Haefner continued to navigate the challenges with poise, all while his own clubs remained lost somewhere between Cincinnati and Morocco.
As reported by mondayq.com.
