Wyrick stays on radar

BRYCE ALDERTON

Some observers would consider Keith Wyrick’s life as glamorous --

traveling to compete in European Tour senior events and vying for a

spot on the Champions Tour.

And while the thrill of competitive golf gets Wyrick’s blood

flowing, it can also siphon money out of the wallet.

But Wyrick, a starter at Newport Beach Golf Course when he is not

competing in tournaments, doesn’t want you to feel sorry for him.

He admits to living “Walter Mitty’s dream,” a reference to the

fictional novel character who fantasizes about a life much more

riveting than the one he lives in.

Wyrick, a Huntington Beach resident, husband and father, enters

today’s second round of the Nevada State Senior Open in Mesquite,

Nev., after spending about $6,000 the last five weeks in attempts to

earn exempt status on either the Champions Tour or the European

Senior Tour.

Wyrick, who turned 50 Wednesday, missed advancing to the finals of

Champions Tour qualifying by three strokes in early November, but

made it to the last round of European Senior Tour qualifying in

Portugal, where the rain came down in buckets.

“I was not equipped for flooding,” Wyrick said. “It rained eight

inches in two weeks. I was 4-under-par when it was not raining and

9-over-par when it was raining. The game calls for more ability than

I showed there.

“I respect guys like Ray Carrasco and David Oakley who have done

well [in Europe],” Wyrick said. “It was humbling to see how far those

guys have gotten and the financial support they receive.”

The opportunity to play in Europe, a continent Wyrick had never

visited, came abruptly at 5:30 a.m. Nov. 10, a Monday.

A representative from the European Tour’s London office said

Wyrick had been accepted for qualifying, but he lacked the needed

paperwork.

“I didn’t have a passport or a ticket, so I visited the post

office and went to the travel agency and flew out the next day [Nov.

11],” Wyrick said.

Wyrick spent Thanksgiving in Portugal. His family was at home in

Huntington Beach.

He said the European card is “achievable,” compared to the

Champions Tour. The European Tour will allow 20 players to receive

cards next year while the Champions Tour will take just four

qualifiers.

“My ability does not warrant spending [$10,000 to $20,000] to get

on the Champions Tour,” Wyrick said. “I was greatly disappointed not

to qualify for the Champions Tour. I got around with a 74-74-74 and I

knew I had to shoot even par to get to the finals. It is hard to play

when there is not much air in your lungs. For the first time in my

life, I couldn’t handle the pressure and that was my strong card. In

this instance, I was not tough enough.”

Wyrick plans on playing in state-sanctioned senior tournaments in

2004, but keeps his priorities in mind.

“Maybe if 10 to 20 guys put $5,000 to keep me afloat for one more

year, I might try to earn the European card,” Wyrick said. “I can do

it, but it just depends. I have to make the right decision when the

situation arises. Golf is not more important than the boys.”

A lesson all of us should keep in mind.