Whether life after 50 gets better for everyone or not is a point that is debatable. Most people believe it is a time to begin planning for retirement and to enjoy the comforts of life after they are through with their active careers. Things were however different for Jerry Kelly who began playing the best golf of his professional career after the age of 50 and provided evidence to everyone that life after 50 can be exciting as well.
Kelly brushed off the adage of being called a spent force when he was victorious twice in his first season on the PGA tour championships. It was an exciting transformation for Kelly in 2017 who had never before won on the PGA event after 2009.
The story of Jerry Kelly
Kelly became a professional in 1989 but qualified for the champions tour after turning 50 on November 23, 2016. The initial months were a struggle because he believed he had an advantage and could make a mark right away. Unfortunately, things had changed and the competition he encountered was intense.
Looking at the way the other professionals were scoring Kelly was shocked out of his wits. In order to compete with other golfers over the age of 50 in the world, Kelly decided he had to change certain things.
Kelly did not like the fact that he had practically been crushed out during the initial three months and the early lessons he learned were perhaps the best things to have happened in his life.
The initial lessons made Kelly polish up on his game knowing full well that you would be overtaken unless he made the changes.
A few simple changes were all that was required for Kelly drastically to improve his performance. He just had to change his putter, driver and his shoes and begin working consistently to achieve his objectives. He received the support he wanted from his wife Carol who began traveling with him full-time after their son Cooper enrolled at the University of Colorado.
It was perhaps just the kind of motivation Kelly needed because he was victorious in the first week after Carol begun traveling with him and the victory was at the Boeing Classic. One week later he tied for sixth place at the Shaw Charity Classic. In a span of the next three months, he had another win apart from three top 10 finishes. Life after 50 had certainly begun on the right track for Kelly after his wife decided to travel with him on the tour.
Kelly also developed ideal partnerships in his life after 50
Kelly was having a stellar year and he also managed to find a new sponsor Exact Sciences who are the creators of a screening test for colorectal cancer which is noninvasive. The test has received approval from the FDA and Exact Sciences revealed in early November that they had signed a three-year agreement as the title sponsor of the PGA tour champions for the Cologuard Classic which is expected to begin this year.
Kelly was happy with the sponsorship because his wife Carol is a cancer survivor. He feels it is a perfect opportunity for him to spread awareness of people of colorectal cancer and encourage them to get tested.
Kelly has mentioned that his family and friends were surprised to understand that colorectal cancer is the second most common variety of this condition in the United States and is something which should not be ignored. Many people do not believe it is a priority because of the age-old belief which stays “it cannot happen to me.” Cancer, however, does not discriminate and can affect anyone.
Cologuard has been created for people over the age of 50 and older and Kelly got himself screened after turning 50. Kelly did not face any disruptions to his busy schedule but managed to learn that it was easy to prepare for a colonoscopy simply because there was no preparation involved.
He appreciated the noninvasive technique which was being used which were extremely important to him.
Kelly began playing better after the age of 50 and after his wife, Carol began traveling with him. He also got himself screened for colorectal cancer by his present sponsors and is presently playing the best golf of his life.
Jerry Kelly has certainly proved to the world that life after 50 can really be exciting as there are plenty of opportunities for people to get involved in other than just thinking about retirement. All it needs is some motivation for people to make a proper beginning.