Wonky back helped DeLaet stay calm
A sore back left Graham DeLaet unsure if he’d even tee off at the PGA Championship. Instead, he recorded one of the best performances of his career.
DeLaet, of Weyburn, Sask., finished Sunday’s final round tied for seventh at Quail Hollow golf course in Charlotte, N.C. It was his best result in one of golf’s four majors and just four shots back of winner Justin Thomas.
DeLaet said he was competing despite suffering from an ongoing back injury that flares up a couple of times a year, but the 35-year-old rallied to shoot 68 and 69 over the tournament’s final two rounds, the same weekend score as Thomas.
He said focusing on his health rather than his score helped him.
“When I was out there, I wasn’t really thinking about where I was at on the leaderboard, I was just trying to get through. From a mental standpoint, it was actually kind of beneficial,” he said. “Physically, obviously, I would have liked to have been healthy, but I kept my mind in a pretty good spot.”
Although DeLaet was in one of the final groups Sunday at a major for the first time in his career, he felt as though he belonged.
“There was a weird calmness about me, even on Saturday night,” he said. “If I could shoot five or six under, which was possible, but difficult (on Sunday), I would have had a chance to win a major. Even knowing that, I felt good.”
Physically, DeLaet felt better thanks to the efforts of Dr. Craig Davies, a Canadian conditioning coach and trainer.
Davies said they did acupuncture, dry needling, cupping, muscle adjustments, soft-tissue work and applied a Luminas patch that uses electrons from natural anti-pain compounds. DeLaet said this season has been solid overall with six top-10 finishes, but he wants more.
“I wouldn’t say I’m disappointed to not have a few more chances, but it’s tough,” he said. “It’s tough to get into that position and when you are, it’s harder to play well and finish it off. Obviously, I’ve never done it yet,” he said.