Destiny connects WW-PN senior Jin with Rory
Only one logical conclusion existed when one charts the path of PGA stud Rory McIlroy and Raymond Jin — Rory McIlroy had to win the Wells Fargo Championship.
Raymond who? Yeah, understandable if his name fails to register any mental payout. Jin, 18, played nine holes with McIlroy in the Wells Fargo Championship Pro-Am last Wednesday.
Jin, 18, a West WindsorPlainsboro High North senior and member of The First Tee of Greater Trenton, had earned his place in time travel by penning a first-place award in then Wells Fargo and the First Tee’s Succeeding Together Essay Contest.
Mind you, a pandemic delayed everything by a year after Jin won the essay contest, a prize that allowed him to choose a PGA Tour star for nine holes in the Pro-Am and nine more with Zhang Xinjun, a Chinese professional golfer.
COVID-19 canceled the 2020 Wells Fargo which left Jin daydreaming about playing a round of golf with his favorite star Tiger Woods.
Then Woods had his car accident in February and Dustin Johnson pulled out of the Wells Fargo leaving Jin playing with third-choice McIlroy. The fourtime Majors winner had been playing decent golf but far from his standard of excellence. McIlroy had missed cuts at The Players and Masters. He started his week in Charlotte with a mediocre 72.
McIlroy rebounded with rounds of 66-68-68-274 (-10) and a one-shot win over Abraham Ancer.
While a McIlroy post victory conversation recognized his wife, Erica, new baby girl, Poppy, hard work and other emotional amenities, he should have reworked a Mitch Albom book and considered “The Five People You Meet En Route to a Slump-Breaking PGA Victory.”
McIlroy’s 19th PGA Tour victory ended a drought that started in November 2019 as the Northern Ireland star dropped to No. 15 in World Rankings.
Chuckled after reading an email sent by Rob Connelley, a coach for The First Tee of Greater Trenton.
“Congratulations Raymond! You gave Rory some positive vibes that got him back into the winner circle! Well deserved,” Connelley wrote.
Ed Benson, executive director for The First Tee of Greater Trenton, understood Jin’s value as a representative for this capital city’s golf program. Benson exchanged correspondence with “Ambassador Jin”. Raymond,
What an unbelievable experience that you will cherish forever. Thank you for the kind words that were expressed to the four of us and we salute you again for winning the Well Fargo Succeeding Together Essay Contest. It’s well deserved!
Additionally, thanks for your global ambassadorship in not only representing FTGT but your family as well.
Lastly, please extend Happy
Mother’s Day to your Mother. I know it’s a very special day for her too!”
Jin’s mother had inspired his winning essay that included tales about their relationship as she dealt with breast cancer. The McIlroy victory only added to their journey as his mother celebrates a five-year clean slate.
Don’t bother. Reporters from Mexico to Bulgaria posted articles, photos and videos about Raymond Jin, violinist, mentor and Yale-bound freshman, knows how Jin spent Mother’s Day.
“Helped her plant flowers in the garden. Helped her make lunch. And then we sat down and watched most of the Wells Fargo tournament together,” Jin said.
Shortly after his Pro-Am experience, Jin sent this email.
“It was surreal walking up to the first tee and shaking Rory McIlroy’s hand. Rory didn’t seem just like a professional golfer to me, but also a great friend who I could always talk to for advice. He was amazing to play with, and such a nice guy. I remember him and I reading the greens together and him giving me pointers on how to line up the putt. I’ll never forget that. I resonated with Zhang as well. I was able to speak with him in Mandarin and get to know his life growing up in China and his introduction to the game of golf. He asked me lots of questions about my upbringing and school life as well. Overall, I can’t thank Wells Fargo and First Tee enough for providing me with this opportunity. Everything was so well planned out. Could not be happier with my experience.”
Imagine the surrealism seated with his mother, who Jin as a young boy feared he might lose. Or watching Rory McIlroy hoist the Wells Fargo Championship trophy.
Just love when a universe comes together. Rory McIlroy had to win the Wells Fargo Championship.
And he did.