It’s not day by day {that a} PGA Tour professional bares his soul. On Sunday, former journeyman professional Steve Wheatcroft took to social media to share his private struggles with alcoholism and despair since his taking part in days got here to an finish.
Wheatcroft, who spent 14 seasons — seven every on the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour —between 2006 and 2019 and made 345 begins, walked away from tour life with full standing on the Korn Ferry Tour. He was burned out and took a job as a monetary advisor. Regardless of getting off to a quick begin in his profession, he recollects an early morning a couple of years later the place he receives a textual content {that a} potential shopper has elected to postpone working with Wheatcroft for a 12 months or two. In that second of frustration and disappointment, he thought nothing of pouring himself a vodka with a splash of orange juice.
“That drink is the place a part of me died. That drink is the place I gave up on life, that drink launched me to a brand new greatest good friend,” he wrote. “I lived drunk. By no means sloppy, and also you’d by no means have recognized. However I knew. I mainly had a buzz for 2 years. I hated myself and I didn’t even know who I used to be. How do you hate somebody you don’t even know?”
Wheatcroft titled his publish “Till I couldn’t” and his intention is to assist others. In his social media publish selling his private story, he wrote:
The factor about hanging on by a thread is that it’s all the time simply that near snapping. I ought to’ve frolicked constructing that thread up, however as an alternative I assumed all the things would work itself out. Till the day got here that it didn’t….. No extra silence.
Wheatcroft asks for 5 minutes to learn his story, and it’s nicely price your time. For his full story, click on right here.
Wheatcroft’s story touched a nerve with a number of Tour execs. Sean Micheel, the winner of the 2003 PGA Championship, replied: “A lot of what you stated resonates with all of us at some stage. You’re precisely proper, it’s not possible to depart ‘life’ outdoors the ropes. Thanks for the braveness to open up.
Parker McLachlin wrote: “All of us wrestle with some kind of demons. Glad you’re in place.”
“Not everyone seems to be comfy with sharing their weaknesses in public and that’s OK,” Billy Horschel wrote on X. “However Wheatie is hoping by doing so he is ready to assist extra folks whereas persevering with on his path of sobriety. Congrats Wheatie.”
Not everyone seems to be comfy with sharing their weak point’s in public and that’s okay. However Wheatie is hoping by doing so he is ready to assist extra folks whereas persevering with on his path of sobriety. Congrats Wheatie. 👊👊 https://t.co/jUYSGZvBMd
— Billy Horschel (@BillyHo_Golf) September 3, 2024
