Editor’s Note: This is part two of a monthly series where Brynn Walker Collins describes her experience in professional golf. A former University of North Carolina golfer, Walker Collins competes on the Epson Tour, a circuit that offers top finishers access to the LPGA Tour. You can read part one here.
I still remember that day vividly, when I first felt a squeaky pain in my left shoulder while taking my bag off my back at the 2022 IOA Championship, an Epson Tour event in Beaumont, California. It was a minor discomfort, and I didn’t think much of it at the time. I popped some Advil and continued playing through the event, hoping the pain would just go away on its own. And for a brief period, it did.
But as soon as I returned home and started practicing, the pain returned with a vengeance. I was hitting the ball better than ever before and quickly snapped a video to document the instance of perfection in such a perplexing game. I sent the video to my dad with the caption: “I got it.” Then, a few moments later, I didn’t have it. As I hit the next 7-iron, the pain shot through my left arm like a bolt of lightning, forcing me to pause my practice session.
I’ve been chewed up by the Teeth of the Dog; scraped, beaten and punched by the Bear Trap; strangled by the Snake Pit; and have danced with the devil in the deepest bunker at Pine Valley. None of that prepared me for this. The possibility of having an injury felt unimaginable — a monster that could only show up in my nightmares.
I tried to play through the pain for a while, but it was like playing an entire round of golf out of the rough. Every shot was unpredictable. When I went to play the Copper Rock Championship in Hurricane, Utah, a month later, I knew it was going to be an uphill battle. The weather was cold, windy and rainy, which only made my injury worse. By the third hole of the second round, I was fighting back tears of pain. I finished the round but shot 78-77 and failed to make the cut by two strokes.
That was when I knew I needed to take a break and get medical help. I called my dad, who is a doctor, and before I knew it, I had a tee time for an MRI arthrogram the following week. My next shot was out of a needle that injected dye into my shoulder to help identify any tears. The test came back negative — there were no visible tears. It was great news that I’d escaped immediate surgery, but frustrating in that there was still no answer for my pain.
I felt like a golfer searching for a swing key, trying everything until something clicked. I went through a few more diagnostic tests, saw many more doctors, and spent hours on the PT table. With treatment and rest, the pain eventually improved, and I was eager to get back out and play.
We decided on a cortisone injection to reduce any remaining inflammation, and then I returned to play at the Island Resort Championship in June 2022, just two months after my previous start in Utah. It felt like I’d made the turn to the back nine and was ready for a comeback.
But the relief was short-lived. Cortisone was a quick fix that gave me a limited time to play before greater interventions were needed. It was enough to extend my season and finish the last few events, surviving yet again on Advil and ice. I made four cuts in my last nine Epson Tour starts.
That was when I had to make a difficult decision on whether or not to play LPGA Tour Q-School. It was like deciding to go for a high risk par-5 in two shots. Do I go for it and risk the pain continuing into the next season? Or do I lay up, take time to rest, and get ready for the new year?
Despite being a long hitter, I decided to lay up. (Perhaps I’ve gotten older and wiser or have improved my course management through the years.)
During my extended off-season, I learned that I had nerve damage in my C5-C6, which is part of my neck and shoulder. It was a relief to finally have a target. For a while, I felt like I was playing golf in the dark. I underwent Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP) therapy, which required weeks away from the game and another go at PT. I began strengthening all the minor and major muscles in my shoulder. Slowly but surely, a golf club found its way back into my hands.
Navigating injury was a daunting task, but it also allowed me to tap into my inner strength and resilience.
As I finished rehabbing my injury, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment. This was the biggest challenge I had endured in golf, and I came out on top. Sure, I didn’t score a number that I can write down, but the lessons I’ve learned are priceless.
Regardless if you are playing Innisbrook, Teeth of the Dog, PGA National, Pine Valley or a “Course Called Injury,” the shots we’ll hit and the way the ball will sit is always uncertain. The true test is being able to take it one shot at a time, one hole at a time, one day at a time.
Reflecting on my past year, I realize how much it taught me about the power of presence. Even when I felt alone and lost, I discovered that I had supporters walking with me all along. They may not have been visible, but their encouragement and belief in me kept me going.
Navigating injury was a daunting task, but it also allowed me to tap into my inner strength and resilience. By confronting my weaknesses and finding ways to compensate with my strengths, I learned how to push through the toughest challenges.
As I look ahead to this current season, I’m reminded of the advice given to me by a wise mentor, who said that practicing on the toughest course you can find is the key to preparing for anything that comes your way. Now that I’ve conquered a battle with a painful injury, I feel ready to take on anything. The toughest course is behind me, and I’m excited to see what lies ahead.