Behind the Scenes: Finales and Farewells

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Well, here we are. We’ve come to the final day. The day of reckoning, so to speak. And I was filled with nervous energy.
 
The final two contestants, Guy and Paul, on the other hand, were as calm as ever.
 
Keeping up with the “well-established” European habit, Guy was a bit late to breakfast. But the meal was as friendly and cordial as ever. And I truly believe that both of them had grown to have a mutual respect for the other’s game.
 
At the range that morning, both men were focused. I spoke with Marty (Team USA’s caddy) about the upcoming match. His pick to win? Paul. Why? Simply because of his mental toughness and how well he prepares. In my mind, it could go either way.
 
The morning couldn’t have been a better one for golf. The match started on the first hole with the hotel as a backdrop and the 10 eliminated contestants and an anxious crew looking on.
 
After two holes they were all square. But on the third, Paul had an amazing second shot that landed about 3 feet from the hole and went one up. Paul remained ahead by one until No. 6 where a perilous bunker shot forced the match back to even.
 
On No. 8 Paul birdied the par 3 and went back to one up. On No. 10, Paul opened the door when his tee shot landed in a fairway bunker. However, Guy couldn’t push the door open. His tee shot landed in the primary cut of rough, but he shanked his second shot into the rough of the fairway right beside us.
 
On the 13th hole, Paul again birdied the par 3 to lead 2-Up. But on 15, Paul tried once again to leave the door ajar when he landed in the bunker off the tee and then overshot the green on his third shot. Guy, however, couldn’t capitalize and landed his second shot in the gorse and had to take a drop.
 
Paul stayed two up until 17, where once again, he left some room for Guy to get back in the match. Paul missed an easy 2 foot putt and Guy won the hole. Paul was now 1-Up with one to go.
 
This match was turning out to have quite a dramatic finish – which is always a plus for TV - and the drama continued all the way until the bitter end. Paul had to make an 8 foot putt to win the match, and after his short miss on 17, the pressure was on. But, as expected, he sank it like a pro. Paul Holtby would be crowned The Big Break IV Champion.
 

As I stood back and watched the bagpiper at the trophy presentation, I couldn’t help but reflect on the last two weeks of shooting. Yes, these shoots are hard work. You’re up at 4:00 a.m. …going to bed around 11:00 p.m. (if you’re lucky)...outside battling the elements all day…running around making sure each one of the contestants is taken care of. It’s tough. But these men, who started as strangers and were now friends certainly made it worthwhile.
 
That afternoon the contestants brought their shirts from the show down to the restaurant – where contestants and crew members signed small notes on each one. There was a different air about the place. It was over. And now we could, to some extent, relax.
 
That evening, we had our usual Big Break wrap party at the hotel. Our staff photographer organized a slide show of his favorite shots and we stayed up talking until the crack of dawn. I didn’t want it to end. But, at 4:00 a.m. that morning I sleepily boarded a bus to Edinburgh. That day I may have left the town of Carnoustie behind me, but I will carry the memories of Scotland, and The Big Break IV, with me forever.
 
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