West Point, Mississippi –
Home of Drive, Chip and Putt Champ
by Maria Goddard
38
Emerson Blair
Winning the Drive, Chip & Putt
Championship for her age division, meeting
golf stars, Niall Horan from One Direction
and Justin Timberlake were only some
highlights in the April 2016 life of 9-yearold Emerson Blair.
The Masters Tournament, United
States Golf Association and PGA of
America founded the Drive, Chip &
Putt Championship in 2013, and it was
broadcast live by the Golf Channel.
The Championship is a free junior golf
competition with the goal of helping young
golfers develop fundamental golf skills.
It was held at the Augusta National Golf
Club in Augusta, Georgia, on April 3, the
week before the Masters Tournament.
At the early age of four years old, the
bubbly Emerson of West Point, Mississippi
already had a club in her hand and was
carefully setting the dented ball on the tee.
“We [as parents] just want to support
her and get her the best coaching we can
get,” said Key Blair, her father. “We try to
encourage, motivate and keep her focused.”
The young golf enthusiast started
competing at 8 years old, and this was her
second time competing in the Drive, Chip
and Putt Championship. The first year, she
did not make it to the national round, but
that did not dampen her competitive fire.
“I love winning,” said Emerson. “I
practice almost every day.”
The Championship starts at the local
level, and the competition intensifies as it
progresses into subregional, regional and
finally, national.
“It was really exciting,” said Key. “She
was in 4th place, but in the last event, which
was putting, she jumped to first place.”
During the trophy ceremony, former
Masters winner Ben Crenshaw presented
her with the trophy. She went to the press
conference area, had lunch in the Founder’s
Room and had the privilege of going to the
practice round for the Masters the next day.
“It felt amazing,” said Emerson. “I want
to thank my coaches for helping me. I was
really excited and happy, and I like meeting
new people from everywhere around the
world.”
After she won, she took pictures with
Justin Timberlake, Niall and other progolfers.
“It was awesome,” said Emerson. “We
talked about golf.”
Although some believe the Championship
is not a sure demonstration of golf ability,
one of her two coaches assures that
Emerson has won several tournaments in
addition to this.
“Sometimes, at the DCPC, people say
that it is just hitting, but she has won golf
tournaments in Mississipp, Georgia, and
others,” said VJ Trolio, golf coach at Old
Waverly Golf Club in West Point, MS. “I
think that the DCPC is not only awesome
exposure for the kids and game, but you
have to be a good golfer to win it.”
Winning is what she is good at. She won
the U.S. Kids Golf Regional Tournament at
Jekyll Island, Georgia and Quincy, Illinois.
She placed fifth at Palm Beach, Florida and
sixth at Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Despite all the golf successes, her coach
prays the young Emerson grows in more
than just golf skills. “My hope for her is
that she grows up and loves Jesus and loves