Meet Philly's hometown rooting interest at the PGA Championship
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Photo: Darren Carroll/PGA of America
A few years ago, Braden Shattuck wondered if he'd ever swing a club again after a serious car accident. Now he's back playing in the PGA Championship — and doing it in front of a hometown crowd.
Why it matters: The Delco native gives Philly fans a local rooting interest at Aronimink Golf Club, where the PGA Championship begins Thursday and features some of the world's best golfers.
The big picture: Shattuck, a club professional and instructor at Rolling Green Golf Club, is competing in his third PGA Championship, only a few years after a car crash nearly derailed his career and forced him to reinvent his swing to manage chronic back pain.
- Though he's only played Aronimink a handful of times, Shattuck said the real hometown advantage comes from the family and friends who will line the course this week.
What they're saying: "It's been a roller coaster ride physically, mentally, emotionally," Shattuck told reporters at a news conference Monday.
- "I feel like I'm going through a maze trying to figure out the right answer constantly."
Catch up quick: In 2019, Shattuck suffered herniated discs in his lower back from the accident, which sidelined him from competitive golf for two years.
- He cycled through a battery of treatments — from physical therapy to counseling — to recover from the physical and emotional trauma caused by the accident.
- He admitted the recovery took a toll, battling anxiety and panic attacks that nearly made him quit golf — until he found relief through mindfulness.
Zoom in: Shattuck credited a psychologist friend with introducing him to a form of therapy that focused on confronting and accepting emotions rather than avoiding them.
- The practice, which he says he works on for half an hour daily, taught him to focus on the next medical milestone, and later, the next shot in front of him.
"I'm always practicing mindfulness, whether it's folding clothes or washing a dish or just focusing on my breathing," he said, adding he uses "biofeedback machines" to track all his vitals.
- "I got really good at bringing my heart rate down, which inadvertently helped me on the golf course when you have a nerve-wracking shot."
The bottom line: Playing against the best of the best in front of a hometown crowd might rattle some of the most poised athletes — but for Shattuck, the hard part's over.
- When the time comes to tee off, Shattuck will center himself, take a couple of deep, calming breaths, and let it fly.
- "I'm in a really good space," he says.