JACKSON, Miss. — Headache. Pain in the neck.
That about summed up Henrik Norlander’s Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
In that order.
No sooner had the 37-year-old returned to his wife and two children after Wednesday’s pro-am at the Country Club of Jackson did he start feeling migraine-like symptoms.
“I could barely see,” said Norlander, who makes his home in Augusta, Georgia, after growing up in Danderyd, Sweden. “Just a terrible headache.”
An Advil, a dark room, a warm shower and a few hours of sleep, Norlander thought, would be the proper antidote.
But his night was further interrupted when he woke up feeling nauseous.
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By 7:14 Thursday morning, two minutes before Norlander was to tee off on No. 10, he felt something release from his head.
“It was like something got in my neck,” he told the Clarion Ledger on Thursday after he turned in his scorecard. “I could barely move. I was like, ‘Oh, this could be bad.’ “
Turns out the antidote for that was swinging his golf clubs.
‘Hopefully we both make a bunch of birdies’
Devastation. Disaster.
That about summed up what Norlander and his family experienced after Hurricane Helene tore through Augusta last week.
With no power, no running water and no cell phone service, the Norlanders loaded into their automobile and hit the road for the 525-mile drive to Jackson on Saturday. Norlander had already planned to arrive Sunday ahead of Monday’s pro-am.
Leaving home behind during such a time came with conflicting emotions. On one hand, Norlander hated the idea of leaving. On the other hand, he thought a break from the wreckage could be a good thing.
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By Monday night, Norlander and his family found themselves at dinner with fellow Augusta resident Luke List’s family.
List, the defending Sanderson Farms Championship champion, presented a proposal to his pal: Putts for dough.
Each player would donate $500 to the Red Cross to benefit hurricane victims in Augusta and elsewhere.
Norlander’s six birdies Thursday were good for a $3,000 donation. List wasn’t far behind with five birdies and a $2,500 donation.
“Hopefully we both make a bunch of birdies,” Norlander said. “Maybe get a little bit of awareness for business leaders and people who have been lucky or fortunate with the storm and had no damage.
“I could barely see the house across the street. There were trees everywhere.”
‘I’ve been close a lot’
Close calls. Frustration.
That about sums up three of the many experiences Norlander has had during his golf career.
Norlander lost his PGA Tour card after the 2016 season when he came $788 shy of the money mark.
A hurricane had a hand in that, too.
After Norlander failed to make good on a chance to keep his card at the Web.com Tour Finals, Hurricane Matthew wiped out The Tour Championship and Norlander’s hopes.
Last year, Norlander fell a few FedEx points short missed earning full status. He also lost in a playoff at Sanderson Farms.
“I mean, the solution to that is play better,” he said. “But, yeah, I’ve been close a lot.
“You just have to keep going at it. You’re going to end up where you deserve to end up. Seven-hundred, it was a heartbreak.”
