My Big Break Experience – Episode One

My Big Break Experience – Episode One (original air date Tues. Oct. 13, 7pm PST)
by Vincent Johnson

Vincent Johnson, a former Oregon Junior Golf standout and a player for Oregon State, is one of the competitors on “Big Break Disney Golf,” a reality competition on the Golf Channel.  The David Douglas High School graduate is one of 12 golfers selected to compete in the series.  He is contributing this blog exclusively to the Oregon Golf Association.

On Tuesday evening, along with my debut on The Golf Channel’s Big Break - Disney Golf, many of you saw olympian Ed Moses be the first of the twelve guys to be be sent home after the elimination challenge. 

I was recruited in late May to be one of the contestants on the show, and mostly that is due to the great Mr. Charlie Sifford and the exemption I got to play in the Northern Trust Open on the PGA Tour.  If I would have had to go through the process of applying for the opportunity, which I beleive was required in previous seasons, I don’t think I would have pursued this—I have enough to worry about with pursuing my dream and with my golf game.

The show, itself, was filmed in Orlando July 6-20.  When we arrived, we spent the first few days just getting to know one another, learning the ropes from the production crew and of course going over all the legal mumbo jumbo.  Clearly, I know who won…but I can’t tell you, or anyone for that matter!  But what I can share is some of the inside stuff that happened during a particular show, and I hope you’ll enjoy getting that insiders view.

I was a little anxious sitting down and watching the show. While I know the end result of each challenge, I didn’t necessarily know what transpired at the time with my fellow competitors, and I also don’t know what the producers will decide to use in the show and what will be left in the digital dumpster.

We started the actual episode production three days after arriving.  One of the things that I found fascinating is how much time it takes to setup each shoot.  All of the contestants were on a full schedule, waking up each day at 4:30 in the morning and other than a meal break, we were on call until 11pm.  Unfortunately, most of the time all we were doing is sitting around, waiting for our turn to be interviewed, warm-up or compete in a challenge.  We spend a lot of time just b-s-ing with one another.  We were never really on our own, and we weren’t allowed to go off and practice when we weren’t busy.  If there was time to practice, we’d only practice as a group.

Fatigue was a big factor.  Just sitting around doing nothing for the better part of the day made things difficult.  For those that know me, fitness is something that I’ve focused on.  Its a mindset that was first introduced by legends like Gary Player, and now made the norm by Tiger.  I am consistent with a fitness regime normally, but during the time of the show, it was tough to find a time and place to work out.

The first challenge was a short game shot.  We had a choice of hitting from a greenside bunker, a lob shot over the bunker or a chip from the fairway.  One thing that you might not have known is that all the guys had no clue as to the where anyone stood in the challenge.  We were brought up, one by one, to the challenge area and all we knew was what shot the guys before us had selected to play.  I was the third to play, and I chose the bunker shot because that was the shot I thought I had the best chance of controlling and hitting close.

Now the practice green that we warmed up around was really firm and the shots we played were taking big skips and running fast.  Thinking that the competiton green would react the same is what clearly everyone assumed as you saw that most of us came up short. I didn’t hit my shot as well as I could’ve, but if that same shot had been on the practice green, it would have been far closer than it was here. 

Also consider this.  We might have some warm-up time, but then we ice up waiting for the crew to be ready for the actual shots.  The shots really aren’t all that difficult, but its the circumstances that make it hard.  That’s the great equalizer.

If I had seen how the ball reacted from the other players, I would’ve played the shot differently.  And, if I had been further down the list, I might have selected a different shot since it seemed just about everyone picked the bunker shot.  In the end, as you know, it really didn’t matter because what is important in the end is that I advanced to next week’s show.

Other than the intro and the challenge, there was little focus on me although the teaser at the end of the show makes me think that you’ll see a lot more of me on next weeks episode.  At the end of the show you see a snippet of my interview where I say something like “I will not be beaten by Guiliani!”  I don’t even remember saying that!

Remember, each night we are put into the confessional room where you stare at a camera and just start talking about the days events.  When your alone like that, its easy to talk some smack.  I think we all tend to forget that what was said behind closed doors might be aired, so it will be interesting to see what everyone was thinking at the time.  I just tried to be myself and say what I thought.
What you also don’t know is that Ed Moses really wasn’t sent home.  Sure, he was booted off the show, but anyone that was eliminated still stayed around the entire two weeks.  He was left on his own and he was not allowed to talk to us.  It kinda reminded me of the scene from the movie Anchorman when you couldn’t talk to Ron Burgundy!

But his elimination was the first reality check we faced.  We spent the first four days getting to know one another and build some friendships, and the next thing you know…bam!  There’s one less person in the competition.  Now you know what is at stake.

Click Here to Read More About Vincent and the Big Break

About the Big Break Disney Golf
Shot mainly at both the Magnolia and Palm Courses at Walt Disney World Resort, the winner of the 10-week series will receive an exemption to compete in the 2010 Children’s Miracle Network Classic. The series marks the first time that a Big Break winner will compete in a PGA TOUR event on the same course in which the series was filmed.
In addition, the winner will earn cash and prizes with a potential value of more than $50,000 that includes entry fees paid to compete in the 2010 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament from SkyCaddie, a $10,000 shopping spree at Dick’s Sporting Goods, free golf for a year courtesy of GolfNow.com, and an endorsement contract from Adams Golf including $10,000 cash.

To earn the exemption and prizes, the champion will have to defeat highly skilled golfers in a variety of challenges that test their physical skills and mental toughness.
Utilizing the unique venue, Big Break Disney Golf’s challenges also will take place at various locations throughout the Walt Disney World Resort, including Main Street U.S.A., Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex and the Walt Disney World Speedway. Intertwined into several episodes will be cameos by PGA TOUR players and memorable moments from the Children’s Miracle Network Classic.