FS: That's exciting. What it was like playing the 16th hole with Gary Woodland?
AB: It was so much fun playing golf with Gary on the 16th hole. The crowd is cheering for me, clapping, waving to people, blowing kisses.
FS: What advice would you give to a new golfer, who's not as good as you?
AB: Have fun.
JB: In 2019, we were playing a round of golf with a sports reporter in Cincinnati, since retired. When we got done with the round, he turned to Amy and said "Would you like me to give you any advice about golf?" Amy said "No, that's okay." Then he said "Well, do you have any advice for me?" She said "Yeah, hit the ball straight."
FS: I love it. Tell me about your I GOT THIS Foundation.
AB: We started I GOT THIS Foundation on my 21st birthday. We started I GOT THIS Golf Academy to teach people with disabilities to learn to play golf.
FS: I saw you saying "I got this" at the golf tournament.
AB: I did.
JB: To be honest, that wasn't a planned thing. It was just spontaneous for Amy to say that. Since that video, that's become kind of a mantra for her, and obviously became the name of the foundation.
FS: It's perfect because it shows your confidence. "I Got This" is a great name for the foundation. Amy, who would you love to have in your dream golf foursome?
AB: Nick Jonas, Zac Efron, Grant Gustin, and Gary Woodland.
FS: How did you get connected with Gary Woodland and other professional golfers?
JB: You want me to take that?
AB: Go ahead.
JB: Gary had won the Waste Management Tournament the previous year. The Thunderbirds, who run the Waste Management (or WM Phoenix Open, now) reached out to Special Olympics. Special Olympics reached out to us. Gary agreed to let her play the hole. They thought maybe she would do a tee shot. We said "No, if she's going to get a tee shot, she's going to want to play the hole." They agreed. Amy didn't know she was doing this.
FS: This was a surprise for you Amy?
AB: Yeah.
JB: We selected a yardage for her to hit. I picked out clubs that she would need. She was surprised when Gary showed up at the hole. FS: What was your reaction when he showed up, Amy?
AB: I was so surprised. He was like, "Hey, are you Amy?" I was like, "Yes."
FS: It looked like you had such a good time. Now that you're out of college, besides golf, is there anything else you have planned?
AB: Right now, I am the ambassador for the I GOT THIS Foundation. I make speeches and talk to media. I have a part-time job as a courtesy clerk at Fry's Grocery. I play piano, do theater, and take dance classes. I travel around the country playing golf tournaments, including US Adaptive Open.
FS: You sound really busy.
AB: Yeah.
FS: What's your next tournament? AB: My next tournament is the USDGA in Florida.
JB: She'll be in a three-day tournament for the United States Disabled Golf Association. That's a big tournament. I think there are 90 competitors in that, from all over the country. They have multiple categories for competition. It kicks off the competition season for us.
FS: Amy, does dad caddy for you? AB: Yes, my dad always caddies for me.
JB: I tell a story when I do a little speech with her. When she was born, I didn't know she had Down syndrome before she was born. Jenny had a premonition that she would. You grieve that difference that your child has, and what it's going to mean to your life. One of the things that I grieved at
A PERFECT APPROACH: Amy hits from the fairway; "You got this, you can do this. Breathe and believe."