Just a few short weeks ago, an unknown golfer by the name of Ben Curtis stunned the golf world by taking the prestigious British Open in his very first try at a major championship.

And shortly after that, Curtis got married, sporting a million bucks to the altar.

Well, our Sandhills doesn’t take a back seat to anyone. On Aug. 16, one of our young golf professionals took to the altar also. Handsome Derek Noll and beautiful Kelly Bryson took their marriage vows over at Woodlake Country Club.

No, Derek did not win any major championship. But he took a good step in the right direction.

He is married now, and maybe a major championship will be just down the road.

Last week, while on WIOZ radio, I was talking with Pat McGowan, pro over at Pine Needles. We were discussing balance in the golf swing. He noted that legend Ben Hogan was seldom, if ever, out of balance during a golf shot.

During our conservation, I somehow conjured up an image of what I am doing wrong in my swing.

I managed to retain the image the next day and went to The Carolina Country Club to play a few holes.

Out on the back nine, I teed it up on the tough 17th hole. It’s not a long hole for anyone but me — about 390 yards or so. But for over a month, I have not been able to reach it in two, regardless of how good I hit my tee shot.

With Pat’s image clear in my head, I struck my drive right on the screws and was totally amazed how far I hit it.

Never before was I out so long, and all I had left was a nice 7-iron shot, which landed some 20 feet from the flag.

How about that? Before, I could not reach with a four-wood second shot. And now all I needed was a 135-yard seven to reach the green.

Trust — that’s what you need. Now all I can hope for is to retain that in the future.

To Pat, thanks for helping me. No lesson just a short conversation. We all know that golf is a game of mind over matter. I just might slip back, but it is amazing what a few words of wisdom can do.

If I had a good back and some time and could listen more to McGowan, I might just find my game again.

But, as you all know, this a funny game. One minute you have it, and the next it is gone like a shadow when the sun hides behind a cloud.

Trust. That is the thing that is elusive. I trusted my swing a few times and had good results, but it is a feeling. I must work on that part of it.

This is why we see Tiger and others atop the heap one week then drop out of the top 10 or 20 in a heartbeat.