Bill Brown retweetledi
Darren Woo is a 56-year-old firefighter. He works full-time for the Savannah River Site Fire Department and also volunteers for Columbia County. He's been a caddie at Champions Retreat, about 20 minutes from Augusta National, for six years. He's also a father to five boys.
Two weeks ago, Woo looped for three @RazorbackWGolf players during a practice round at Champions – one of them was Maria Jose Marin. When Marin asked Woo if he'd caddie for her at @anwagolf, Woo jumped at the chance. Behind the scenes, Marin's father, Jose, was giving up the bag, telling his daughter, “I love you with all my heart, but you need someone that knows how to handle a tournament of this level.”
Woo had zero experience at Augusta National, though his calming presence and positivity earned him the loop for Saturday's final round. Arkansas coach Shauna Estes-Taylor said Woo's southern accent was so calming, that one could "meditate to it."
Throughout the final day, Woo encouraged Marin with things such as:
Be confident.
You’re going to work it out.
Give yourself a chance.
Keep your head up.
Breathe.
"He was my greatest support during the whole week and a key to the victory," Marin said.
Woo revealed after Marin's win that he worked a 14-hour shift that ended at 7 a.m. Saturday, less than four hours before Marin's tee time. He also shared that he not only has one granddaughter but he has two more grandchildren on the way.
“Maybe I’ll be lucky enough and have three granddaughters," Woo said, "and they can all grow up to be like Maria.”
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