He’s a 9-year-old golf prodigy from Bothell, and now he’s a national champion. Taighan Chea won the national Drive, Chip, and Putt competition at Augusta National.
Taighan was down a bit after the drive and chip portion of the competition, but he sealed the deal after draining a long putt at the end.
“He gave it everything he had and just went up there and did it. It was just, it was, a proud proud moment,” Taighan’s mom Linda said.
“To be able to stand there on 18, and the joy I had, because I can only imagine what he was feeling at that time. I mean he’s told me, but you can’t recreate that,” Taighan’s Coach Brian Flugstad said. “The high five he gave me as soon as he made the putt, shook everybody’s hand, the high five he gave me, I think my hand is still stinging.”
Taighan knows the memory will last a lifetime.
“It was like the best feeling ever,” Chea said. “It was like really amazing just to be able to go to Augusta.”
After he won the event, two-time Masters Champion Bubba Watson stepped in on Taighan’s live interview to offer his congratulations.
During his weekend at Augusta, he met multiple professional golfers including Watson, Justin Leonard, and Rickie Fowler.
Chea, a 4th grader, says he has dreams of being a professional golfer and wants to work hard so he can return to Augusta for next year’s Drive, Chip, and Putt competition.
