To dream big dreams is understandable when you possess a skill set that warrants taking on long odds.
Ah, but inspiring is the person who puts a blanket of perspective around big dreams, cognizant of a picture that is big and a life that rewards well-roundedness.
“There’s a perception of pro golf that people get by watching TV,” said Jake Shuman. “They see Tiger Woods, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson and it’s la-la land.”
The Needham, Mass., native who was an elite junior (Challenge Cup, Mass Golf, American Junior Golf Association, MIAA) and collegiate (Duke University) golfer, offers those words as a 27-year-old who has chosen to embrace the amateur world, not the professional grind. But to know Jake Shuman is to appreciate a young man who didn’t begrudgingly choose his route. As a teen he had a clear understanding of who he was and the road that was in front of him.
“I knew early on that that’s not the reality for 99.9 percent (of those who chase pro golf),” he said.