This one’s for Mom

Daytona Beach News-Journal
Apr. 11, 2006

REUNION -- Something very special was missing on a very special day for Dakoda Dowd.

The junior golfer was at Reunion Resort & Club, just west of Orlando, on Thursday to meet with the media and one of her heroes, LPGA Tour star Annika Sorenstam.

Dakoda was there alone.

The 13-year-old's mom, Kelly Jo, stayed at their Palm Harbor home because she had undergone surgery Wednesday to aid in the treatment of her terminal cancer.

There's no denying the bond between Dowd and her mother. The youngster's golf bag does the talking for her.

Just under the embroidered pink ribbon patch symbolizing breast cancer research on the bag are the stitched words "Best Friends." And Dakoda's clubs are inscribed with the letters "KJ."

"Koda" Dowd was at Reunion to meet the media and Sorenstam and to drum up publicity for the upcoming LPGA Tour Ginn Clubs & Resorts Open -- the first LPGA Tour event played in Florida in five years -- on April 27-30. Dowd, an accomplished player who has won more than 185 junior tournaments, will play in the tournament on a sponsor's exemption.

It will give her mother a chance to fulfill one of her final wishes by seeing her daughter play in an LPGA event.

The breast cancer Kelly Jo Dowd thought she had beaten several years ago was discovered last May to have spread to her bones and liver. Kelly Jo receives treatments of radiation and chemotherapy, but the diagnosis is terminal.

As Dowd waited on the driving range to meet Sorenstam, the extraordinary junior golfer exhibited characteristics of a typical teenager.

She embraced a guitar autographed by '80s rocker Huey Lewis that was given to her by event organizer Ryan Julison, who knew of Koda's musical hobby. Dowd would later have Sorenstam add her autograph to the guitar.

Getting a chance to spend time with Sorenstam was a little overwhelming for Dowd.

"I've always admired her," Dowd said. "She's always so poised and has the best attitude. I want to be just like her. She's like a major celebrity to me. I'm anxious and excited. All of this has come really fast."

Sorenstam spent time giving Dowd tips on the driving range, but most of the tips related to life and not golf. Dowd's nerves were obvious. She hit a few chili dips while she worked with her wedge shots. While changing clubs, she admitted to Julison, "I feel like I have a hole in my stomach."

Dowd said the biggest question she had for Sorenstam was how the LPGA's top player remained so calm after hitting a bad shot.

"I think the key is when you hit a bad shot, you have to forget about it as fast as possible," Sorenstam told the youngster. "Find the ball, and hit a new shot that will hopefully make up for it.

"You don't want a bad shot to drag you down the rest of the day. At the end of the day, a bad golf shot is not really going to change your life very much."

Dowd said she's more excited than nervous to compete in the Ginn Open. She said she has a plan for dealing with nerves if she starts to feel intimidated while playing against women she has always admired.

"If I get nervous, I'm going to look over and see mom smiling," Dowd said. "That will take all the jitters away."

Sorenstam said Dowd should concern herself more with enjoying the experience than about the results.

"I think she's going to do great," Sorenstam said. "She just needs to play her game. I like her attitude. She's a neat little player with a lot of talent.

"To me, it's not just about results. It's about the learning experience and the journey she's just getting ready to begin." Sorenstam said she thinks it's great the Ginn Open gave Dowd the exemption to fulfill her mom's dying wishes.

"(Koda) has such a strong mind," Sorenstam said. "This young lady is just not talented, she has such a good head on her shoulders. There are a lot of thoughts she'll be thinking about. I'm just glad we can make something great out of this. This is her dream. Hopefully she can show off to her mom."

Sorenstam is no stranger to dealing with off-course distractions. She has continued to play well despite going through a divorce over the last two years.

"It's tough," Sorenstam said. "I've had some personal issues the last two years. Luckily, when you do something you enjoy, it keeps your mind away from it.

"I think that's very important. Life goes on, and you have to make the most of it on the course and off the course."

Dowd will undoubtedly heed that advice down the road. For now, the teenager will enjoy the opportunity to fulfill a dream that she and her best friend have shared before it's too late.