How a golfer with Down syndrome changed the game forever with three simple words: “I got this.”
The 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale is golf’s rowdiest party – a stadium-style par-3 where 20,000 fans create an atmosphere more akin to a college football game than a genteel golf tournament. It’s here where the pros feel their knees knock just a little harder, where perfect shots earn roars and mishits invite boos.
But on a January day in 2019, the atmosphere transformed into something entirely different: pure, unfiltered joy.
Amy Bockerstette, a 20-year-old golfer with Down syndrome, stepped onto the tee box during the Waste Management Phoenix Open Pro-Am. Alongside PGA Tour pro Gary Woodland, she took a deep breath, addressed her ball, and sent it soaring toward the green. The shot found the bunker – a moment where many amateur golfers would crumble under the pressure.
Not Amy.
“I got this,” she said confidently, before stepping into the sand, splashing out beautifully, and sinking the ensuing 8-foot putt for par.
Those three words – “I got this” – would soon become a global mantra for perseverance, a rallying cry that transcended the sport itself. But to understand how a young woman with Down syndrome became one of golf’s most inspiring figures, we need to go back to the beginning.
Amy Bockerstette’s Early Life and Introduction to Golf
Joe Bockerstette, Amy’s father, still remembers the first time he put a golf club in his daughter’s hands.
“She was just a little thing,” Joe recalls, “maybe eight or nine years old. We didn’t have any expectations beyond just having fun together. But there was something about golf that clicked with her immediately – the focus, the precision, the patience. All qualities that people often don’t associate with Down syndrome.”
Born with Trisomy 21, the genetic condition commonly known as Down syndrome, Amy Bockerstette faced the kinds of challenges and misconceptions that often accompany the diagnosis. Developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, and the weight of societal expectations that often set the bar unconscionably low.
“People see the diagnosis before they see the person,” Jenny Bockerstette, Amy Bockerstettes’ mother, explains. “That’s been the battle from day one – getting people to see Amy’s abilities rather than focusing on her disabilities.”
Golf became a sanctuary where those abilities could shine. The sport’s methodical nature matched perfectly with Amy’s determination and focus. What began as a father-daughter bonding activity gradually transformed into a serious pursuit.
Amy Bockerstette joined the Special Olympics program, where her natural talent became increasingly apparent. By high school, she had accomplished something unprecedented – becoming the first person with Down syndrome to earn a college athletic scholarship, accepting an offer to play golf at Paradise Valley Community College in Phoenix.
“When we were looking at colleges,” Joe says, “we weren’t looking for anyone to make special accommodations. Amy earned that spot. She could play.”
Overcoming Challenges: Amy’s Journey to College Golf
The road wasn’t without bumps. Learning the technical aspects of golf – from proper grip to swing mechanics – required patience and repetition. But Amy Bockerstette’s coach at Paradise Valley, Matt Acuff, quickly recognized that his player had something special.
“Most people don’t understand how technically proficient you need to be to play collegiate golf,” Acuff explains. “Amy put in the hours. She’d be out on the practice green when everyone else had gone home. Her short game became her strength because she’d hit hundreds of putts every day, methodically working through her routine.”
That relentless work ethic paid dividends. Amy became not just a participant but a contributor to her college team. Her scoring improved steadily, and her infectious positive attitude made her a natural team leader.
“She elevated everyone around her,” says former teammate Jessica Williams. “We’d be frustrated after a bad round, and then you’d see Amy, completely focused on getting better rather than dwelling on mistakes. It changes your perspective instantly.”
But golf, for all its technical demands, is equally a mental challenge – a fact that makes Amy’s achievements even more remarkable.
“The mental game is where most golfers struggle,” explains Dr. Samantha Phillips, a sports psychologist who has worked with professional golfers for over two decades. “Amy’s ‘I got this’ mentality isn’t just a cute catchphrase—it’s the exact mindset elite athletes spend years trying to develop. She naturally possesses what many pros pay thousands of dollars to learn.”
I Got This”: The Viral Moment That Inspired Millions
Which brings us back to that fateful day at TPC Scottsdale’s 16th hole.
Gary Woodland, the PGA Tour pro paired with Amy Bockerstette, had no idea what to expect when tournament organizers arranged the meeting. What he witnessed changed him forever.
“I’ve played in major championships, been in contention on Sunday afternoons, but I’ve never felt pressure like watching Amy hit those shots,” Woodland later told ESPN. “And then to see her execute under that pressure, with that crowd – it was one of the most incredible thing I’ve ever been a part of.“
The video of their encounter went viral almost instantly. Amy’s pure joy, infectious confidence, and remarkable skill resonated with millions. To date, it remains the most-viewed social media post in PGA Tour history.
Four months later, when Woodland won the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach – the crowning achievement of his career – he credited Amy Bockerstette for inspiring his victory. During a key moment in the final round, he had repeated to himself, “I got this.”
“Amy Bockerstette has touched millions of people,” Woodland said after his victory, fighting back tears. “And she’s definitely changed my life.”
Creating Change: The Impact of Amy’s Story Beyond Golf
The viral moment could have been just that – a heartwarming video that circulates for a week before the internet moves on to something new. But Amy and her family recognized an opportunity to create lasting change.
They established the I Got This Foundation with a mission to promote golf instruction and playing opportunities for people with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities. The foundation has since provided golf clinics, scholarships, and mentorship programs that have introduced thousands of individuals with intellectual disabilities to the game.
“The foundation isn’t just about creating golfers,” Amy Bockerstette explains during our interview at her home course in Phoenix. “It’s about showing people what’s possible when you believe in yourself.”
Now 24, Amy Bockerstette speaks with the confidence of someone who has found her purpose. Her speech patterns show the characteristic cadence of Down syndrome, but her message comes through with crystal clarity. She makes direct eye contact, laughs easily, and displays the poise of someone completely comfortable in her own skin.
“I want people to know that Down syndrome is not a limitation,” she says firmly. “It’s just a part of who I am.”
Amy Bockerstette’s Golf Skills and Professional Achievements
What makes Amy’s golf journey particularly remarkable is the technical proficiency she’s developed despite the physical challenges associated with Down syndrome.
“There are real physiological hurdles that Amy has overcome,” explains Dr. James Rivera, a specialist in adaptive sports medicine. “Individuals with Down syndrome typically have lower muscle tone, which affects power generation in the golf swing. They often have shorter limbs proportionate to their body, which changes the swing plane mechanics. These aren’t excuses—they’re real challenges that Amy has systematically worked through.”
Professional golfer Sophia Popov, the 2020 Women’s British Open champion who has followed Amy’s story closely, puts it in perspective.
“What impresses me most is her short game touch,” Popov noted after playing with Amy at a charity event. “Feel around the greens is the hardest thing to teach. Some players never develop it. Amy has it naturally, and she’s refined it through thousands of hours of practice. That’s what makes her special—not that she plays golf with Down syndrome, but that she’s developed skills that many neurotypical golfers never master.”
Redefining What It Means to Be a Professional Golfer
Amy’s status as a “professional” golfer requires some nuance. She hasn’t competed on the LPGA Tour or earned a tour card in the traditional sense. But her impact on the game – and her role as an ambassador, foundation leader, and inspiration – has earned her a different kind of professional status.
“What does it mean to be a professional in any field?” asks her father Joe. “It means conducting yourself with excellence, making an impact, and contributing to your profession. By those measures, Amy Bockerstette is absolutely a professional.”
The golf establishment seems to agree. Amy has been invited to play in numerous Pro-Am events alongside PGA Tour professionals. She’s been featured in Golf Digest, appeared on the Today Show, and received recognition from the USGA. Her foundation work has earned her invitations to speak at golf industry events.
“When I first met Amy, I thought I was there to inspire her,” says PGA Tour player Matt Kuchar. “I quickly realized it was the other way around. She’s taught me more about approaching golf—and life—with joy than I could ever teach her about the technical aspects of the game.”
Amy Bockerstette’s Legacy and Influence on Disability Inclusion
Perhaps Amy’s most significant contribution transcends golf altogether. In a society that often focuses on the limitations of people with intellectual disabilities, she has become a powerful symbol of possibility.
Dr. Elizabeth Morrison, who specializes in disability studies at Arizona State University, explains: “What Amy has done is disrupt our entire framework for understanding Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities. She hasn’t just exceeded expectations—she’s shattered the paradigm that created those limited expectations in the first place.”
The statistics underscore this impact. Since Amy’s viral moment in 2019, Special Olympics has reported a 27% increase in golf participation among individuals with intellectual disabilities. Employment rates for people with Down syndrome have seen modest but measurable increases in regions where Amy’s story has received significant attention.
“It’s the ripple effect,” explains Jenny Bockerstette. “Parents see Amy and suddenly envision new possibilities for their children. Employers see her determination and reconsider their hiring biases. Doctors share her story with parents receiving a Down syndrome diagnosis.”
If you found Amy Bockerstette’s story inspiring, you won’t want to miss another remarkable chapter in our Inspiring Athletes series. Read about Chris Nikic’s Incredible Journey: How the First Ironman with Down Syndrome Redefined Human Potential – the groundbreaking achievement of Chris Nikic, who became the first person with Down syndrome to ever finish an Ironman triathlon. His relentless determination and belief in what’s possible continue to redefine the boundaries of human potential and prove that, with the right mindset, anything truly is possible.
Photo: By Bucksgrandson – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,
