FORT WORTH, Texas – On Thursday at Colonial, the stars were out to play, and the fans were, too.
Jesse Williamson and Nick Kimmel are retired Marines living in Southern California. The two friends are in Fort Worth this weekend to visit fellow marine J.P. Ashby.
Ashby is pals with Fort Worth native James Edmondson, who caddies for pro golfer and Colleyville resident Ryan Palmer.
But 10 years ago, Kimmel and Williamson were not watching the Tour because they were serving one in Afghanistan.
In April 2009, Williamson was in a humvee when it hit a roadside bomb.Everyone in the humvee died except for Williamson. "I have no idea why I'm still here, but I guess there's a purpose," Williamson said.
Jesse underwent more than 40 surgeries including the amputations of both legs. But, the pain ran deep.
"I was on so many pain meds for awhile. I struggled with an addiction," Williamson said, acknowledging his addiction to prescription drugs, which then led to heroin.
Over time, the dark road led to a dirt road.
Jesse's love and talent for dirt bike racing took him to great heights, as he received national attention from ESPN and ABC News.
In December 2011, Marine Sgt. Nick Kimmel was also the victim of an IED, as he lost both legs and his left arm. "I actually had a tattoo on the inside of my bicep and when I got blown up, the surgeons were able to save it and wrap it around," Kimmel said.
But, the former high school baseball player still has his right arm.
In 2012, Kimmel threw out the first pitch at Game 2 of the World Series.
The two friends have found peace and salvation in golf.
"It's kind of a distraction, so we don't think so much about what's happened to us," Williamson admitted. "Yeah, I guess it's therapy for us."
Thanks to groups like Warfighter Made, Trail Therapy Off Road, Semper Fi Fund, the Gary Sinise Foundation and many others, veterans like Kimmel and Williamson are able to live with a semblance of comfort in this world -- be it on a pitching mound, a dirt bike or the 18th green at Colonial.