NORTON — Megan Khang came into this year’s FM Championship with a goal to simply play better than last year when she finished tied for 35th.
Statistically, the Rockland native did perform better with a score a 9-under for the tournament and tied for 24th compared to last year’s 3-under.
While playing in front of the home crowd brings Khang comfort, she still puts an enormous amount of pressure on herself.
“It’s always a little more pressure that I put on myself to play well for those that come out to watch,” Khang said.
“It’s something I’m going to have to kind of get a little better about coming into these weeks,” she later added. “Because like my caddie said, everyone here is in support of me and not to put pressure on me.”
Even though she fought off nerves throughout the week, Khang saw that as a good thing, noting her being nervous means she cares about the performance she puts on.
Golf is such a mental game and it’s natural for golfers to put pressure on themselves. Khang is no different, but wants to work on how much she has on her shoulders going into a tournament — especially one on her home turf.
“It’s kind of reminding myself that we do this week in and week out. I’ve practiced my whole life for moments like these,” she said. “I’ve got to look at it in a positive light where (my family) is here and it’s not often that everyone gets to come around.
“So being able to play in front of family and friends that normally wouldn’t be able to, it’s more of a positive than a pressure aspect,” Khang continued.
The 27-year-old was greeted by her family after her round came to an end, including her cousins, who are moving into college on Monday.
Khang has often spoken about staying in Massachusetts year-round despite the golf season being shorter than if she lived in Florida or South Carolina.
Being closer to what’s familiar and having that kind of in-person support at such a big tournament is something that keeps her Massachusetts roots deep.
“I love seeing them out here,” Khang said. “I love hanging out with them. They’re a big reason why I stay in Massachusetts. It’s nice when it’s a family affair.”
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