WATCH: Former USC long-snapper Jake Olson excelling on golf course

Former USC long-snapper Jake Olson was recently featured in a PGA Tour video as he showcased his surprising golf skills in front of a professional golfer. The beloved Trojans long-snapper made history as the first blind athlete to play in an NCAA football game, and his amazing skillset began on the golf course according to Olson.

No quit in @JakeOlson61. ❤️️

The former @USC_Athletics long snapper lost his eyesight, but his love for the game carries on. @ChessonHadley caught up with Olson and learned first-hand how impressive it is to swing blind. pic.twitter.com/etIbGqb0fR

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 19, 2022

Jake Olson’s golf skills

As the video shared by the official PGA Tour account showed just how difficult it was for professional golfer Chesson Hadley to hit the golf ball while blindfolded, Olson hit shot after shot straight and well down the course. Olson’s love of golf began before he lost complete eyesight, but his work at perfecting the game really began after his life changed.

“Probably right around 10 or 11, you know, I did those summer camps,” said Olson. “And then right around 12 I actually really loved it and wanted to pursue it. And then obviously, we got word of the news that I was going to lose my eyesight. It was the most mentally, probably tough thing I’ve ever done in my life is train and get good at this game because it was a lot. A lot of hard work, a lot of frustration, but definitely worth it.”

Olson went on to explain that his love of golf was what actually inspired his decision to play football at the collegiate level. His confidence in being able to play golf while blind gave him the belief that he could learn a football skill in the same fashion.

“The reason I probably ever played long snapper in football was because of golf. I wanted to get back playing football. I love football and I wanted a position where I could actually play. I knew I wasn’t going to be a receiver or whatever out there, I needed a position that I could actually play. Here was this position where you could snap the ball and you just needed to do it consistently over and over again.

“Well, what does that sound like? It sounds like a golf swing, right? That vision to even play football stemmed from my ability on the golf course to deliver a good swing and a good shot on a golf ball. So, I really do kind of attribute my leap of faith and courage into football from golf because if I didn’t know I could do this with a golf ball, then I probably would have never imagined I could do it with a football.”