Stegmaier and aviophobia

Brett Stegmaier is no John Madden. He doesn’t fear flying so much that he keeps an Amtrak schedule handy. He doesn’t own a luxury RV – complete with sauna – for those long cross-country trips like the famous NFL coach turned sportscaster once did, either. But even so, Stegmaier admits that he gets nervous when he steps on a plane and squeezes his 6-foot-3 frame into one of those cramped middle seats. “I wouldn’t say I’m afraid, I’m just kind of uncomfortable,â€� Stegmaier says good-naturedly. “It’s not my favorite thing to do. But I don’t like freak out or anything.â€� Madden actually did, though. He stopped flying in 1979 when he suffered a panic attack after getting on a plane in Tampa. Madden steeled himself and made it through the flight but hasn’t flown since. In Madden’s biography on Wikipedia, there’s even a section on his aviophobia. Stegmaier has a similar entry in his on PGATOUR.COM – right after his favorite TV shows, movies, sports teams and websites. It says: Not many people know that he is afraid of flying. Stegmaier says his aviophobia might actually stem from a long-standing fear of heights. In fact, he remembers a family trip to Toronto where the CN Tower was on the sightseeing agenda. At the time, the needle-like CN Tower was the tallest in the world. “And I wouldn’t go up in it,â€� recalls Stegmaier, who was 10 years old at the time of that vacation. “It was probably the first time I ever (realized I was scared of heights). I think I was embarrassed about it. Now I just kind of laugh about it.â€� Stegmaier can drive over tall bridges but he doesn’t know how comfortable he’d be if he were walking across them. And don’t even mention those high-rise hotels. “If I’m on the tenth floor of a hotel and there’s a balcony, I’m super uncomfortable with going outside.,â€� Stegmaier says. “I’m thinking if I slip and fall — you think the stupidest things.â€� At the same time, though, Stegmaier doesn’t mind looking out into the wild blue yonder when he’s buckled up in a plane. In fact, he’ll take another flight if no window seats are available. “If I can look out the window, I’m way more comfortable than sitting in the aisle,â€� Stegmaier says. “It’s weird. I don’t know how to explain it.â€� And while lots of aviophobics fear take-offs and landings, it’s the cruising part that bothers him. Oh, and the turbulence, even though Stegmaier knows flying is the safest form of travel. “There’s not much really I can do,â€� he admits. “I stare out the window. That’s the only thing I do. Even if we are in the clouds, I stare out the window. “Then once we land after a rough flight, I just feel an intense amount of relief. I don’t say I’ll never fly again, I just don’t look forward to it.â€� When he can drive between tournaments in four hours or less, don’t be surprised if you find Stegmaier in a car. But his fear of flying didn’t deter the second-year PGA TOUR pro from flying to Malaysia last fall. And that flight was 16 hours. Of course, he was flying business and had a seat that converted into a flat bed. “If I’m stuck in the middle in the back, I would be super uncomfortable,â€� he says. “… I was totally fine on that flight. “The hour and a half flight from Atlanta to Palm Beach, I don’t look forward to those at all.â€� Interestingly, Madden’s wife Virginia had her pilot’s license. And Stegmaier’s sister works for an airline — and “loves everything about flying.â€� Her husband flies propeller planes. “Which I won’t get into,â€� Stegmaier says firmly. “I don’t do that. I don’t even like the (regional) jets. And I don’t fly privately.â€� Still, flying is a necessary evil – kind of like going to the dentist, Stegmaier says. After all, PGA TOUR sanctioned events are played in 21 different states and nine different countries this year. “This would be a tough job if you didn’t want to get on a plane,â€� Stegmaier says with a wry smile.

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