D.J.'s Blog: Byrd says fitness as important as practice
By D.J. Gregory, Special to PGATOUR.COM
MORE D.J.: Week one with Boo | Week two with Brandt | Week three with Micheel | Week four with Tway | Week five with Quinney | Week six with DiMarco | Week seven with Glover | Week eight with Baddeley | Week nine with Wilson | Week 10 with Henry | Week 11 with Perry | Week 12 with Slocum | Week 13 with Calcavecchia | Week 14 with Baird | Week 15 with Watson | Week 16 with Kelly | Week 17 with Gamez | Week 18 with Johnson | Week 19 with Bohn | Week 20 with Duval | Week 21 with Furyk | Week 22 with Byrd
PGA TOUR CHARITIES: Donate to United Cerebral Palsy | Send D.J. an email
D.J.'s JOURNEY: The longest walk in golf
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DUBLIN, Ohio -- Last week, I attended Jack Nicklaus' Memorial Tournament at the Muirfield Village Golf Club. It was the second consecutive PGA TOUR event linked to a legend of the game -- two weeks ago at Colonial Country Club in Texas, it was Ben Hogan. I feel fortunate to learn more about the game through these two men.
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The week got off to a special star when I met some of the fine folks associated with the UCP affiliate in Columbus. These people were very friendly and I really enjoyed having the opportunity to meet and interact with them. They were extremely interested my experience and how I developed the idea for this journey. We talked about what it was like to travel on TOUR on a weekly basis. They were also very interested to learn about my stamina and if I get tired when walking the course. I really enjoyed having the opportunity to speak with them and give them a glimpse of what it's like for me on a weekly basis.
I would also like to share with you one of the greatest highlights of my week. Kerri Fujiwara and her entire fifth grade class at Meadows Elementary School in Houston, Texas, took the time to send me multiple e-mails of support and encouragement. I met Kerri a few weeks back at Bay Hill and then I saw she and her husband Nelson again two weeks ago in Fort Worth. She told she was so inspired by my story that she was going to do a lesson on CP and my determination. So she showed my video clips from PGATOUR.com to her class and then told her students that they could e-mail me. On Wednesday and Thursday I received 53 e-mails from her students. So many of the e-mails talked about how inspirational I was and said that because of me, each of these students will not give up on their dreams. I was truly humbled. I was also told that I will be receiving a stack of letters from students who did not have access to e-mail. Thank you so much for the unbelievable outpouring of support -- I really appreciate it!
Another highlight of the week was following three-time PGA TOUR champion, Jonathan Byrd. Jonathan's earliest memory was hitting balls on the range with his brother and their father, who taught him to the game when he was 3. "My dad introduced me to a lot of things," he said. "He taught me how to treat people with respect and how to relate with people. He taught me a love for doing the right thing. My dad was just a great example in my life." A three-time All-American at Clemson, Byrd was teammates with fellow PGA TOUR player Lucas Glover. "Clemson was just a great experience, and not just for golf," he said. "I was about two hours from home, and 45 minutes from my brother who went to Furman. I enjoyed taking classes, playing competitive golf and practicing." He also joked that he probably enjoyed the college scene a little too much.
Jonathan described his 2007 season as a "good" year, highlighted by his win at the John Deere Classic and ultimately, playing THE TOUR Championship for the first time in his career. By virtue of his win in Moline, Ill., Jonathan also earned an exemption into the British Open the following week, but had to first return home first for his passport. "I wasn't real confident in my game at that time, so I didn't bring my passport," he said. "I put some good golf together that week, played great, won and got to go to the British. That two week span was pretty fantastic."
Jonathan earned conditional status on the Nationwide Tour in his first and only attempt at q-school. He won once and finished eighth on the Nationwide Tour money list in 2001, earning a promotion to the PGA TOUR. "I think the Nationwide Tour is an awesome kick start to the PGA TOUR," Jonathan told me. "You kind of get used to traveling, playing competitive golf on the road, and playing a lot more golf than you did in college. It was great preparation, but that first year is tough."
Jonathan met his wife, Amanda, at Clemson. "We had a class together and I wasn't bold enough to go talk to her that whole semester," he said. "The next semester, I approached her and we started hanging out." That led to four years of dating, two in college and the next two long distance. Jonathan and Amanda now live in St. Simons Island, Ga.
Amanda and their young son, Jackson, travel with Jonathan full-time. An avid work-out enthusiast, Jonathan said fitness has completely changed the game of golf. "The more I spend on fitness, doing the right things for my body to stay in shape, the better I feel on the golf course," he said. "The time I spend in the gym is just as important as the time I spend on the range." Jonathan admitted that the best part of playing golf on TOUR is the condition of the courses. "We are so spoiled; each course we play is going to be in the best condition it will be in all year long." The most difficult part of playing professional golf, he said, is the travel, being away from home and not having home-cooked meals.
The past two courses I have walked could not have been more opposite experiences. At Colonial, holes were very flat, close together and my easiest walk to date. At Muirfield Village, while the holes were close together, the course was far from flat. This course could rank in my top-5 toughest course to walk.
Unfortunately, Jonathan did not make the cut, so I walked with Jason Bohn over the weekend. I would like to thank Jonathan for his kindness and generosity at the Memorial. I truly enjoyed my week at Jack's place. Congratulations to my good friend Kenny Perry on his victory, too. Kenny is the second player I have walked with this year to earn a victory; Boo Weekley in Hilton Head is the other.
See you this week in Memphis!
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FORT WORTH, Texas -- For the fourth consecutive week, I was able to spend a couple of days at home before traveling to Texas to visit one of the historic courses in the game in Colonial Country Club. The course, which is linked to one of the legends of the game in Ben Hogan, hosts the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. Only the Masters has been played consecutively at the same course longer.
Colonial has tree-lined fairways where distance is not an issue; placement is more important. Jim Furyk told me Colonial Country is one of his favorites on TOUR because you have to play many different shots to be successful at this course. "You have to hit it left to right, you have to hit it right to left, you have to hit some low shots, you can bounce it into greens, you have to hit it up in the air at times," he said. "You just have to hit a variety of different golf shots here and its not really about how far you hit it; it's about placing the ball in the proper position."
When Jim was a child, he played nearly every sport, including football, basketball and baseball. Golf, though, was his passion. "I just kept at it," Jim said. "That was the one sport that I really enjoyed." His father Mike taught him the game. As you probably know, Jim has a very unique swing, but it came naturally to him. "I was very upright and even more outside early on as a kid," Jim said. "I have pictures of myself where my club is basically almost over the top my head on the back swing when I was kid." He's not a mechanical person when it comes to his golf swing; he plays more through feel. So when Jim needs to correct his swing, he usually works on one area at a time.
One of Jim's favorite events is the Ryder Cup. "There's a lot of pride on the line," he explained. "You're representing your country which is an honor. There (are) just so many people behind you, pulling for you (and) rooting for you, starting with your captain." Guys like Tom Kite and Ben Crenshaw -- people Jim looked up to when he was younger -- or Tom Lehman, whom he competed against later on in his career. "Then you have your teammates who are all there pulling for you and cheering for you," Jim said. "In a larger scale, you've got 30 million people watching at home rooting for the United States, and it's just a great feeling, it's an honor to be a part of that." Jim was a member of the U.S. Team in 1999 when it had one of the greatest comebacks in Ryder Cup history on the final day. "It was very special," he recalled. "We win the first six matches, we go from four down to two up. It's almost unheard of that you could win those first six. It was exciting. There was a lot of pressure. I didn't want to let anyone down."
Colonial is commonly known as Hogan's Alley. This tie to one of the game's legends, who won the event five times, makes coming to Colonial special. "He grew up in this area with Byron Nelson so it has a special feel," Jim said. "I like looking at some of the old memorabilia or walking through the clubhouse and seeing the pictures, seeing clubs or whatever it may be. The game was so much different then, but what's really special about this place is it really hasn't changed that much since Hogan was here; since Nicklaus was here. The course hasn't changed as dramatically as others have. Yet, it has really stood the test of time, so I think when you're here you still get that feeling of those guys being on this course."
Jim loves the game and the freedom it affords him. "Basically, I've never had a boss," he said. "I get to make my own schedule -- play when I want to play (and) I can take off when I want to take off. Not many 38-year-olds have been fortunate enough to say that." Jim is also first to admit that the most difficult part of playing golf professionally is the travel and being away from his wife and two children. "That's the most important thing in my life," Jim explained. "Both my wife and I are very close to our families and our parents, and we're fortunate enough to have them close by so our kids are growing up seeing their grandparents quite a bit, which is rare. This job definitely takes you away from your family more often then you would like and it's difficult, but I have a very understanding wife and kids. I know golf won't last forever either, so I'll return back to (being) a normal Dad not too far off in the distance."
Jim is also a die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan. He always tries to attend several games each year, but with the FedExCup and the way his playing schedule shakes out, he could conceivably make seven games in 2008. Jim also enjoys fishing and he's looking forward to taking up skiing again in the next few years.
In my opinion, Colonial Country Club is the easiest walk to date on TOUR. This course is very flat and the holes are extremely close together. We encountered another challenge with the 90-degree heat and humidity. But the walk at Colonial was a far cry from the test we faced last week in walking the hills at TPC Sugarloaf.
I would like to thank Jim for spending time with me last week. I would also like to say a special thanks to Craig Bowman for joining me in Fort Worth and making this week a most enjoyable experience.
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DULUTH, Ga. -- For the third consecutive week, the AT&T Classic was an event we could drive to from our home in Savannah. So, I was able to spend two nights at the beginning of the week in my own bed. After that, it was off to this Atlanta suburb. Interestingly, we lived at TPC Sugarloaf for 10 months nearly six years ago. I tell this story because amazingly when we arrived at the course on Wednesday, several club employees actually remembered us. I hadn't been back since we moved, so I thought that was cool.
TPC Sugarloaf was the most difficult venue on TOUR for me since the Plantation Course at Kapalua, which hosts the season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship. There were several downhill walks. Most times though, I was walking straight up hills. Walking uphill is actually easier for me, though, because I put all of my weight in front of me. My calf muscles got a good workout last week.
Another challenge last week was the weather on Thursday. It rained the entire round. By the end of the day, I looked like a drowned rat. I will say, though, that I did have one really good fall on Friday morning when I slipped on the bridge on the 14th hole. It was a classic! Despite that, I really did enjoy walking the course because, as I said earlier, we once lived there. I had the opportunity to play the course a few times, so it was interesting to remember the holes from when I played them.
Last week, I had the opportunity of walking with former world No. 1 David Duval, who won the 1999 BellSouth Classic at TPC Sugarloaf. Both his father and grandfather were professionals, and last week was somewhat of a homecoming for David as he played his college golf at Georgia Tech. "I love it here," David told me. "I have some close ties. I played in this tournament the first time about 17 years ago. The folks here have always been good to me and I try to play as much as I can."
While at Georgia Tech, David had the opportunity to play for Puggy Blackmon, who remains a guiding influence in his life. "I was lucky enough to choose to come to Georgia Tech and play under Puggy, who was as concerned in the guidance of me and his other players towards what they were looking for in life," David said. "To be around somebody who was interested in nurturing young people is a pretty good place to be."
Puggy remains his instructor and David says he is almost like an uncle to him. "He is somebody I can unload on if I needed to," David said. "He was also stubborn enough to butt heads with me when I need it, because I was certainly quite stubborn "
Among David's greatest memories is the 1999 Ryder Cup at The Country Club at Brookline where the U.S. Team made one of the greatest comebacks in golf history on the final day.
"It was incredible to be there," he said. "We got done each day of the first two days and felt as a team and as players we played fairly well, but the points were not reflective of that at all. One of my great photographs in my head (is) when I was walking up the ninth green on the Singles day and I looked, the scoreboard was facing towards the grandstands and it was just painted in red. I think I was the sixth match out, and I mean, it was just 3 up, 2 up, 4 up, 3 up, 2 up and we were just killing them, and that was a really neat time."
Another great memory for David came at the 1999 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic where he shot a 59 in the final round and won the tournament. Interestingly, David played the first four rounds in 13-under par and then proceeded to shoot 13 under on the final day alone.
Believe it or not, when David first met his wife, she had no idea that he was a professional golfer. David now has five children.
"It's exciting, it's tiring, it's rewarding (and) it's a heavy burden, too, I believe, (with) a lot of responsibility involved, but it's the neatest thing in the world," he said. "I have so much fun with it." David enjoys fly fishing and snowboarding when he gets a chance, but while the three older children are mostly self-sufficient, the other two -- one who's three and the other who is 9 months -- require a lot of time.
A typical day in the Duval household when he's not playing golf starts around 6:30 a.m. "We get the kids ready for school and make lunches and chase babies," David said. "I go outside and play and watch my little boy swinging. He might go hit 300 golf balls, or he might hit a 100 and not want to do it anymore. He may want to get out the water guns, it's just activity. I like to call him my little perpetual motion machine."
David told me family means everything to him. "For me to not have my own family life and kids and then to marry into that really; wife and kids, it's a pretty neat time," David said. "I think I've handled it pretty well, and to have a couple of my own biological children, you know it means the world and it so overshadows anything that goes on professionally, that I wouldn't trade it for anything." If he only had one round of golf left to play, David said he would play a sevensome with his family. Where they played wouldn't matter, he said, because the companions would be more important.
Unfortunately David missed the cut, so over the weekend I walked with Heath Slocum, who tied for eighth. As I close my experience at the AT&T Classic, I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude to David for his kindness and generosity for the entire week. I would also like to say thank you to the staff at the TPC Sugarloaf.
See you next week in Fort Worth at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, where I will spend some time with Jim Furyk.
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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Last week, I was at THE PLAYERS Championship, often referred to as the season's fifth major. It was week 19 on the FedExCup schedule and began the second half of the season. That said, my experience is seemingly flying by. I wish it could slow down.
For me, things began when we drove home to Savannah, Ga., after the final round of the Wachovia Championship, and for just the second time this year, I slept in my own bed. Then on Tuesday of THE PLAYERS Championship, I was fortunate enough to attend a function hosted by the PGA TOUR. I mingled with media members, sponsors and other dignitaries. It was a great evening and I truly appreciated the invitation.
At THE PLAYERS, I had the opportunity to hang out with Jason Bohn, who finished third the week before in Charlotte. First, I learned how Jason got his start in the game. Like any PGA TOUR professional, a defining moment yells out and changes everything. That million-dollar moment -- literally -- of Jason's career came in 1992. At the age of 19, home video caught him making a hole-in-one in an event he was talked into going to at the last minute. In order to collect the money, however, Jason had to be a professional. Enough said. He immediately turned professional, giving up his eligibility at the University of Alabama.
"I feel like I made the only decision at the time I could," Jason told me. "I knew that from a financial situation to get $50,000 a year for 20 years, I didn't really have a choice. I figured if I played my cards right and I was smart with it, I could chase my dream of playing professional golf." So each October 1 until 2011, Jason receives a check for $50,000. On the day when that check comes, he and his wife Tewana put the video in and relive the experience.
Introduced to the game by his father, Jason says his earliest memory of playing golf was making a 27 on the first hole he ever played. Jason admired his dad's patience. "If you can do one better," his dad said. "That's an improvement." He's come a long way since that time -- can you believe Jason once shot a 58 in a Canadian Tour event? Well, it's true.
Jason began 2008 playing on a Major Medical Exemption after sustaining a rib injury that put him on the sidelines for the last half of 2007. "It was a little scary," Jason admitted. "I didn't know if I'd ever get back playing. When I did get back, would I be in the right frame of mind?" Jason was up to the challenge, though. He secured his card for the remainder of the 2008 season at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. He has continued to put together the best start in his five-year PGA TOUR career which includes top-10 finishes in two of his previous three events coming into THE PLAYERS
One of Jason's major superstitions is on the warm-up. On odd-numbered days, he only warms up with odd-numbered clubs. On even days, he warms up with even-numbered clubs. Another interesting fact is that he eats two peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches on the course every day. "I do it for energy because I felt like the energy bars have a little bit too much sugar for me," Jason said.
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An ideal schedule for him is between 25-30 tournaments a year. I found it very interesting how he chooses his schedule. First, Jason picks courses that suit his game. "Then I let my wife choose five tournaments she likes best," he said. "That could be based on what course she likes to walk." At the request of his wife, one tournament Jason will always play is the EDS Byron Nelson Championship. The tournament takes the players and their wives out for a date night and picks up the bill along -- with providing childcare for the families. "We're playing there every year because this is the only date night we get," Jason said.
Off the course, Jason enjoys spending time with his wife and their two children. In fact, when Jason was injured in 2007 and missed the final six months of the year, "The best part of the whole injury to me was I got to spend six months (with my family)," Jason said. "I have a two-year-old and now a two-month-old. I went every day in the summer to the park, and (we) went to the pool." He also said that he would like to take the kids camping.
As for my week walking the TPC Sawgrass, last week was the warmest week we had all year. That said, a lot more energy was used each day, and I also consumed a record number of liquids to stay hydrated. We had four consecutive days that reached the 90-degree mark. So needless to say, I was pretty tired after each round. Last week was good preparation for what I'll face this summer. I enjoyed walking the Stadium Course, though. Obviously, the most famous hole on the course is the 17th with its island green. It was really cool to see the crowds lined up on the hills there, watching to see if the players would survive the hole. The Stadium was relatively flat with just a few minor hills. So, last week also made for an enjoyable walk. I want to offer a special thanks to the fans and volunteers who approached me this week and offered encouragement and said they are rooting for me.
One thing I took in about Jason is that whether he shoots a 68 or 78 his incredibly-positive demeanor does not change. As I close my week here at THE PLAYERS Championship, I wanted to extend my deep appreciation and gratitude to Jason. I also enjoyed meeting Tewana and Jason's parents. I would also like to say a special thank you to the entire PGA TOUR staff for their hospitality this week. THE PLAYERS was a most enjoyable week.
I would also like to wish each and every mother a Happy Mother's Day, and I would especially like to tell my mom Jackie how much I appreciate her unconditional love and support. I love you! See you this week at the AT&T Classic when I will be with David Duval.
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Last week, I was at the Quail Hollow Club for the Wachovia Championship. In the six year history of that tournament, it has quickly become a do-not-miss event among PGA TOUR players. In 2008, 15 of the world's top 20 were in the field.
It was not just a great week for the players, but it was an amazing week for me, as well. I began the week on Monday in Destin, Fla., to attend a United Cerebral Palsy fund-raising event called FishStix. I was quite humbled when a very nice feature on yours truly was shown.
I then went to Charlotte where I had the opportunity to spend the week with the 2007 Masters champion, Zach Johnson. As you will read, Zach is extremely down to earth, very kind and generous, especially given the demand on his time. The best trait I found in Zach is that when he makes a commitment, he honors it unconditionally.
As to Zach's fondest memories from last year, two were obvious. "On the golf side of things, Augusta stands out, no question about that," he said. But could anything trump a Green Jacket? Absolutely. On Jan. 4, 2007, Zach's wife, Kim, gave birth to their first child, Will.
Asked how it feels to be introduced as a Masters champion for the rest of your life, Zach said "It's an honor and privilege first and foremost. Being a part of that fraternity, you can't put into words. That's what golf's all about and I just feel so blessed in that respect." At this year's Champions Dinner, Zach served a surf-and-turf option which included a filet of corn-fed beef, Ahi tuna, shrimp and crab cakes. In addition, there was a corn casserole from the Midwest. "I combined Florida and Iowa," he said in reference to his and his wife's home states.
Zach's interest in golf started when his parents joined Elmcrest Country Club in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the suggestion of head pro Larry Gladsson, Zach got involved with the junior golf program. His spiritual grounding "adds clarity to my life and it adds clarity to my job," Zach told me. "Golf is not my number one priority. It is my job, that's the way I'm going to treat it. I feel that it (our religious beliefs) just adds perspective."
If Zach wasn't a professional golfer, he said he would remain somewhere in the field of sports. "I love the competition," he said. "It doesn't matter what it is -- playing tennis, basketball I just enjoy competing." He also shared with me that he felt what I am doing this year is "pretty cool. You're getting to see the personal side of golf." Among the off-course activities Zach enjoys is downhill skiing. In fact, he admitted he preferred skiing over golf. "Skiing is my all time favorite thing in the world," he said. Zach has been skiing since he was 7 or 8 years old and feels very safe. If he were to mess up, he said it would be because of an error on someone else's part. In addition to skiing, Zach enjoys spending time with his family and watching movies with Kim. By the way, his favorite movie is "Braveheart."
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One of my favorite questions to ask each player is to share something about themselves that golf fans don't know. "When I'm at home, I'm wearing shorts and no T-shirt, just shorts," Zach admitted. "I never have a shirt on. When I'm working out, I never have a shirt on. It has nothing to do with my physique, because obviously I don't have one. It has strictly to do with body temperature. I can't stand being hot."
The media coverage I experienced last week was phenomenal. The Charlotte Observer did a very nice article on me and actually put the story and my picture on the front page of the newspaper! I have been fortunate to receive a lot of media coverage this year, but this was the first time I found myself plastered on the front page of section A. The article was published in Friday's edition. What followed that afternoon was downright amazing. As I walked the rolling hills of Quail Hollow, I had 52 fans approach me and comment on what an inspiration they've found me to be.
In addition to the newspaper feature Friday, I appeared on the radio show "Primetime with the Packman," along with Jim Nantz, which is the most-listened to radio show in the Southeast. Following the 52 people who stopped me on Friday, 35 more approached me on Saturday and 45 others on Sunday. They all said they had heard me on the radio or had read my story and believed what I'm doing is truly inspirational.
I will be honest. Each week I have people approach me and give me encouragement, but last week in Charlotte, I was truly humbled by the number. I truly appreciate all of their kind words of support. I would also like to say thank you to Charlotte's News Channel 14 for doing a very nice television piece on me.
As I close a truly remarkable week in Charlotte, there are many people I would like to thank and acknowledge. First and foremost for his kindness and generosity throughout the entire week is Zach. Also, I'd like Aaron and Richelle Baddeley for their generosity and hospitality at dinner Friday night. I would also like to offer a special thank you to Tournament Director Kym Hougham and Media Director Lee Patterson, as well as the entire Wachovia Championship staff for their hospitality and ensuring my well-being.
See you at THE PLAYERS Championship!
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IRVING, Texas -- Welcome to the EDS Byron Nelson Championship, one of the special weeks on TOUR. This championship is hosted by The Salesmanship Club, one of the premier charitable organizations in the country. Through their efforts, this tournament is among the leaders in charitable donations on the PGA TOUR. At the EDS Byron Nelson you can always recognize members of the Salesmanship Club, since they all wear the red pants.
I spent the week with PGA TOUR veteran Robert Gamez, who is in his 19th year on TOUR. He first became interested in golf when he was 2 and he went with his father to the driving range. His dad cut down a 3-iron and Robert started hitting balls in the backyard. Robert got his first set of clubs at age 5 and began playing in earnest.
Robert grew up in Las Vegas and played his college golf at the University of Arizona where he received the 1989 Fred Haskins and Jack Nicklaus awards as the collegiate player of the year. "Obviously, college was a great experience," Robert said. "It helped me to get to the point where I am now. I got to play tournaments that were well run and just get the good competition against other players of my caliber. I think everybody needs to play some college golf before they turn professional, whether it's a year or two years." In 1989 when Robert won player of the year, he beat out fellow PGA TOUR member David Toms for the honor.
Robert turned professional in 1990 and won twice in his rookie season, including his first official start as a PGA TOUR member at the 1990 Northern Telecom Open. Robert is one of only four players to win their first start on the PGA TOUR. "The great thing was it was in Tucson at Star Pass, a golf course we played in college twice a week and just a course I knew like the back of my hand," Robert told me. "I had a lot of momentum coming out and I was pumped up to play. I had a six-shot lead going to the last hole, and I made a smooth double to win."
Robert's second win came at the Nestle Invitational at Bay Hill, where he was involved in one of the wildest finishes in PGA TOUR history when he holed it for eagle on the 72nd hole to beat Larry Mize and Greg Norman. "I relive it every time I play the hole," Robert said. "I knew it was good as soon as I hit it because I could barely feel the ball leave and in the air, it just looked really good and looked like it was going to be close. It landed up there, took a couple of bounces and went in. I went nuts and then had to wait for Greg to finish. When (the crowd) went crazy, I knew exactly what happened, but I could see it go in. ... It hopped in, I knew it hopped in and then the crowd erupted and I mean it was loud."
After winning twice in 1990, Robert went 15 years and six months before his next victory in 2005 at the Valero Texas Open, and the drought is the longest streak in the history of the PGA TOUR. "I never doubted I'd win again," Robert said. "(But) it was tough going that long." During the 1998 Kemper Open, he injured his neck, back and right hand in an automobile accident. Robert was out of action for a few months, but he admits now that he tried to come back too early. "If it happened now I would take a medical exemption and rest and get healed properly first," Robert said. Overcoming those obstacles made his 2005 victory even more special. "It was a great feeling and to go that long in between wins was tough, but it made it even sweeter when it happened," he said. The funny thing is, as he registered for the tournament that week, Robert saw one of the volunteers carrying in the trophy. The volunteer asked if he would like to grab the trophy and Robert's response was "No. I'll just grab it on Sunday after I win."
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Robert enjoys watching movies with his wife, Lynn. Two of his favorites are Caddyshack and Braveheart. In fact, a few years ago, Robert had the opportunity to play golf with Randall Wallace, who wrote the movies Pearl Harbor, The Man in the Iron Mask and Braveheart. "So that was kind of cool to be able to play with the guy that wrote my favorite movie of all time," Robert said.
Giving back to the community is also very important to Robert, who started the Robert Gamez Foundation in Las Vegas. "I've been pretty fortunate over my life to not have anything to keep me from playing golf, no illnesses as a child, no broken bones, nothing that kept me from playing the game that I love," he said. "So, it's something I've always believed in and wanted to do is help give back to charity, especially children." After moving to Orlando five years ago, he started the Robert Gamez Celebrity Invitational. I was extremely honored to be a guest of Robert and play in this year's event. The entire weekend was a blast and the tournament raised over $140,000 for children in central Florida. "It's hard to explain," Robert said. "It's just a great feeling and I'm not doing it for me, I'm doing it for the kids. That's what it's all about, it's about the charity."
So this week was special, not only to attend a tournament that honors one of the legends of the game in Byron Nelson, but also to spend a week with a person who I have the greatest level of respect for in Robert Gamez.
The TPC Four Seasons underwent some major renovations under the guidance of D.A. Weibring after the 2007 event which included lengthening the course to 7,166 yards, adding bunkers and some hazards and re-doing all of the tees and greens. "I think D.A. did a great job on this course, and I just like the way the holes fit my eye," Robert said. As for walking the course, yes there are a few hills and uneven areas in this course, but overall this course was a relatively easy walk.
I want to say a special thank you to Robert and Lynn for their kindness, generosity, and hospitality for the entire week, and I would also like to thank them for their support and encouragement all year. This was a very memorable week for me with many different opportunities, but the greatest memory I will take from this week actually happened off the course when I had the opportunity to have dinner with Robert and Lynn on Saturday night.
See you next week in Charlotte where I will be following Zach Johnson.
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HILTON HEAD, S.C. -- Welcome to the Verizon Heritage, a week on the PGA TOUR that is very relaxed after the season's first major. The venue is Harbour Town Golf Links, commonly rated one of the favorite courses on TOUR by many of the players. It's a shotmaker's course where hitting long drives is not a premium.
"We don't get to play many old tree-lined, tree-in-the-way (courses)," Jerry Kelly told me. "It's amazing when you look at the pin and you look up and you say I have to hit it this way, or I have to hit it this way. That's golf, that's old school golf."
Harbour Town is also known for having the smallest greens on the PGA TOUR.
Jerry was first introduced to golf by his mother at the age of 6 months when she would take Jerry to the driving range in his bassinet.
"As soon as I could get out of that thing I was hitting balls on the range," Jerry said.
He's a Wisconsin native and attended college at the University of Hartford where he played both hockey and golf. His Hartford teammates included PGA TOUR players Tim Petrovic and Patrick Sheehan. I asked Jerry what lessons and experiences you can take from playing hockey and relate to golf.
"Probably one of the biggest things is that (hockey is) a great locker room team sport," he said. "What I can bring to the Presidents Cup or Ryder Cup is that team camaraderie instead of just the individualism. You know how to get fired up as a unit as whole rather then relying on the individual pieces to (get) fired up."
Patriotism is very important to Jerry. For Thanksgiving 2006, Jerry visited our troops in the Persian Gulf as part of the USO/Armed Forces Entertainment Tour.
"We can't do enough for the men and women who are protecting our rights," Jerry said. "All they are doing is trying to make it safer for us, make it better for us, and you know you can't fault a solider. The dedication and the qualities that I saw over there were so incredible. If I could play golf with the dedication they have in their job, I'd be a lot further along than I am now."
Off the course, Jerry loves doing things with a 9-year-old son, Cooper. Whenever he's not playing in a tournament, Jerry is there on the sidelines, helping to coach Cooper's teams. Cooper plays many sports including baseball, indoor and outdoor soccer, basketball, hockey, lacrosse, football and golf.
When I asked Jerry about his hero, he didn't hesitate.
"First thing that comes to mind is my father, because No. 1: the way he treats everybody. No. 2: he served his country, and he has just done it right as he has come up by my family, by everybody that I know he has met, and by the country."
Jerry played in the 2003 Presidents Cup, and he's hungry for more.
"That turns into such a goal after you've done it once," he explained. "It is one of the experiences that will send shivers down the back of your spine when you hear that National Anthem play, and its like; Oh man, I'm playing for that -- that makes a big difference."
Another event that is extremely important to Jerry is the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee.
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"Just being able to go to that tournament (as a kid) and see the guys you want to compete against (was special for me)," he said. "Watching them hit shots and realizing that it's not how they're hitting it, it's how they're getting it in the hole. I always went there thinking I was hitting it as good as some of them, but I couldn't get it in the hole like they could. It's pretty huge for the state of Wisconsin, as you guys saw with the PGA (Championship) up there at Whistling Straits, (people) realized what kind of fans they are when they saw the PGA and that got full-round exposure, that showed what the fans are like up there."
Jerry is a fiery competitor -- especially with himself -- but this week I also experienced first-hand that Jerry is a genuine person who cares about others and when he commits to something, he will always be there no matter what. After he shot a 7-over-par 78 in the first round, I didn't think I would have the opportunity to speak with Jerry. However, when I returned to the media center about 20 minutes after Jerry was done, one of the TOUR's media officials said Jerry was looking for me.
"I told you I would be here for you all week, and I will," Jerry said.
I really appreciated this gesture more then words could ever express.
Harbour Town Golf Links is one of the shortest courses on the PGA TOUR, playing at 6,973 yards and to a par of 71. However, with the tree-lined fairways and small greens, this course requires many different types of shots and provides a stern challenge for the players. The course is a very easy walk, though, and extremely flat. The holes are very close together, and in some cases, cross each other, like between Nos. 3 and 6.
As you will see in my stats this week, I walked 81 holes, which is more then a normal, but this week I walked nine holes in the pro-am with defending champion Boo Weekley, who was paired with his mom Patsy. And congratulations to Boo on successfully defending his title at the Verizon Heritage.
The Verizon Heritage is the closest I will get to a hometown event this year, and I want to say thank you to all of the local media for their support and encouragement this week. As I close the week in Hilton Head, I would like to say a special thank you to Jerry Kelly for his kindness and generosity this week. I would also like to say thank you to my mom, my dad, my sister, and Penny Cooper for joining me this week at the Verizon Heritage. This was another great week in Hilton Head!
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AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Welcome to The Masters and Augusta National Golf Club for the year's first major. This tournament has a lot of history and one of the traditions is the Par 3 Contest that takes place on Wednesday. One highlight was watching Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player in the same group. It really seemed as if the fans and players enjoyed themselves and really got involved with the afternoon, as well.
This week I walked the grounds at Augusta National Golf Club with Bubba Watson, who made his first appearance at The Masters this year. When asked what he was looking forward to most, Bubba said: "My wife caddying for me at the Par 3, and I want to play the Par 3 tournament." Bubba qualified for The Masters based on his top-8 finish at the 2007 U.S. Open. Bubba is best known for his big drives and he uses a pink shaft in his driver. "It's just for fun," he said. "I like bright colors and if I out drive you with a pink shafted driver, you can't really make fun of it." Bubba also has a great fashion sense and he has developed his own clothing line named bubbagolf which can be found at retailer Steve and Barry's. "The clothing line is a real special thing," he said. "Everything is under $15 shoes, hats, T-shirts, golf shirts, pants, shorts -- everything. I just love having my name on something and being a part of it; getting to pick and choose the colors, the materials and the linings. I just enjoy (showing) that you can look good playing golf even with more affordable clothes and not these outrageous prices." In Thursday's first round Bubba wore lime green pants and for Friday's second round he wore really bright magenta colored pants with a lime green visor that had pink writing on it.
Bubba is a great athlete, and his wife Angie is not to shabby, either. Angie played college basketball at the University of Georgia. She later played professionally for two years overseass and also one season in the WNBA. I asked Bubba who wins in pick-up basketball games, and he told me, "I would say me right now just because she hasn't played basketball in a really long time, but when we first met she would beat me all of the time." Bubba was first introduced to golf at the age of 6. His father took him to the course on the weekends and Bubba would hit a cut-down left-handed 9-iron; "I just started beating balls, and loved it ever since."
With Bubba what you see is what you get. "I'm a free spirit, all my life and everything and I'm not going to change," he said. "I'm just going to be exactly who I am. I am going to tell you the truth. that's one thing my Dad taught me is always speak the truth. I just can't tell a lie, if I did something wrong, I am going to tell you that I did it, I'm not going to hide it from anybody." Giving back to the community is also extremely important to Bubba. Each year he sponsors the Bubba Watson Invitational, a a Division II women's golf tournament, that is played at the University of West Florida. "With my wife being a professional basketball player and everything and playing girls sports growing up, I just felt like that was something I could help with," Bubba said. "It has been going on for six years, so it's just one of those things I love to do. I love to give back more than anything."
Bubba has developed a good relationship with the fans and has quickly become popular with them. "I don't know if I'm one of the most popular," he said. "But the few that do like me, I would say that I guess they could see that I'm not going to change. I am who I am, I get mad on the golf course, but I try to have fun though. They see that I enjoy the game and that's why I play it. If I play well, I want it to be because of me, and if I play bad it's because of me. I just enjoy the game and I love the atmosphere, I love the excitement, and I just enjoy traveling and getting to help different communities and different monies they raise toward charities."
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One of the questions I ask each professional is: who is your biggest Idol or Hero and why, and I am going to be completely honest and tell you that Bubba caught me off guard with his response: "What if I say you, because I heard your story and watched you walk through the golf courses and to be a part of some of your stuff and do this interview with you and watch you do your goals, it's a blessing and honor to watch." This week I gained a great deal of respect and admiration for Bubba Watson and truly appreciate his kindness and generosity for the entire week, as even this week being a major, he always made sure to find me after each round and spend a few minutes talking to me.
Being here at The Masters and Augusta National Golf Club was truly a memorable experience. I realized that this event and the Augusta National Golf Club far exceed the glory and standards you expect to see at the Masters. Just being on the grounds of Augusta National was an awesome experience, but walking Amen Corner was great and with the flowers in full bloom, this made for some great views and picturesque moments even though we did not have a camera, Augusta National was in magnificent, pristine condition. As for walking the course, for weeks people were warning me to be prepared for a challenging walk at Augusta with the hills; however I really did not feel this course was as difficult to walk as people said it would be. Yes, on some holes there are some hills to navigate, but overall, even with the rain and wet ground during Saturday's Third Round, I found the course easy to walk and not too tiring. If there was a challenge in walking Augusta National, it would be navigating the pine straw, as pine straw tends to get loose and slippery to walk especially with my came. Having said this, I will admit that I concentrated on walking more this week as compared to previous weeks, especially during the third round when the rain played a significant factor with the wet grounds. Yes, I did fall this week, but it was not during Saturday's third round with the rain.
As I close this special and memorable at Augusta and the Masters, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Bubba Watson and his wife Angie for their kindness and generosity during the entire week. Obviously this is a different week on TOUR with some added pressure, but even with that Bubba still made sure to take some time each day and speak to me, and I truly appreciate that!! I would also like to say a special thank you to Kelly Thompson for joining me this week and helping make this week a memorable and truly unforgettable experience. I would also like to express my appreciation to the people who were in charge of the parking lot across from the entrance who always made sure no matter what time we arrived that we always had a spot.
Thank you to the patrons who approached me this week with some very kind words of support and encouragement, and as always please continue with your e-mails, I truly appreciate your support and encouragement.
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HUMBLE, Texas -- Welcome to the Shell Houston Open and the Redstone Golf Club. This venue provided a good test for the players in advance of the season's first major. The Tournament Course at Redstone, which measures 7,456 yards and plays to a par of 72, requires precise shot placement, especially on a few of the par 4s. The most difficult hole of the week was the par-4 18th hole where the water comes into play down the left side of the hole.
This week I followed Briny Baird, who is probably best known for wearing the P.F. Chang's logo on his hat. He said the CEO of the restaurant called his agent about an unrelated matter and wound up speaking to Briny for about 10 minutes. After their initial conversation, the CEO sent Briny a gift certificate and six months later he wanted to do a deal. Briny is also known for his unorthodox putting stance that started as a drill eight or nine years ago. Briny had gone to his teacher, Mike Adams, because he wasn't putting very well. "He goes, 'stand on one foot' and I stood on my left foot and hit a putt," Briny said. "When I went to go through the putt, I fell back and what he said was 'your weight was moving between your feet while you were putting.' So, if I stood on one foot, I just keep my body centered when I went through the putt." And there, the unusual approach was born.
Briny's given name actually is Michael. When he was 3-years old, though, his mom realized the name wasn't going to stick since people were calling him Mike or Mikey. At that time, his mom was reading the book "Winds of War" and there was a character named Briny, so that is where he got his name.
Briny is a truly genuine person who really cares about others and understands what he wants to accomplish in his life. Briny loves to take his daughters out on their boat and turn them loose on a sand bar. "They just run all over and that's one of the most fun things I can do right now," he said. Briny also has a 4-month-old son who will be joining his sisters when he gets older. Fishing is another one of Briny's favorite activities. "The biggest fish I've ever caught would not be the most fun fish I've ever caught," said Briny, who explained that a 25-pound snook was a quite a challenge.
Briny started playing golf very young, and he remembers winning a trophy when he was 4. "I still have the trophy, too," he said. Briny began his college career at Georgia Tech but later transferred to Division II Valdosta State. While there, Briny won back-to-back NCAA Division II individual titles. When I asked about his 2008 goals, Briny had a very interesting answer. "I've always been scared to set goals," he said. "If you start setting goals and God forbid, you attain your goals, where do you go from there? You don't want to set unrealistic goals. If you set goals that are too high and you don't reach them, then there's some sense of failure that can set in."
Briny has formed a partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). He puts the picture of a different missing child on his bag each week. "It's been all good, good publicity for everybody," he said. I gained a lot of respect for Briny this week. Even when he didn't play as well as he would have liked, he still made sure to spend a few minutes with me. This meant the world to me and further showed that to Briny Baird, golf isn't always the most important thing in life.
There were definitely some very challenging moments walking the course this week -- not due to the length of the course, but to the weather conditions. For the third consecutive week, we had weather delays. The most difficult thing about the rain was that when the bridges got wet, they were very slick. I am proud to say, though, that I was careful and had no falls this week. That's right -- this is now three weeks in a row without a fall. Another minor challenge for me was that play was completed in twosomes during the final round. This means that play is at a quicker pace with less standing and waiting. In the final round, Briny played in the second group off and completed his final round in three hours and 15 minutes. It was a quick round with no standing around for me. Believe it or not, though, I enjoy walking twosomes more because there isn't as much waiting and play is usually faster. For me, the continuous walking is better because with continuous movement, I do not get as tired as when I have to stand and wait.
As I close my week here in Houston, I would like to thank Briny. He's a class act and true gentleman. I would also like to say a special thank you to my mom, Jackie, and my sister, Ann, for joining me this week. I had a great week in Houston!
As always, thank you very much to everyone who continues to send me e-mails of support and encouragement, I truly appreciate all of your e-mails and I read them all.
Next week at The Masters, I will be following Bubba Watson.
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NEW ORLEANS -- Welcome to the Crescent City and the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. The venue this week is the TPC Louisiana, which provides a stern challenge for the professionals with some very long par 4s and challenging greens.
I folllowed PGA TOUR veteran Mark Calcavecchia this week. Calc, as he is known on TOUR, grew up in a small town in Nebraska and started playing golf on a nine-hole course. "My first memories are when I got my first junior set of clubs," Calc said. "I remember they were some PowerBilt level looms or something like that. I was so excited to get those, I was probably seven, and I remember starting playing nine holes, just going around and around that course."
Mark had his best season financially on the PGA TOUR in 2007, which included a victory at the PODS Championship and several other opportunities to win. Calc says his favorite club in his bag is his PING Eye 2 Copper Beryllium L Wedge. Mark told me "it's the best club out of the bunker. I've hit a lot of great shots; I've had a lot of chip-ins and things like that over the years. It has just always been one of my favorite clubs." Mark also uses the claw putting grip. "I started on occasion getting a little twitchy with my right hand, a small form of the yips," he said. "It really wasn't visible, and it wasn't everyday, but the problem was I would go along and I would putt really good one day and then I would have a four-footer the next day, and my right hand would twitch. So all the confidence I got the day before went right out the window because I never knew when I was going to twitch."
Among Mark's 13 TOUR victories is the 2001 FBR Open, which he won by eight shots -- along the way setting seven TOUR records, including total score at 28 under and number of birdies (32) in a 72-hole event. "That was my best golf," Mark told me. "That was one of those deals where I was perfect from every aspect -- my concentration, I drove it great, every iron shot was going right at the flag, and I felt like I was going to make every putt that I looked at. It was just one of those things where I was in the zone."
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Mark has also had the opportunity to represent the United Sates in both the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup. "It's really cool," he said. "It's pressure, too, because you know your whole country is rooting you on. And even with the majors, its probably the most-watched golf event in the world. It's a lot of pressure, but it's a great thrill wearing the red white and blue and when the flag goes up, it's a pretty emotional deal." Since we are in the middle of March Madness, I asked Calc how that competition stacks up to the excitement of the Ryder Cup. "I would love to go to the Final Four one time," he said. "It's my favorite time of year to watch college basketball, that's for sure. The Final Four, the hoopla there is similar obviously to a Super Bowl or NBA Finals or something and that might be similar to the hoopla that the Ryder Cup builds up to be."
Away from the course, Mark enjoys bowling. In fact when he was 13, Mark had an average score of 185. He and his wife Brenda are building a two-lane bowling alley in their new house. Mark is still a talented bowler. "If the lanes aren't shooting my hook, I'll just make a bunch a spares and throw between 180 -195," he said. "If I'm on a set of lanes where my strike ball is working, I can string together 230s -- 240s ."
Calc found out in 2002 that he has sleep apnea. "I went and did a sleep study because I was always tired, and I didn't know why because I thought I was getting plenty of sleep," he explained. So he has to wear a mask every night -- and he even uses it if he wants to take a serious nap.
The TPC Louisiana has some really challenging holes, including the par-4 sixth hole, which measures 476 yards, and the par-4 15th hole, which stretches 490. Not only does the yardage make some of these holes a challenge, but the greens this week have been a challenge, as well. The greens have a lot of break with undulation, and they are very firm, so it's difficult to hit close to the hole and/or make some long putts. As for walking the course, it's extremely flat and consequently, it was a very easy walk.
For the second consecutive week, we had to battle the weather, which included delays during the third round for some severe thunderstorms. It was also very humid this week, so even with the flat course, I used more energy to walk the course.
As I close my week here in New Orleans, I would like to thank Mark and Brenda, as well as the tournament staff at the Zurich Classic, for their hospitality this week. I had a most enjoyable week in New Orleans.
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DORAL, Fla. -- Welcome to the Blue Monster at the Doral Resort and Spa and the World Golf Championships-CA Championships, where the story this week was not only great golf, but also dodging the bad weather. During Thursday's first round, we avoided a suspension, but played through some steady, and sometimes hard, rain. On Saturday, we had no such luck, as play was halted and the course took in over 3 inches of water.
This week I followed fellow Georgia resident Heath Slocum. Heath was first introduced to golf while he was still a toddler by his dad who was a club pro.
"I was always following him around at the golf course hitting golf balls," Heath said. He played on the same high school golf team as fellow PGA TOUR player and long-time friend Boo Weekley. "It's really nice to have in this lifestyle a really good friend out here that you've known for so long, that you can always call and rely on," Heath said.
In 2007, Heath and Boo had the opportunity to team up in the World Cup in China.
"Representing the United States was absolutely amazing and representing the United States with Boo Weekley as my partner was unbelievable," he told me. "I was so honored that he asked me to play and I can't imagine going over there, especially with my first experience with that with anybody else; and we had a good time."
Heath was a three-time All-American at the University of South Alabama. He was a huge LSU fan, but once he went on a recruiting trip to South Alabama, he knew that was the place for him.
"They had unbelievable practice facilities," Heath explained. "They played against all the best Division I teams so we went there and I wouldn't trade it now for anything."
Heath also played two years of college golf with his friend and caddy D.J. Nelson. In November of 1997, Heath contracted ulcerative colitis.
"I ran myself pretty ragged, but when I got sick for the next year and a half it really changed my life," he told me. "It took away what I love, and it definitely gave me a whole new perspective on life and golf especially. It made me a much better golfer.
"I was never a hothead, but I kind of held onto bad rounds and bad shots a little longer then I needed to. After (getting sick) I kind of looked at each round like: I love what I'm doing, I'm very lucky to be out doing what I love and I go out each and everyday with a clean slate.
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"I go out and treat every day like you know what, I may not have this tomorrow and each shot now, I get a little frustrated like everybody else, but I drop it and go on. The colitis has definitely helped frame my life and my golf; it has brought a whole new perspective.
In 2001, Heath won three times on the Nationwide Tour and earned an instant promotion to the PGA TOUR. Heath was only the second player to ever earn the promotion.
"It was such a zone, if you will, for a good two-month stretch," Heath recalled. "It was the most amazing golf I've played in my life." He learned how to compete on the Nationwide Tour. "There's really good golfers out there, and you can't be afraid to not go low," Heath told me. "The tournaments that I've won, I had to shoot 22-23 under, so it really taught me there's no back down."
Like many other players with whom I have spent time, Heath says his favorite course on TOUR is Harbour Town. "You have to hit every club in the bag, and I just love that golf course," he explained. "Old style, trees, no rough, small greens you have to use your imagination, I love it."
Away from the course, Heath enjoys hunting and fishing, but more importantly, he likes spending time with his wife and 3-month-old daughter Stella. "Just getting to see the smile on her face and hanging out and playing with her, it's been better then any kind of fishing I've ever done," he said.
As I mentioned, we encountered some challenging weather conditions this week. During Saturday's weather delay Heath had something to eat and went back to the room to visit Stella. "I looked at the radar and I knew we were going to be a while, so I just went and played with her," he said. "It was pretty easy. Some of the ones where (the family is) not around are a little more difficult.
You just sit there and watch a little TV. The (NCAA) tournament was on so we watched a little of that. It wasn't too bad yesterday because we knew it was going to be a while so you can kind of take your golf shoes off and relax a little bit."
The Blue Monster Course at Doral measures 7,266 yards and plays to a par of 72. There are birdie opportunities on this course with the four par 5s, but this course still offers a stern challenge -- particularly the par-4 18th with water down the right side of the hole.
The par 3s on this course are also a good test, including the 13th hole which plays 245 yards. The pros are more then satisfied to walk away with par all four days on this hole. This course is extremely flat and very compact; the holes are close together and in many cases cross each other. Included in the statistics for this week are three weather delays and for the first time this year, a Monday finish.
As I close my week in Miami, I would like to express my deep appreciation to Heath Slocum and his wife Vickie for their kindness and generosity this week. I would also like to thank Heath's caddie D.J. and instructor Mark Blackburn. And I appreciate Bethany White joining me this week in Miami. I had a great time!
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ORLANDO, Fla. -- Welcome to the Bay Hill Club and Lodge and the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented By MasterCard. This tournament is one of the best on the PGA TOUR and I really enjoyed my visit.
This week I had followed Kenny Perry, the 2005 Arnold Palmer Invitational champion, Kenny and his wife Sandy live in Franklin, Ky., which is located 40 miles from Nashville and 20 miles from Bowling Green, where Kenny's alma mater, Western Kentucky University, is located.
Kenny distinctly remembers playing golf when he was 6 years old. His father would fill an old bag cover with range balls, then sit on a towel, smoking a cigar, and watch Kenny practice.
"He's 83 and still going strong," Kenny told me. "He's actually the ambassador of my golf course. I bought him a golf cart for Christmas, so he drives around and greets everybody and he has a big time.
"I've always got smells, the smell of (cigars), I instantly go back to my childhood. He would sit there and tee a ball up and I would smack it and then he would tee another one up and I would hit it. Once they were all gone I would grab that head cover and take off running down the fairway and I would pick them all up and come back to dad and say lets do that again. I distinctly remember that until this day."
Kenny has been playing on the PGA TOUR for 23 years, but qualifying for the TOUR was a challenge. He fell a stroke shy in 1984. then missed a year later when his son was born during the fourth round. He wanted to try q-school again in 1986, but he had to ask an elder in his church for the entry fee.
"I knew he didn't have the money, but he taught me a life lesson," Kenny told me "He said, I'm going to give you the money and here's what were going to do, if you don't make the TOUR, get through the qualifying school you don't owe me a dime.
"If you make it, we're going to give a percentage back to Lipscomb University."
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Kenny made it through with ease and to this day, five percent of his earnings are put into a trust fund at the school.
"Our goal was that in Simpson County, Kentucky, if the kids wanted a Christian education, we didn't want money to be an issue," Kenny said. "It's about a $30,000-a-year school, so we've probably had about 20 kids from Simpson County receive this scholarship to be able to go to school there. ... It has been a neat blessing."
Not only does Kenny have the trust fund at Lipscomb University, he also built a public golf course called Country Club in his hometown. When he was growing up, Kenny's father was a member of the only country club in town.
He calls himself a clubhouse rat, but his friends weren't as lucky. The nearest public facility was about 30 miles away "so I felt like our town needed a public course," Kenny said. He's shot 60 five times at Country Creek, but says he always seems to miss the putt for 59. When Kenny is home, you will usually find him at the course, shaking hands and thanking people for coming out to play.
He remembers one man who asked him, "How's Kenny playing this week?' I said, 'He's playing pretty good, and you know I didn't crack a smile. I just took his money and he says, 'thank you' and off he went."
Among Kenny's 12 wins on the PGA TOUR, he has been fortunate enough to win three tournaments -- the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the Memorial Tournament and the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial -- that have a history with some of the game's legends.
"It is very special to me to win," Kenny told me. "You know Jack is one of the greatest, Arnie is one of the greatest, Ben Hogan is one of the greatest. To have these men's names attached to these tournaments and be the winner is pretty special."
At the same, Kenny was disappointed not to win the EDS Byron Nelson Invitational while its namesake was alive.
"Byron and I were big buddies," Kenny said. "He was a great friend. He always sent me little letters on little letterhead. He would write me and just say, great tournament last week, I see you're doing great. He would call me on the phone and he says are you going to play in my golf tournament? Shoot, I couldn't turn that man down."
Kenny, who has made 39 aces during his career, said his pre-shot routine has always been "turn off the brain and turn on the game, baby. The more I thought, the worse I got. It had to be instinctive for me to be successful."
Kenny and his wife Sandy were eighth grade sweethearts and have been married for 25 years. They are laid-back people who are extremely friendly. When he's not playing, he enjoys playing golf with his family or skiing in Utah.
Kenny also enjoys working on old cars, "I've got a couple '55 Chevys, a '69 Camaro," he said. "I'm an old Chevy diehard fan, I love to tear them apart and put them back together."
The Bay Hill Club and Lodge plays to a par 70 and measures 7,137 yards with only two par 5s. The key to playing well at Bay Hill is to capitalize on your birdie opportunities because there aren't many out there. With its relatively flat terrain, Bay Hill has been the easiest course for me to walk on the Florida Swing. There are also a few holes where you can watch both the approach shot and action on the green from the same spot, then walk across the cart path and you will be at the next fairway to see the tee shot. The best example of this would be between the fourth and fifth holes.
As I close my week, I would like to say thanks to Kenny and Sandy Perry for their kindness, generosity and hospitality. I would also like to thank my dad, Bill King, Todd Mills and Uncle Jerry for joining me at Bay Hill.
Thank you again for all of your e-mails and support, I really appreciate it!
See you next week from Doral where I will be following Heath Slocum at the World Golf Championships-CA Championship.
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TAMPA, Fla. -- Welcome to the PODS Championship at the Innisbrook Resort's Copperhead Course. This venue is one of the more challenging courses on the PGA TOUR and at the same time, one of the favorite courses among TOUR players.
This week I had the pleasure of spending time with J.J. Henry, the 1998 Connecticut Male Athlete of the Year.
"It was quite an honor obviously," he told me. "It's not the biggest state in the country, but there's a lot of great people and great athletes and it was an honor to be named that for sure." J.J. is a native of Fairfield and ironically, his first victory on the PGA TOUR came at the 2006 Buick Championship (now Travelers Championship) that was played at the TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn. "It was storybook, really," he said. "As a kid I would go with my dad and watch (the tournament). You stand on the range and think, wow, how cool would it be to someday actually be out there doing that? Then to walk up the last hole on Sunday with a three-shot lead to win my first one, I couldn't have scripted it any better. It was really that cool."
J.J. played golf at Texas Christian University in Ft. Worth. At the WAC Championship in his senior year, J.J. recorded his first hole-in-one which occurred on the 17th hole of the final round and then proceeded to birdie the 18th hole to clinch both the individual and team titles for TCU.
"To finish hole-in-one, birdie to win was pretty cool, especially at that point in my career," he said. "That was probably the neatest thing that happened up to that point." Not to mention, J.J. played with Andy Miller in the final round, and Andy's father, Johnny, was in the gallery.
J.J. also had the opportunity to represent the United States at the 2006 Ryder Cup at The K Club in Dublin, Ireland. Golf is normally an individual sport, but J.J. really enjoyed the team atmosphere and camaraderie -- despite the American loss. "It was something that obviously I will never forget anytime soon," he told me. "The atmosphere was electric. Every hole felt like 4th and 1 from the goal line at the Rose Bowl or the 12th round of a heavyweight title fight or whatever you want to compare it to. Every shot, whether it was the crowd or the feeling again, it was just a great experience and I was pretty proud of the way I kind of hung in there. As disappointing as the outcome was, it was definitely a great way to spend a tremendous week for sure."
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The 2007 season was a little disappointing for J.J. after his success the previous year. His greatest memory that year actually was something he accomplished off the golf course -- starting the Henry House Foundation for the well-being of children and kids healthcare. The foundation raised close to $400,000 in its first event.
The money has helped in a variety of projects -- including putting plasma TVs and computers in hospital playrooms for children. "I'm kind of living the dream and I wouldn't trade what I do for the world," J.J. told me. "But there's one thing to be able to stand on the last hole and make a 10-foot putt to win a tournament and it's another thing to be able to give back to your community. Being a young father, kids are pretty special to me. I've been fortunate enough to play in a lot of different pro-ams and go to a lot of different cities and see how they give back and it's something I always wanted to do. ... To be able to help put a smile on a child's face is something really neat -- no question about it."
J.J. and his wife Leah have a 3-year-old son and another child on the way. He cherishes the time he gets to spend with his family and friends. "Just because I can hit the little golf ball maybe or get it in the hole quicker then most people, I'm just like anybody else who enjoys being a dad, enjoys being a husband, and enjoys being a friend," J.J. said.
After spending time with J.J., I realized he has a great perspective on life. He had the opportunity to spend some time with the legendary Byron Nelson before he passed away. "I've always looked up to Byron Nelson," J.J. told me. "(I am) very grateful to be around him a little bit before he passed away. Again, not only for what he did on the golf course, but how he gave back to the community, he was a great person, a great friend, and a great ambassador of golf."
The Copperhead Course plays to 7,340 yards and a par of 71. This is normally a stern challenge for the players, but the weather conditions made it even more difficult.
It was amazing to see how much of an impact the wind would have on the playing conditions and scores. There were numerous times on Friday and Saturday where players would hit what looked like great shots to the green, but once the ball was in the air, it seemed like it hit a wall and would end up 10-20 yards short of the green.
The wind was very hard to judge because it was swirling and never at a constant speed. To show how the wind affected scoring -- the lead was 8 under on Saturday morning and 5 under when play was suspended that night. I feel like the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook is one of the easiest courses to walk on TOUR to date. This course is very flat, the holes are very close together and there are even some short cuts on a few holes where you can watch action from one fairway and then walk 20 yards to the right and be at the fairway of the next hole.
Having said this, though, the toughest hole for me to walk this week was the par-5 No. 11. You have to walk down the entire right side and there were lots of tree roots to avoid.
As I close my week at the PODS Championship, I want to express my deep appreciation to J.J. I really enjoyed following him, and I appreciate Brandt Snedeker letting me join his group over the weekend after J.J. missed the cut. I would also like to thank Anthony Hernandez who joined me this week at the PODS Championship.
Thank you again for all of your e-mails and support, I really appreciate it!
See you next week at Bay Hill, where I will follow Kenny Perry.
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A week with last year's champ
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Welcome to The Honda Classic which is played on the Champion Course at PGA National Resort and Spa. This week I had the honor of following defending champion Mark Wilson. When I asked him about his greatest memory of 2007, Mark didn't hesitate.
"It's definitely got to be The Honda Classic, and the playoff and all that," he said, laughing. "That got me into a lot of new events and I guess a new place in golf so it was definitely the Honda."
I wondered if his schedule was different this week as defending champion compared to a regular week on TOUR.
"It has been certainly a little bit busier this week than normal, but not too bad," he told me. "I did a radio show Sunday morning when I was home. When I got here, there hasn't been a whole lot other than Wednesday; (which) is the day I (had) to talk to the media a little bit.
"I came down in December and did a full day of talking to various reporters and that was probably the meat of the preparation. This week, they have been real nice to me, giving me a heads up on what I need to do and when the time comes to tee it up on Thursday, I will be well rested."
Mark is originally from Menomonee Falls, Wisc., and currently lives in Chicago. He attended the University of North Carolina on a golf scholarship. Family is very important to Mark and his wife Amy, and this is why they still live in the Chicago area.
Mark's dad, Les, started his son playing golf.
"I think probably I can remember playing in the Father-Son at our golf club where I grew up when I was like four and five years old," Mark said.
A year ago in September, Mark and Amy welcomed their first child into the world, a son named Lane.
"I don't have nearly as much free time as I used to," Mark told me. "It's exhausting, but it's so worth it. He's six months old now, he's got a personality. You see it growing every day -- lots of smiles, giggling and (you can) see him getting frustrated when he can't do something. Similar to his dad, I think -- that's what my wife says anyway. I guess you're never ready for parenthood.
"You just kind of have to dive in and see how it goes. It's been a tremendous ride already and its just getting started."
Understanding how important family is to Mark and how much he and his wife enjoy Lane, it wasn't surprising when Mark talked about how much he enjoys being at home.
"We don't get to be home that much so I just cherish my time (there)," he said. "Some of my favorite days have been now that I have my son where we just camp out at home. We don't leave all day long and we just feed him, we play, and that's probably my favorite stuff."
Mark also loves comedy. He grew up watching "Seinfeld," and he has several other favorites. If he could just see one comedian one more time, though, it would be Jim Gaffigan.
"He's maybe not the most well-known guy, but he is hysterical," Mark said. "He could talk for hours about food and Hot Pockets and stuff like that."
Mark says it's hard for him to get up in front of a group of people and just try to be interesting, so he's amazed at what stand-up comedians can do.
"These guys, their job is to make people laugh and for the audience to be sitting there expecting to laugh just seems like immense pressure," Mark said. "The only part of their job I know is the travel aspect -- being in different cities all the time. In general stand-up comedians really impress me."
The Champion Course at PGA National is a very stern challenge for the professionals. The course plays to 7,158 yards and is a par 70. This course has some very challenging greens with pronounced slopes and breaks even on short putts.
The 15th, 16th and 17th are known as "The Bear Trap," and these three holes, which seem to flirt with the water at every turn, are a true test of every phase of your golf game.
"You've got to be spot on with your distance control and your accuracy," Dudley Hart said. "They are severe golf holes; strange things can happen there."
The largest obstacle this week, though, was the wind. The wind was never at a consistent level for the entire round. For some holes it would be totally still and then there were some holes where the wind was a real factor. The Champion Course was a relatively easy walk, though, because it is so flat. Each of the holes seem to be close together so you know exactly where to go.
As I close my week here at The Honda Classic, I would like to express my deep appreciation to Amy and Mark Wilson for their kindness and generosity this week, I really appreciate it. I would also like to thank Scott, Karen, and Ken, and the entire staff at the Palm Beach Gardens Marriott for their hospitality this week. Special thanks to Neil Como for joining me this week at The Honda Classic.
See you next week in Tampa where I will be following J.J. Henry. In the meantime, to learn more about who I am, please watch the two-part feature on Golf Central on GOLF CHANNEL this Saturday and Sunday. Thank you again for all of your e-mails and support.
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MARANA, Ariz. -- Welcome to the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship. Your opponent this week is not the course in a stroke-play format, but rather your playing competitor on a hole-by-hole basis. In match play, each hole seems to be a separate tournament. In match play you could have a triple bogey on a hole and you may still win -- or if you lose, you only lose one hole, not three strokes to par.
This week I had the opportunity to follow Aaron Baddeley. This was a special week, because I knew Aaron prior to the beginning of the tournament. He was born in New Hampshire and his parents moved to Australia w