Wednesday was an exciting day as Jane participated in a
program with the PGA Tour Wives Association and helped build a house for
Habitat for Humanity. Wives from the PGA
Tour and our Board of Directors along with help from other volunteer builders
worked in shifts doing everything from laying sod, painting to building walls,
etc. Jane was part of the internal wall
building crew where she worked with others to build and erect internal walls
for the home. She had lots of fun! The home will be used for a family that has a
young son that now has become interested in golf due to this Championship. The neat thing about this project is that the
family doesn’t just get the keys for the home; they need to spend over 420 hours
assisting in the building of the project by putting the “sweat equity” into the
home. The family can secure a zero
percent interest loan so they pay for the home but with lower payments. Very neat project and all the women that
participated had a blast.
Distinguished Service
Award:
Each year since 1988 the PGA of America recognizes an
individual for their outstanding contributions to golf. Sometimes the award goes to a past
professional golfer and other times it goes to someone that has made an impact
on the game with other contributions.
This year the award was given to retired tour player Lee
Trevino, PGA. But before the DSA
ceremony everyone was treated to a special concert from Michael Bolton. Still sings beautifully!
Lee told his story of “rags to riches” so to speak and how
he was raised by his mother and grandfather who was a gravedigger. Lee learned early the value of hard work from
his grandfather and entered the service at 17 where he served overseas. He caddied when he was young but didn’t
really play until he reached the service.
He was quick to become good and was a 4 handicapper by the time he left
the service. This is when he got a job
working at a golf club and worked towards earning is PGA Membership which he
ultimately did. As he worked as an
assistant professional he continued to work hard on his game and become
extremely good. To earn extra money he
“hustled” people and said you don’t know pressure until you play $5 per hole
and only have $2 in your pocket!
Lee was very emotional about how the PGA of America gave him
his first opportunity in life and he has always been very loyal to the
association since. It was one to the
most outstanding and emotional speeches I have listened to over the years. He truly has a passion for the PGA of
America.
What a great night!
We were honored to be able to attend.
Thursday:
Day one at the Championship was underway! What a phenomenal golf course which will
ultimately produce a great champion this week.
When we arrived we all entered the Media Center where my
friend Kelly Elbin had us in and took some fun pictures of us at the player
interview area. If you watch the Golf
Channel, Kelly is the person that directs the media during the interviews and
selects who asks questions. Kelly is one
of our PGA staff members down and Headquarters and has become a good friend
over the years. (See photo below)
The boys both went their way and followed Tiger Woods and
Phil Mickelson during their rounds.
Jane and I went to the course and sat in the grandstands for a while as
we waited for my announcing shift at #18 green.
We saw some great shots and smooth swings over the hours!
A short rain delay slowed things down a bit but play resumed
at 5:30 PM and I was at my post at the 18th green. As an announcer you are the one that
announces to the crowd who is approaching the green. You may have heard my voice as it was loud
and clear on TNT yesterday announcing the group of Mickelson, Kymer and Singh. What we say in as loud a voice as possible
is: “Ladies and Gentlemen, please
welcome from………..the 2005 PGA Champion, Phil Mickelson!!” The crowd applauds each player and they
acknowledge the crowd. Kinda fun as the
crowd goes NUTS for the major players like Phil and Tiger.
I did this duty from 5:30 PM to literally dark when the last
group approached the green. Players
really don’t want to quit early if they don’t have to as this would mean a very
early start just to finish one hole or maybe even half a hole. Left
the course about 8:30PM and headed back to the hotel.
Clubhouse Access
& Locker Rooms:
What a beautiful clubhouse at Oak Hills! As part of my duties with the Board of
Directors we all have clubhouse access where we can dine, watch the golf or
just hang out. I also have a locker in
the players locker room. Interesting to
see players getting ready to play or work with one of the many physical
therapists to help get loose and work on sore muscles. (I have attached some clubhouse photos below)
Friday Duties:
I am on the first tee today at 12PM – 2:45PM announcing
players as it is their turn. I have a
great wave of big name players today and am excited to get to the course and
get going! More about today in a later blog!
I hope you all have had a chance to watch the championship
so far, if not I hope you can watch over the weekend!
All the best and stay tuned for the next Blog.
Chris
