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ARTICLE 9/18/2006
I figure I better write again since I just recently had my
first win, and completed my first full year on the Champions Tour.
The win was so exciting. It couldn't have come at a better place
than my favorite course in the world Pebble Beach. It was the
Wal-Mart First Tee Pebble Beach Classic, and I had heard how much
most of the guys just loved that tournament.
I told Bill Murray that he might enjoy playing in that since he also
loves it up there, and we've had so much fun at the AT&T all these
years. I just thought it might be more relaxed, less people and he
could just enjoy playing instead of having to entertain thousands of
people like he does at the AT&T in February. It really did work out
that way, and he had a blast. Of course the weather is usually so
much better in the fall too which was also a drawing card.
Every pro is paired up with a junior golfer for the week, and I had
a great kid to play with from Little Rock, Arkansas named Robert
Carter. Robert started playing golf by getting involved with the
First Tee program in Little Rock, and has fallen in love with the
game. He's had some excellent instruction because in just 3 years
of playing he's developed a really solid game. He's still a little
inconsistent like most all kids are at that age, but has a very
sound swing, an excellent putting stroke, and generates a lot of
power with his 145 pounds!
He's also like all the kids that week, just a great person. He
volunteered, and now works at his First Tee. He has a twin sister
who has Downs Syndrome and she has gone on to be a Champion Swimmer
in the Special Olympics and will be going to China next year!
Robert said she can just kick his butt in the pool! Robert is an
unusual teenager these days who really gets the fact that not
everything is always just about him. He's very polite, and
considerate of others which are such great qualities to have. I
know that whether it's in golf, politics, or something else he will
be a success in life and will impact other people for good.
The amateurs in the tournament were paired up in twosomes. The
first two rounds every group had a pro, a junior and two amateurs.
We had to keep focused on scoring because as well as my score,
Robert and I were a best ball team, and then the foursome was a best
ball team score for the amateurs.
We played with Bill Murray and his partner Chris Boccard the first day
and then they played with Bruce Lietzke the second day. We got on
the first tee, and Robert was nervous anyway, and while he was
getting ready to hit, Bill said to the crowd "Let's hear it for
Robert Carter, which isn't really his name since he looks a lot more
like a Bobo Carter. Come on Bobo, hit a good one out there" So
Robert became Bobo for the rest of the tournament!
We had so many laughs and it was a relaxing fun day all the way
around. We had a small, fun gallery, and Bill was of course as
funny as usual. Bobo had 4 birdies the first round including the 4th
hole from a divot, and then on the 8th hole at Pebble he
drove it almost over the cliff, and stuck an 8 iron about 2 feet
away. Just an amazing day, and I played solid also with 5 birdies,
no bogeys for a 67 which is a great round out there. We didn't have
any wind, and I just played real steady.
It's sure a funny game because two weeks before after an even par
first round in Seattle, I shot a 61 with 11 birdies for my lowest
round ever, and just missed a couple putts on my 16th and
17th holes to threaten a 59. Then on Sunday I shot 31
the front nine to take the lead with 9 to go before blocking one
into a tree, 3 putting twice, shooting 38 the back nine and losing
by a shot.
So after that good play at Seattle I went to Portland pretty
confident and shot 79 my first round. I got a few calls from people
wondering if I was sick or hurt which was pretty funny. The only
thing hurt was my ego! Mostly it was just some lousy wedges and I
putted terrible. I ended up finishing the week 61st for
my worst finish yet on the Champions Tour.
But at Pebble Beach I smoothed out my putting stroke, and all of a
sudden I was making all those 3 and 4 footers which are so
important, especially for eliminating the bogeys.
I didn't play as well the 2nd round but still shot a 3
under 69 at Del Monte which is a short course but with small greens
and is pretty tricky. I was 8 under and 2 shots back of Tom Kite
who won in Seattle, and felt good about my game but there were a lot
of guys on the leaderboard who could win.
The third round I just continued to play steady, and birdied the 11th
to go 3 under and 11 under total. I didn't hit it too close after
that for a while but kept getting my long birdie putts close and
made some good short ones for pars. I knew I had a chance to win
and I was really not worrying about the leaderboard but just trying
to make birdies.
I hit a 5 iron a little thin on 17, but it was right at the hole,
but stayed short of the green in the rough. I almost chipped in,
and then watched as Bobo made his birdie putt for the team after
hitting his iron shot close while Bill was softly chanting "come on
Bobo, come on Bobo".
I'm sometimes asked if I still get nervous and the answer is
"Absolutely". I was definitely nervous on the 18th tee,
and thought back to the first year I played with Bill Murray. That
was the year he pulled Ms. Ragsland into the bunker on 18 and they
danced around until he let her go. She then lost her balance and
fell backwards and disappeared from view under the lip of the trap.
I don't think I have ever laughed that hard before on the golf
course.
I made the cut that year, and Bill came out and watched me Sunday
morning and showed up on the 18th tee since our group
started on the 10th hole. I was playing with Tom Purtzer,
and as Tom got up to hit his tee shot Bill said "have you ever
thought of how much water is in the Pacific Ocean before? It's just
right there, but for thousands of miles it's just deep, deep water,
and it's just amazing to think of how much water is really out
there". As Tom stepped back from his tee shot kind of smiling, I
was sure hoping he would hit a good one, and then he smoked it right
down the middle! Whew!!
Well, now it was my turn, and I knew there was water left, traps and
OB right. But it is still a pretty big fairway, so I said to
myself "Self, you're driving it well, swinging well, just aim at the
trees, and make a good aggressive swing" and I did it. I hit it
really solid and just a couple yards left of the trees in perfect
shape. I usually get in trouble when I'm tentative, and just
thought "what the heck, let's just go for it".
It was into the wind a little so I laid up with my Adams utility
club (which has been a great new addition) and hit it just down the
right side of the fairway in perfect position. Doug got the yardage
at 88 yards, a little wind against, and perfect for a good solid 54
degree sand wedge, I was about to hit when Bill said for the
gallery "You know, last time I was here I made it" I knew he
really did during the AT&T celebrity shootout in February when he
holed it from 90 yards to win it again. After everyone stopped
laughing I couldn't resist and turned to him and said "yeah, but I'm
still better than you".
He knew right what he was doing, and I think it did help because I
was focused on the pin, and making a good swing. I was also
thinking, "wouldn't this be the funniest and coolest thing in the
world if I just made it right now?"
Well, sure enough I hit it perfect, and we couldn't see it land but
it landed just past the hole, and spun back right past the hole and
ended up about 9 feet below the hole. The crowd was cheering and
clapping, but I could tell it didn't go in so I told Bill, "It
didn't go in, so maybe you are better."
I didn't know exactly how I stood and thought I better make this
putt to either win or get into a playoff since Jay Haas, who is such
a great player, was still behind me and also 11 under. I had a
right edge putt, and just hit it perfect with perfect speed and it
dropped in on the high side of the cup. It was so much fun, so
exciting and thrilling. Cheryl was watching the last day which was
so much fun, and it was also just so cool to see Bill so excited.
We've always gone to the AT&T with two goals: To win the
tournament, and to have the most fun. We've always accomplished at
least one of them! He has always rooted so hard for me and for
David Edwards and then Jeff Sluman to play well. And to see me make
the putt and have a chance to win he just couldn't stop smiling.
I waited to see what Jay would do, and was fortunate that he parred
the last hole and got the win by one over him and David Edwards.
David hit a 20 foot birdie putt on the 18th before me that defied
gravity by staying out as it went right over the front edge of the
cup. Bill of course said I would be getting a big check, a big
check for the dinner tab that is. We did get to hang around with
Ollie Nut and Cindy Zoller who run the tournaments up there at
Pebble Beach. A few of Bills other friends were also there and we
had a great time before Cheryl and I drove home to San Diego.
We got home at 3:30 in the morning and thank God for adrenalin! And
really thank God for everything!
When I won the US Open in 1987 I was asked how I could seem so
relaxed when I had Tom Watson breathing down my neck as I birdied
the 14th, 15th, and 16th holes to
win by one. I told them that it was because Larry Moody had led a
Bible Study that week on where true contentment came from. It only
came from a right relationship with Jesus Christ. It wasn't from
winning, finishing high on the money list, or anything else, but
true contentment came from doing things the right way. Living for
Christ determines my priorities and I believe frees me up to do the
best I can, and to accept the results and still be thankful whether
I'm going bogey free at Pebble Beach for the win, or shooting 79 in
Portland!
But I wasn't asked about my faith at Pebble Beach and have never
wanted to force my views of Christ on anyone else. Since for a long
time I wasn't a Christian I'm sensitive to the fact that not
everyone thinks the same about God. I also believe that
everyone must make their own decision about Christ. I believe it's
a relationship that's between us and God and can't be forced.
But I really am so thankful for His blessings, and for being able to
play golf for a living, and to meet so many great people. I'm sure
I'll write again after the season if not before. I have 5 more
tournaments ending at the end of October and I'll be working hard
for that second win. Until then, I hope you also enjoy God's
blessings and if you're so inclined you could read Philippians 4 in
the Bible which tells us how to have the secret to contentment and
the peace that passes all understanding.
And for those who have actually read all the way through to this
point I'll close with the words from the end of my daughter Brea's
favorite move growing up Ferris Bueller. "Are you still here? Go
home!" I guess if I wrote more often I wouldn't get so long winded
(with my fingertips that is).
Aloha,
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