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A few years back, I was working with a group of kids here in Kansas City and Tom Watson and a local pro played nine holes with my kids caddying. He spoke with them about golf and life. Later, I bumped into him at a gun store and we talked for about an hour about guns, fishing and hunting. No golf talk though. A real nice guy.

For about five years Southwestern Bell (prior to my retirement) sponsored a tournament on the senior PGA tour. I spoke with Donna Caponi and Raymond Floyd on several occasions at pairings parties prior to the tournament. One year Donna gave some tips to my wife and I on pitching and chipping.

Do you really want to know?
Where do I begin ....
1957 Peter Alliss, Christy O Connor Snr, Harry Bradshaw
Today chatting to Portuguese Open runnerúp Anthony Wall, Niçlas Fasth, Peter Baker, Christian Cevaer
In between
the list is almost endless. Made a rough count some years ago and gave up around the 100 mark. There are many I count as personal friends
Padraig Harrington, Paul McGinley, Christian, Peter B., and quite a few more. In some cases I know their families as well.
The far side of the pond Tom Lehman is moving into the friend category. Weve spoken on innumeral occasions. Gary Player will make a slight detour to say hello. Ben Crenshaw is definitely a friend having provided a clubhouse pass upgrade for me in 87 for the Ryder Cup. Paul Azinger gave me a when he heard of my cancer. Larry Mize and the late great Payne Stewart deserve special mention.
Arnie, Lee Trevino I met several times including one exhibition match where I also received an invite to the sponsors area.
Tom Watson I met again a number of times, most recently with Jack at the Turnberry Duel -in-the-sun "rematch" at the British Seniors.
Seve I first met the day after he lost to Johnny Miller. I already knew his brother Manuel and I later met some of his other brothers.
Bernhardt Langer even gave me a pass for the European Open on one of the few years when I didnt have my season one.
The Golden Bear himself , was introduced to him formally in 86 having met him as a fan on a few previous occasions. Spoke to him on several occasions since including very specially the 87 Ryder Cup. Afterwards I was lucky enough to meet him when we were both walking round. He was heading back to change for the dinner, I was calming myself down. He thanked me for coming and I commiserated with him for being the first home-soil losing captain, though acknowledging I was glad Europe had won. I also congratulated him on the course.
Sergio Garcia I met in my local pub when he was participating in a blindfold golf charity in aid of the guide dogs. and weve been saying "hi" ever since. He gave me a huge on the cheek on the Friday at Oakland Hills Ryder Cup. Bruised me against the barrier
Spoke to Tiger about 3 times, got a handshake too. (no big deal)


Nick Faldo is the one player I do not like. Hes the only one Ive found rude, arrogant etc. etc.
Ive just left the gang at the Portuguese Open and Im missing them already.

A few years back, about the time that Tiger won one of his am. titles. My buddy's and I were at Pelican Hill, we were in line waiting to check in when a couple of older guys walked in like they owned the place. They thought they were some pretty bad dudes. With a puffed out chest one guy says, "We're playing with Tiger Woods". I'm thinking who the heck is this Tiger. So we finish paying and walk outside and someone says he's on the range and that he won a title or two. So before we teed off we went down to the range to check it out. We see this little kid, hitting these **** rockets about 210yds. Every shot was exactly the same, I'd say about 30-35 feet high with about 5 yards of draw, looked like 4 iron. We watched him hit about 8 shots, each one perfect. I don't think anyone there had any idea on how huge that little, skinny kid would become. We didn't talk to him, after all he was what about 15-16 yrs old....


Fred Couples did flash a smile at my wife at the LA Open, I read somewhere that he enjoys checking out the women wearing tank tops in the gallery.

This is a very interesting thread...thanks all for sharing.

Good one league.Enjoyed it.

I had the privilege of taking my father-in-law to the 2000 US Senior Open, which was held at Saucon Valley in Northeast, PA.

We followed Arnie for several holes, although he scruffed it around quite a bit. He pushed one of his tee shots, which ended up being about 5 feet from where I was standing in the gallery. He was stymied, big time, as a continent of Oaks and Maples rendered his second shot nothing more than a punch-out back into the fairway. As he got to his ball, he studied carefully. He had a wry smile on his face. He pulled a club from his bag and took a practice swing. He then looked directly at me, and asked me, "Son, what would you do if you were in my position?" I said, "Mr. Palmer, I have no doubts that I would whiff the shot." He laughed, gave me a wink, and said, "Good answer." The gallery of folks around me laughed hysterically.

It was a really neat experience. For a split second, I was a part of Arnie's life. Compare that to the average touring pro today who would just as soon not be bothered by kids asking for autographs or pesky reporters wanting a post round interview. Arnie realized a long time ago that the fans make the sport what it is. If it were not for the people standing outside the ropes, there would be nobody standing inside the ropes.

It was something that I will never forget. :)

I've had the privelege of playing with Gary Player and Ernie Els.

Not too many people realise just how special Gary is. In 1967 he and his family were holidaying in our town on the Natal south coast near Durban and Gary always used to turn up at our club to play with the members. The club had made his dad, Harry, very welcome when he was at the seaside and had let the young junior play to his hearts content. His view was that it was a pleasure to play golf for fun with ordinary golfers and he invariably ended up with the club captain and 2 others while almost the rest of the club made up the gallery. After playing Friday (68), Saturday (67), Sunday (67) he walked across from the clubhouse to the practice tee where I was hitting balls with another youngster and asked us if we'd like a game the next afternoon. Naturally the answer was "Yes, please!" We then found a 4th and had the nicest possible game one could have the next day. Gary was very long then and hit the ball to places that others just dreamed of. He made a 65 with seemingly very little effort and was laid back and relaxed all the time telling us stories of life on tour.

30 years later I was at Fancourt (venue of Presidents Cup) on business and had a New Zealander colleague with me. We spotted gary waiting to be taken to the airport and the Kiwi said that he'd love Gary's autograph for his pub. I said that he should ask him. We walked across and I reintroduced myself and the kiwi and explained that he like his autograph. Gary was as gracious as ever, asked the porter to get his golf bag out of the trunk, took out a brand new glove and cap, autographed the glove and gave it to my colleague.

Gary is a great example to all professional sportsmen particularly when it comes to putting something back into the game.

My experience with Ernie was to play in a pro-am with him in 1992 just before he burst on the scene. He was a pleasure to play with, very complimentary to eberyone and just a wee bit shy. He'd just done pretty well at the British open, playing with John Cook in the final round and was in contention 'til the last 9 (Nick Price won). We asked him how he managed to be so cool - his reply "I've never been more nervous in my life!"

It's experiences like these that build one's heroes and I'm not ashamed to say that at 62 I still have some including Jack and Arnie, Tiger and the ultimate sportsman, Jim Furyk who endeared himself to all in SA by being gracious enough to mark a fellow pro's card in the Nedbank challenge after he had disqualified himself the previous day. Others who have been d-q'd in the past packed up and left the last player to play alone!

Nice story, patermo. I have always had an appreciation for Gary Player's spirit. He seldom has anything negative to say, about anything. He seems like a genuinely great person to be around.

Well here I go again, agreeing with LG. There must be something seriously the matter with me.

When I was 11 and just learning the game of golf in late 1975, we lived in Phalaborwa, South Africa. One Saturday a rumor was about that Gary Player was going to be at the local country club, Hans Merensky (wonderful, unique golf course!). We were already there for the day, swimming and planning to play golf in the afternoon with friends. All of us youngsters hurried out to the area around the first and tenth tee hoping to get a chance to see Mr. Player!

Well, it wasn't Gary Player who had come for a visit, but some another, younger South African golf pro who, unfortunately, I cannot remember his name! But my dad had seen him play in back in the US, and we all were still thrilled to follow a real pro around the course! We thought he was hitting that ball a mile!

What I didn't realize back then, however, was I running around with a bunch of young guys named Pappas, who would all end up making their living as professional golfers! Craigen from what I understand is one of the pros at Muirfield Village, whereas Deane and Brendan both are currently on the Nationwide Tour. I know Brendan played on the PGA for a while, but lost his card recently. I believe they had another brother, Sean, but not sure about his golfing career.

I also went to high school with Lee Janzen, both of us graduating from Lakeland High School in 1982. We were classmates and aquaintences, but not very close.

Also got the chance to meet many pros when my dad played in the Disney Pro Am back in 1981. He was paired with Fuzzy Zoeller. Also remember meeting Lee Trevino that weekend. Between him and Fuzzy no one else got a word in edgewise!

I used to coach Andy Bean's little girl on a YMCA T-ball team. Used to see and speak with him at a local fishing tackle store as well. Nicest guy in the world!

I met Brendan Pappas when he played the European Tour for a while. A really nice guy. So's Andy Bean whom I met at the British Seniors at Turnberry; we had a good wind-up with Fuz whom I've known for years.

Chi Chi Rodriguez and Lee Trevino in Akron a long time ago.
Also, can't really say "met", but I have a Jan Stephenson story...
A number of years ago, shortly after her "tub of golf balls" centerfold, a friend and I followed Jan at the Jamie Farr tournament in Toledo. She faded a drive into the edge of the rough, about 110 or so from the green. I was probably 10 feet away from her as she set up and promptly shanked, her approach. I said to my buddy, in a very low whisper something like "see, the pros do it too". Yep, Jan heard me. I thought she was going to hack me to death with her wedge.

Retief Goosen and his caddie on the putting green at the Linde German Masters, they gave me his putter, the one with which he won his 2nd US Open, to try it out, after I had asked kindly. It is really heavy and has a decent feel, but only if you have a sound stroke.

Phil, Darren Clarke, John Daly, Stewart Cink, Allenby, Verplank, Adam Scott were all way cool when I met them. Justin Lenord and Chad Campbell were not nice at all. Justin was the worse.

I had nothing but positive experiences at Baltustrol last year during the practice rounds...but then again, I guess they are a bit more upbeat during the practice rounds. I know not to bother them during the regulation rounds, so I kept away.

KJ signed some stuff for me, and talked to my family for a bit. I'm Korean so I guess he felt comfortable in speaking with us.

I was hanging out at the practice range, and players were walking in and out, signing stuff. If I saw someone I wanted a signature from, I'd ask them on their way out. Then I see Tommy Armour come strutting by. He stops, says hello, and he pulls out a Pro V, and hands it to me. If you want, I can sign it for ya...No thanks Mr. Armour. LOL!