Pro-Ams

Without sponsors, pro golf tournaments would never happen, because prize money has to come from somewhere (unless you’re on LIV of course). And what better way for sponsors to enjoy the fruits of their cash than to play with pros on the same venue the day before a tournament.

In this sense, golf is a unicorn because handicaps level the playing field so amateurs and pros can compete on equal terms.

Imagine a tennis pro trading forehands with a CEO on Centre Court the day before the Australian Open, or an NBA player going one-on-one with a company co-founder pre-game in Madison Square Garden. Do you think an investment banker can hit a major league pitcher’s 95 mph fastball at Fenway? In your dreams! It’s why golf is such a great sport. From 10-year-old kids to 90-year-old senior citizens, and everyone in between. They can all play with pros given the right head start.

I always tell young pros, “Be nice to your playing partners” in Pro-Ams. Many a sponsorship deal has been struck just because a pro took an interest in their partner’s backswing.

Then, there’s celebrity Pro-Ams like the AT&T at Pebble Beach this week on the PGA Tour or the DP World Tour’s Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland. For a few days, high rollers and celebs get their golfing aspirations televised to a global audience. As a once-a-year thing, I think it’s great for the game. It helps expand viewership because someone might tune in to watch their favorite personality. The downside is pace of play tends to be on the slow side, but that’s only because of bigger fields spread across multiple courses. Some pros hate them, and if they complained, I always said, “If you don’t like it, don’t play.” There are plenty of other events on the schedule, and first alternate would probably give his left arm to tee it up (well, maybe not). I always enjoyed the format because, given my coaching background, helping golfers forced me to switch off between shots.

I’ve been fortunate to play both the Pebble beach and Dunhill events meeting some amazing characters along the way. From TV personalities to sports stars and successful business people. One year at the Dunhill my amateur partner was cricketing legend Steve Waugh. The other two players? Ian Woosnam and Ian Botham. The stories from two of cricket’s best were incredible, plus they were very handy with a golf club too.

Another year at the Dunhill I partnered Michael Fitzpatrick, an American gentleman who said, “If you ever head to the US and play the AT&T come stay with me”. When I followed up on his offer a few years later, little did I realize he lived on the 13^th hole at Pebble Beach. The view from my room each year there has never been surpassed. Fortuitously, Michael was also a member at Cypress Point up the road and we’d play there every year before the tournament. We still stay in touch and I'll always be grateful for Michael's generosity. 

A slightly embarrassing moment came when I had a late practice round one year at Pebble Beach. On the first tee hitting off before me was a guy dressed up in full Puma gear, almost Rickie Fowler-like. He ripped one down the fairway and started walking off so I yelled, "Do you mind if I join you?" He waved me up and after teeing off caught up with him down the fairway. I didn't recognise him and thought he was a pro playing on an invitation or something given his swing and the way he carried himself. We got chatting and he said he was an amateur playing here for the first time.

"What do you do?" I asked.

"I'm a musician" he said.

"Would I know any of your music?" I replied.

"Well, I have the number one song in the country at the moment, so possibly" he answered wryly.

Turns out he was Jake Owen, the country singer. Funny who you meet on the golf course. 

This week I’m sure we’ll see a variety of golf from the amateurs, some amazing and some not-so-amazing, mixed in with incredible drone shots of the Monterrey Peninsula. In the end, no matter the format, the Pro-Am will (and should) always be a part of professional golf because let’s face it…

Everyone wants to feel like a pro 😉

Cheers,

Nick