Tom Lehman looks back at 1996 rout

Lehman

Lehman. When Oral Roberts had its dominating golf teams in 1980 and 1981 under coach Bill Brogden, famously with four by ken macleod stars in Bill Glasson, Joey Raslooks to rekindle sett, Jim Kane and Bryan Norton, Lehman toyed with the idea of transferring from Minnesota magic at Southern Hills to be the fifth starter. “The idea of it was alluring,” Lehman said. “I was thinking I would like to go somewhere and

Tom Lehman’s place in the to be a great putter to go low as he gave play more year round. I was following all storied history of magnifi- himself numerous easy birdie opportunities the results and knew that ORU could use a cent events at Southern Hills each round. fifth man. My junior and senior years would Country Club is secure. “Starting in about 1993, my game was have been the two where they had that re-

He came to Tulsa for the season-ending really rising,” Lehman said. “From the mid- ally powerful team.” Tour Championship in 1996 as one of the 1990s into the early 2000s I drove the ball Getting a full ride at Minnesota and getworld’s best players and cemented that great. I hit my irons phenomenally ting to play every event, Lehman eventuwith a command four-round routing of the well and gave myself so ally decided to stay put. That didn’t stop elite 30-man field. Having already won the many chances that him from teasing Brogden when he spoke Open Championship and finished second when I was put- at a church in Tulsa during the 1996 event. in the U.S. Open Championship for the ting well, I could not “The first thing he did was remind everysecond consecutive year, Lehman’s star only win but win by a lot.” body that I blew a chance to win two nawas definitely on the rise. After a rain-delayed fi- tional championships,” said Brogden, who

Yes, there nal round 71, Lehm- was sitting in the front row that morning. was this an finished at 12-under “I don’t know how close it actually 19-year-old 268, a stroke better than came to happening but we did named Ti- Nick Price’s dominating per- talk,” Brogden said. “I don’t ger Woods formance in the 1994 know what to say other in the field, PGA Champion- than I screwed up. someone who ship. He won by six Tom was a was about to strokes over Faxon. change every- He had the lowone’s expecta- est stroke average tions for future on Tour, won the success. In that money title and was moment, how- Player of the Year. ever, Lehman It could have easseemed invin- ily been Lehman’s cible. His third- second victory in round 6-under the Tulsa area. In 64, keyed by 1991, as a littlefour consecu- known pro from tive birdies to begin the back Give me some room, Vijay! Minnesota, he nearly won the Ben nine, left him nine shots clear of Vijay Singh Hogan Tulsa Open at The Golf and Brad Faxon with the rest of the field a Club of Oklahoma, losing in a blur in the rear-view mirror. two-hole playoff to Frank Con-

Using his powerful draw, Lehman’s driv- ner. ing was accurate and long and his iron play Winning in Tulsa also could was so precise at that time he didn’t need have been a homecoming for

Tom Lehman at the 76th Senior PGA Championship at French Lick

wonderful kid, now he’s a wonderful man. it from there out. He was one of the few restored Southern Hills. He tied He’s rock solid.” guys I’ve ever met who could seemingly for 24th in the 2001 U.S. Open at

Now a volunteer assistant coach at ORU, exceed every expectation. Southern Hills and tied for 69th in Brogden and Lehman are long-time friends. “There were a lot of tournaments where the 2007 PGA Championship at age 48. Lehman lives in Scotts- you would play well “Anytime you get a chance to play a clasdale as does Brogden’s and normally win but sic course it’s a thrill,” said Lehman, a noted daughter and the two of course he’s winning golf course architect in his own right. “Perry have kept in touch over every third tournament Maxwell did such a great job with the routing the years. and that doesn’t leave a there and it’s a great challenge for the players.

Lehman finished in lot for everybody else. “The course chips away at you rather the top 25 of 19 of 23 When I think about than punches you in the face. If you get out events he entered in going against Tiger, it of position, you make a bogey. Suddenly that dominant 1996 sea- wasn’t that his driving you’re 4 over. That’s the genius of those old son. He would only win was that great, but his classic designs, they have the ability to peone PGA Tour event iron play was amazing. nalize you by a ¼ or ½ shot. It’s quite an 18after that year to finish And mentally he was hole mental test. If I can have a really good with five victories, but so strong. There were week driving the ball, you feel like you can has won 12 times in a a lot of rounds where I attack it somewhat. But it takes a complete Champions Tour career felt like I was playing game to win on a course like this.” that began in 2009, in- better and he ended up If Phil Mickelson plays, Lehman will cluding the Senior PGA beating me. No matter also have had a hand in that. He pulled Championship in 2010. what it took he had that Mickelson aside for a quiet talk after the

Woods is one reason extra something special funeral of Tom Watson’s wife Hilary in victories were scarcer At the 1996 Tour Championship and could beat you in so December 2019 and discussed with him after 1996. many ways.” how much his presence would mean to the

“It was obvious when he made the field Now 25 years removed from his pinna- senior circuit and its future viability. Mickin 1996 after only playing about six events cle year, Lehman remains one of the most elson, who until that time had cast doubt that there was something special about respected and well-liked players in the on his participation, responded by playing him,” Lehman said. “While he didn’t play game. He stays extremely fit and is look- and winning two events in 2020 and has well at Southern Hills, of course he proved ing forward to the challenge of playing the played in a third event this spring.