Publisher's Pitch

The afternoon with my hero Tom Watson was better than I could have imagined

The last three months, for me, have felt like being a passenger on a bullet train. In 30 years in the business, I’ve never experienced the speed and weight of a first quarter quite like this one. I’ve learned a lot and benefitted greatly from the pace and opportunities.

The weight and ballast in my ‘backpack’ so to speak since January, has been dense and kept me rooted – that is a certainty. I am pleased to say that I’ve now set the pack down and feel the incredible lightness of being once again — waxing retrospective on all I’ve seen, done and collaborated on.

For those that have read my ‘stardate logs’ here over the years, you’re aware we also produce spring golf shows in St. Louis, Kansas City, Portland, Seattle and Hartford, Conn.

I’ve got my fill of golf this year and enjoyed the ride. I’m in awe of my teammates that endure this odyssey with me each year.

Of all that I experienced in 2023, there’s one moment that will be forever etched in my memory. We had the pleasure of having eight-time major champion Tom Watson grace our main stage at the Kansas City Golf Show Feb. 25.

This was sacred for me since I grew up in KC and Watson was the biggest sports star there — on ‘par’ with George Brett, Jan Stenerud or Danny Manning.

At our shows, I host the stage, so it was my honor to produce a one-hour program with Tom and the Director of the First Tee of Kansas City Tony Blake without whom none of this would have happened. They were there to promote Watson Links, which is an ingenious program where they are building youth short courses all over KC.

Tom’s heart is all in on this as he speaks passionately about it.

After their impressive mission outline, I was able to steer the session into an Inside the Actor’s Studio style and touch on some of his career highlights as man and boy.

Flat out, from 1975-85, there was no player more dominant. He’s the only American to win five Open Championships — his Major victories in Scotland and England are his calling card. His two green jackets and Masters wins in 1977 and 1981, the 39 PGA Tour career titles and the chip in birdie on 17 at the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach in 1982 make Watson one of the top 10 golfers of all time.

That image of him holing from the rough on that windy day on Monterey Bay is right up there for me with Jack Nicklaus’ ‘Yes Sir’ putt at the 1986 Masters.

I asked Tom on stage a question I’ve had the chance to pose to Hale Irwin, Fuzzy Zoeller and a few other icons with whom I’ve been one-on-one. “Of all the moments in your incredible career, which is the one red zone shining moment you’re most proud of where you rose to the occasion?”

He didn’t bat an eye and we were expecting him to say the Pebble chip in or the 1977 Open Championship ‘Duel in the Sun’ — both where he narrowly catapulted past Nicklaus for the win.

Tom stumped us all and shared something way better — pairing perfectly with why he was there. It was his vic- tory at the 1964 Kansas City Match Play as a 15-year-old, beating the best adult players in the region and making his first mark on the golf world.

Emotionally he said if he was good enough to beat them as a boy, maybe he’d be good enough to someday be a pro or be as fine a player as his mentor Stan Thirsk (longtime head pro at Kansas City Country Club).

Shortly after sharing that, the place erupted in applause and just five feet from me, a misty-eyed Watson shared his utter respect for Thirsk and the role he played in his life — overcome with emotion which we all felt and heard. The crowd rose to the occasion and THAT made the day for everyone involved.

To play a part on a stage with my idol, enjoy it with my friend of 36 years Dave “Sheeves” Arnold, my co-event producers Tiffanie Neyens and Taryn Hauglie and others in the crowd that were a part of my youth was more than I can aptly express. It was a red-letter day.

To close out the session, Tom took a final question from a young man and his father, which was “what’s the best advice you can give a young golfer?” Tom’s answer was immediate and simple. “Play for something when you compete.” He shared play for anything. “A dollar, a candy bar, but play for something.” Tom intimated that it’s not just about winning the prize and having something on the line. It’s how to accept the loss and lose graciously – respectfully.

If anyone saw Tom Watson win or lose his reaction was always the same. A humble, assured man with that recognizable smile, hat off, and his hand out first accepting victory or his being vanquished. Back in the day, if you turned down the sound and couldn’t hear Jay Randolph or Ken Venturi on your TV, and just saw the final putt that decided winner from loser, it was hard to tell if he won or lost.

That’s the mark of a gentleman hero – that’s who we got to share an afternoon with — I will never forget it. I hope you enjoy spring as much as I will. Soak in the long days and AS ALWAYS, TAKE IT EASY.