This thread brings up some memories, and I had to go into a storage closet to drag out some old photos, back when I was a kid and my hair wasn't gray! I met Daly at the 97 Open, where the police provided player security. What a treat. Practice Round 2 (where these photos were taken) I was assigned to the foursome of John Daly, Greg Norman, Dennis Trixler, and Fuzzy Zoeller if I recall correctly. A 7 hour practice round inside the ropes with this crew. Just hilarious, especially Zoeller. The gambling was outrageous among this foursome. Daly was great to be around, and I told him he had to tee off using a water bottle at 10, which he did to the delight of the crowd. (see photo, it was the lead in to ESPN's coverage that evening, him blasting a shot off a water bottle tee). He was so unlike many of the golfers who were simply pricks, who we met over the years when the Kemper, AT& T National (Tiger Woods Tournament) and a subsequent US Open came to Congressional again in 2011. Give me a name and I'll tell you how they behaved. Human, or prick. Daly was a class act, and I remember him asking me "Hey Tom, do you mind if Mr. C. walks inside the ropes with me?" I had no idea who Mr. C. was, other than some very distinguished, older gentleman who looked like he was worth a few million. Of course, I later learned Mr. C. was Ely Callaway, of Callaway golf. When we were taking photos after the round with the golfers (today known as a selfie?) I observed Mr. C. just standing by himself, and nobody wanted a photo with him. His eyes brightened when I asked for one with him. He gave me his address and told me to mail it to him when I got it developed (something you young people have no idea about - you couldn't just print a photo) and he would autograph it. I complied, and of course about 2 weeks later after I had mailed it to him, I was in the shower getting ready to go to work when my wife said "Some guy named Mr. Callaway is on the phone and said he wants to make your golf game better. Did you contact some salesman?" She had no clue. I jumped on that phone. Mr. C. then told me he was sending the photo back with an autograph, and one of his assistants had a few questions for me. Next thing I know, the assistant was asking me how tall I was, what flex I liked, etc etc etc (I didn't golf) and within a week, I had a brand new set of Callaway irons and woods, including the "latest" invention, one of the original "Big Bertha" drivers. What a guy! Just because someone asked him for a photo with him. Yes, what a week. I was also assigned Daly in the 2d round, and as we made the turn, he said "Tom, we need to go into the locker room." I'm thinking "WTF? he has 9 more hole to play. Maybe he needs to take a crap?" We walked into the locker room, he changed his shoes, grabbed his stuff, and had me take him to the back parking lot where his bad ass Razorback orange pick up was parked. Yep....he drove his pick up to the U.S. Open! He got in, told me to mail him the photo to his residence if I wanted an autograph, and away he went....his infamous "escape" at the 97 Open, mid-round. This almost beat my day 1 practice round assignment. The foursome of Jack Nicklaus, Gary Nicklaus, Greg Norman and for the life of me, I can't remember who the 4th was on this practice round. Jack? Assigned to him? Incredible learning experience, walking with that guy inside the ropes for about a 7-8 hour practice round. Just a class act. He told me "We have to give back. These fans made this Tour what it is today, and some of the younger players on tour really need to learn this." He was, of course, referring to Tiger Woods, who was playing in his first professional U.S. Open and of course, behaved like a jerk that week, early on. A class A jack off, for sure. In any event, after hours off pushing the crowds (the ropes would collapse with the throng wanting a piece of Jack) the next day the local paper had a photo of me clearing the way for Jack, through the crowds. Tons of ink on my uniform and body, as everyone had a pen in his face. And he signed tons and tons, as he tried to walk between the holes. I recall leaving the locker room at Congressional, going upstairs and walking through the lobby with Jack, and about 30 people screaming "Jack! Jack!" and collapsing on him. (Fans were not allowed inside the clubhouse, these were just workers.) He stopped, signed, and then said to me "Tom, if you think this is something, just wait until we get outside." So out the front door we walked, towards the practice tee about 200 yards away. I think it took an hour to get through that throng.....instantly over 1000 people attacking us as we tried to move towards the practice round. At that point I thought I would never want to be a celebrity. At the end of the day with him, I was certain.
Yes, I have many stories about what jerks some of these guys are, some hilarious, especially what we did to Woods.....but that's for a beer around the campfire....you all would love that one. Then, I was assigned to Jack again, for his final round (he made the cut). Having been with him on his practice round, first round, and final round, I got acquainted with one of his other sons, Jackie, who was his caddie. I asked Jackie, as Jack putted out at 18, if I could have the ball. Of course, he got me the ball, signed by his dad. My thinking, of course, was I now had the last ball ever struck by Jack Nicklaus in a U.S. Open. The USGA gave him an exemption to play that year, and word was it would be his last U.S. Open. I figured that ball would be worth something one day...then a year later the USGA exempted him for another U.S. Open. Oh well......Damn I'm old!
