One of my favorite memories of Pebble Beach is of the pro-am in February 1990. My dad accompanied me as my amateur partner, and we made the cut. (I love that about golf: It's one of the only sports in which a professional athlete can compete alongside his dad.) We were in the last group on Sunday coming down the stretch. I approached the eighteenth tee, a dramatic par five that bends around the bay, knowing that I needed to make par to win. I let my dad play first. He hit a real duck hook, right into the ocean. Luckily I hit a great shot down the fairway, setting me up for a promising second. As we walked off the tee, my dad turned to me and said, 'What should I do?' We were no longer in the running to win the team portion of the event, so I suggested he pick up and walk down the fairway, take it all in. The crowds were cheering, the sun was shining, and a crisp breeze was coming in off the ocean. He paused and said, 'That's the best advice you've given me all day.' He picked up and watched me win the tournament, and was waiting at the green to give me a hug after my final putt. I have a son of my own, so I know how special that is. Someday I hope to play Pebble with him, another generation sharing the game together on a beautiful, simply unforgettable course. I'm playing on the Champions Tour now, so I missed this year's pro-am for the first time in twenty-two years. But I'll be at Pebble for a senior-circuit event this month. I can never stay away for long.
For more information on Pebble Beach Golf Links, visit pebblebeach.com.
