CHARLES SCHWAB CUP CHAMPIONSHIP AT HARDING PARK, SAN FRANCISCO
“A Golfer’s Love Story”
by Glennon E. Bazzle
(San Francisco)–November, 2013
The Charles Schwab Cup, which ends the season for the PGA Champions Tour, was held at the historic Harding Park Golf Course in San Francisco, California, October 31 to November 3, 2013. Similar to the FEDEX Cup on the PGA Tour, the Schwab Cup is held for the Top 30 money winners over the season, and only those 30 Players for that period are eligible to compete in this event.
The top 2 leaders in points going into the event were Kenny Perry and Bernhard Langer respectively. All Perry had to do was to finish in 5th place or better to win the Cup. Langer had to win the tournament (the Championship) and Perry had to finish worse than 5th place for Langer to win the Cup.
As it happened, Perry shot10 under par for the tournament to finish tied for 5th place, and Langer finished 11 under par to tie for 2nd place. So, Kenny Perry wins the Charles Schwab Cup and the big money.
But the player who played the best that week was Freddie Couples, taking 1st place with a winning score of 17 under par and bringing home a cool $440,000. He won the tournament, the Charles Schwab Championship.
Tony Perry
On Wednesday, October 30th while attending the Pro-Am tournament of the Cup Championship and observing the pros and their caddies, I noticed the only African American who was included as a part of the Cup event. It was Tony Perry. Tony was on the bag for Duffy Waldorf. When I asked him how long he had been a caddy, he said, “22 years, 20 with Duffy.” But he had also looped with other pro golfers such as David Toms and Tom Lehman, over a two-year period before forming a lasting relationship with Waldorf.
Above: Tony Perry (L) chats with reporter Glennon E. Bazzle.
Tony, who is 53-years old, says that his older brother, Ron Perry (63 years old) played for a while on the regular PGA tour. Tony, is a scratch golfer, has played on the Fairville State Golf Team in North Carolina and on the Mini-Tour. After four days of work at the Cup, Tony and his Pro player Duffy came in at five under par to finish tied for ninth place.
Above: Tony Perry on bag with Pro player Duffy Waldorf
I enjoyed meeting and interviewing Tony. He’s good people. To my knowledge, Tony is a rarity on the Pro Golf circuit. There are only a few African American caddies left on the PGA tours. That’s a shame.
Roving Reporter/Thursday and Friday, the 1st and 2nd rounds of the Charles Schwab
Aware of a golden opportunity, I did my usual tournament routine, watching players putting strokes, observing swing mechanics on the driving range, and walking a few holes around the course. Being held in San Francisco, this tournament was a little more unique than others, simply because of the diversity of nationalities in the Bay area.
Keith “Fig” Newton
The third round, on Saturday, started out pretty much the same as the previous rounds. But, instead of walking, I decided to go over to the merchandise tents and browse, have my golf swing analyzed, and try to win a vacation by participating in a promotion. And, by the way, introduce as many people as possible to yours truly, ‘the King of Swing,’ and to my book “Anatomy of the Perfect Golf Swing.”
Eventually, I made my way back to the first tee in time to catch the last four two-somes (golf pairings) go off. It was there that the most astounding, interesting and definitely one of the most pleasing experiences I’ve ever witnessed in over 50 years of being in, and around, golf happened. What was it that blew my mind?
Well, I’ll tell you. When the players of the last 4 groups would walk up to the first tee box, they all greeted one man with big smiles, warm handshakes, knuckle bumps, a pat on the back, and even a few hugs. Not only did ALL the players do this, but ALL the caddies, too; And then many tournament staffers. What made this so special was not that he was so unassuming, but that he is an African American.
Above: Keith “Fig” Newton, Director of Tournament Operations (R) with Schwab Cup Championship winner Freddie Couples (L)
I didn’t take my eyes off of him for the next 45 minutes. Who is this man? Why is he so respected? The questions were rolling in my head. You know I had to meet him, right? So, I walked over to the side of the tee box and got on the rope next to the tent where players had to pick up their score cards. I got his attention, introduced myself as “The King of Swing,” asked his name, and he said, “Fig.” I asked him another question that cracked him up. He said that we could talk after the last group teed off.
Above: (L) Keith “Fig” Newton, Director of Tournament Operations with Glennon E. Bazzle
When they left, we talked a few minutes and he said, “Let’s walk over toward the 18th green,” where his first group was finishing in half an hour. This is when I got to know who HE is and what HE does. He is Keith “Fig” Newton, Director of Tournament Operations for the PGA Champions Tour.
Keith joined the Champions Tour as a member of the Operations staff in 1991. His primary responsibilities centered around scoring the tournament which included training volunteers, supplying equipment, and processing and transferring all players scores and statistics to all media and affiliated media outlets. He also worked on sponsor related promotions.
Above: Keith “Fig” Newton at work inside the scoring tent
In 1995 Keith was promoted to Manager, and then, in 2005, to Director of Tournament Operations. Now, that I’ve learned who he is, another question followed: How did he get there? Of course, I wanted to know how he’d gotten involved in golf that enabled him to get to this position.
Come to find out, his journey began after he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from Louisiana State University (LSU) in 1982. From 1982 to 1988 he worked in radio and television in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he was producing and delivering daily sportscasts and covering all levels of local sports. In 1988 he became Assistant Director of Public Relations for the Indianapolis Colts prior to joining the PGA Tour/Champions Tour (1991).
When not working 26 of the 29 events on the Champions Tour, Keith and his wife, Barbara, live in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, and in Nashua, New Hampshire.
Keith “Fig” Newton is the Alpha and the Omega of Operations on the Champions Tour. “Fig” is a BAAAAAAD Man!!! So, when the Champions Tour is in your area, make sure you go, say hi to “Fig” and tell him the “King of Swing” sent you.
Charles Schwab Cup Championship
Sunday/ the 4th and final round
Michael Carr
And unexpectedly, at the first tee box, I met another African American who plays a major role in the Cup Championship—even though he was behind the scenes.
Above: Michael Carr, Volunteer Division Chairman
He is Michael Carr. His title with the Schwab Cup is Host Committee Member, Division Chairman and Committee Chairman for Golf Events. We did not get a chance to talk very much but it was another pleasurable, eye-opening experience to meet an African American who was prominent in the success of the golf tournament.
Above: Schwab Cup Championship winner Freddie Couples and Schwab Cup winner Kenny Perry
Moral of the story?
The moral of the story is that when you go to a PGA, LPGA or Champions Tour event, you might see only one ‘acknowledged’ African American player, i.e. Jim Thorpe, if he is playing. However, there are many more of us contributing “big time” to the success of these events. REMEMBER: In Golf as in Life, failure to hit the Mark is never fault of the Target. To improve your Aim, improve your “Self”.
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ABOUT GLENNON E. BAZZLE
Glennon E. Bazzle
aka “The King of Swing,” is author of Anatomy of the Perfect Golf Swing, founder and CEO of Global Golf Institute, LLC. He may be contacted at email golfswing_2000@yahoo.com
cell phone: 504-583-6842
TheGolfSwingKing.com
Photos by contributing photographer:
Myrna Moline, Global Golf Institute, LLC
