BY JAMES BEATTY
EDITOR’S NOTE:
I had the distinct privilege and opportunity to participate in a unique interview with Tim O’Neal and Tommy Schaff prior to their travel to compete in the Genesis Open at the Rivera Country Club in California next week. Tiger Woods recently announced that Tim O’Neal, the 2018 Advocates Pro Golf Association Lexus Cup Player of the Year, would receive the Charlie Sifford exemption to play in The Genesis Open. Tim’s golf buddy and friend of many years, Tommy Schaff, will be his caddy.
Dr. Michael Cooper, Chairman of the We Are Golf Diversity Task Force and a member of the Board of Directors of the Advocates Tour invited me to participate. I am so grateful he did.
Readers, you are in for an insightful treat as you read how this duo has grown over the years. You will also gain a perspective of how the journey of golf creates lifelong bonds at all levels. I am certain after reading this you will be even more excited and rooting for Tim and Tommy next week. Please join me in wishing these golf buddies and life brothers the best.
On Friday, February 8, 2019, I conducted a phone interview with Tim O’Neal and Tommy Schaff. One week prior to the interview, Tiger Woods announced Tim as the 2019 recipient of the Charlie Sifford exemption to compete in the Genesis Open, to be played February 14-17 at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, CA.
Golf’s major publications have carried the story, and deservedly so. But I know Tim O’Neal personally, and I know there are stories behind the story, as they say. So, I wanted the story of Tim and his favorite golfing buddy, Tommy Schaff, to be shared with our audience at the African American Golfers Digest.
I asked my friend James Beatty to join the conference call, too, and help me capture this story with all the flavor and enthusiasm that it deserves. James Beatty is the Executive Editor of the magazine. Thankfully, he accepted my invitation, and we have co-authored this interview.
Dr. Michael Cooper
All of us that play golf hold the special relationships among friends near and dear to our hearts. It’s the camaraderie that makes the game so great. The relationships and stories we share with these special individuals; our golfing buddies that span across our lifetimes. They are the stories behind the stories, in my opinion, and tales worth sharing.
I know from experience that our players…player’s like Tim O’Neal, share unique cultural experiences, too, and the African American Golfers Digest offers us a platform to share them with a targeted market outside of golf’s mainstream.
What follows is our interview with Tim O’Neal and Tommy Schaff:
Cooper: Gentlemen, how did you start playing golf and at what point did you fall in love with it?
Tim: Both my parents played golf. I started playing with plastic clubs at around five years old. I got real clubs at about seven or eight. My Dad didn’t allow me to play on regular golf courses until I improved my skills, so I played on par three golf courses.
As I got better my Dad took me a regulation golf course. I started playing forward of the lady tees, until I was good enough and strong enough to move back and play from the lady tee markers. When I could hit it even longer, I moved back to the regular tees, and finally the back tees.
I was probably about 14 years old and in high school before I started taking golf seriously. At the time I played and loved baseball. During my first years in high school golf and baseball season overlapped…they were during the same time, so I had to make a choice. I chose golf!
Cooper: Did you have any brothers or sisters. And if so, did they play golf?
Tim: No, I am an only child.
Tommy: My story is kind of the same. Growing up I played baseball too. Really, I played all sports…baseball, football. We lived in Ohio. When I was about seven years old, we moved to Savannah., GA My Dad got a job at Gulfstream. They built private jets. A lot of the guys he worked with hunted or played golf. Dad didn’t hunt, but one day they invited him to start playing golf. He started playing and progressed to after-work golf leagues.
There was a school just outside my backyard. One day when I was about 16, I came home from school and there was Dad out back hitting golf balls in the schoolyard. My brother and I went and joined Dad in the back. I still wasn’t so sure if I really liked it, but my brother, who is three years younger than me, started playing with Dad.
Tommy Schaff (in powder blue) walks the greens with Tim O’Neal. (photo courtesy of Dr. Michael Cooper)
About a month later Dad and my brother invited me out to Beacon Park Golf Course to play with them. Beacon Park is the municipal course Tim and I grew up on. As I watched people teeing off on the first hole, I had second thoughts. I said, no, I’m not going to do this today, not in front of all these people. So, I went back home and hit balls in the schoolyard for about a month. Eventually, I said you know, I can probably do this!
The three of us went out to play and they both beat me. It drove me crazy! So, I played more and more. But it wasn’t until I got out of high school that I really started to take it seriously. It was right around then that I met Tim.
I’d met Tim when I was about 14. We didn’t really know who each other were. But I knew he lived next door to a kid whose Dad sponsored our baseball team, plus I sort of remembered him from baseball. But I didn’t really know him. I just knew he was the black kid who played golf. I was like what, a black kid who played golf (laughter). A couple of years later, I ran into Tim at the golf course, and I’ve been following him around ever since.
Cooper: Are the two of you the same age?
Tim: No, I’m two years older.
Cooper: Thank you for that. Now I can see how the relationship started. And through the Advocates Pro Tour I’ve been fortunate to witness how it has evolved over the years.
Tim: I had my first exposure to you at the National Minority Collegiate Golf Championship in Cleveland, OH. At the time, Tiger Woods was a high school senior, and he was scheduled to put on an exhibition at the event.
Tim: Oh, yes, I remember that like it was yesterday…
Cooper: I was there with my close friend Kennie Sims. We were there supporting a group of young golfers from Rogers Park Golf Course in Tampa.,Fl. Word was that Eddie Payton, your golf coach at Jackson State University, took exception to a high school student performing an exhibition at the college championship event, especially since he had a player on his squad named Tim O’Neal.
I recall that Jackson State’s team did not stay around to view the exhibition. Kennie and I did, and it was quite impressive. But I also knew I had to see who this guy Tim O’Neal was. Tell me more about that college experience at Jackson State with Eddie Payton.
Tim: Well, Coach never said why, and I never knew the reason, but we could tell he was not too happy about it. You’re right…Tiger was getting ready to do the clinic as we were getting ready to leave. We all wanted to see him! I remember that. We all wanted to see the clinic, but we left, and I didn’t know why. I remember the weather being bad, and then Tiger came out there.
Clarence Rogers, right, then president of the National Minority Golf Scholarship Fund, presents Tiger Woods with a plaque for his exhibition at the National Minority Collegiate Golf Championship in 1994. (photo courtesy of Clarence Rogers)
But Eddie Payton…you know, I went to Jackson State and I almost left. I almost left because I didn’t like it. Freshmen could not have cars at the time. I had a car, but I couldn’t use it at Jackson State. So, I couldn’t get around, and I didn’t like it. When I came home for the summer, I told my parents I wasn’t going back. I’m going somewhere else…
We went and looked at more schools, and I decided I would go to a junior college in Tifton, GA. It’s where Boo Weekly went to school. I did not know that at the time, but we would have been there at the same time. About a month or so before school was about to start back, I informed Coach Payton that I wasn’t coming back. He called my parents and they talked on the phone for what seemed like two hours.
I remember sitting at the dinner table and asking my parents what they wanted me to do. They said give it (meaning Jackson State) one more try. So, I went back and that was pretty much the end of the story…I ended up staying.
Coach was very protective of us, and he didn’t take any crap. You know, we were always in uniform. We had all the things we needed. I enjoyed my time at school. It seemed like those four years flew by!
Cooper: Do you stay in touch with Eddie Payton or any of your teammates?
Tim: Yes, Coach is retired now but I still talk to him every now and then. The guy who I was closest to on the team was AJ Montecinos. We were like me and Tommy. We practiced together. We played practice rounds together when others didn’t want to play. We were always together.
After graduation, AJ caddied on the LPGA Tour for a little bit. Then he caddied on the PGA Tour for a while too. He caddied for YE Yang when they beat Tiger for the PGA Championship, as well as when Yang won the Honda. He also caddied for Kevin Streelman for 4-5 years and he had a few wins too. I still talk to AJ often. He’s actually going to be caddying for KJ Choi next week in Los Angeles. I’ve already talked to him and he’s told me some things about the golf course. I look forward to seeing him there. There’s a few more guys that I stay in touch with.
Cooper: Again, for me those are the stories that have special meaning to me. Those relationships that last a lifetime like the ones you’re describing. I’m glad to learn that you and Eddie Payton still talk. And I can tell you that for me, a guy on the outside looking in, it was clear that Jackson State had their stuff together. You could see the team unity and you guys could really play.
Tim: Yeah, yeah, yeah…Coach was very disciplined. He was one of those guys who if we were supposed to leave at six o’clock, and you get there at 5:55, then you’re late. He left a guy one time because of that. Always early and prepared.
James Beatty: Tim, what were your reactions when you heard that Jackson State had canceled its golf program?
Tim: Well, I was disappointed. When I first heard about it, I wasn’t sure what to believe, so I called Coach. He explained everything to me. I’ve heard that other HBCU schools have had funding problems too. It’s sad. It means some of our kids can’t go away to college to play golf. It’s terrible!
Cooper: I agree that it’s terrible. They don’t have enough places to develop their talent. There are many reasons, but let’s save that topic for another time.
So Tommy, did you play golf in college and were you and Tim close during that time.
Tommy: No sir I did not play golf in college. When Tim went off to his second year in college, I actually took his place at work at Southbridge Golf Course. It was the nicest golf course in Savannah, at the time, and there were a bunch of good players. If you played with the guys, there was always money at stake. I learned how to play golf real quick, because I didn’t like losing my money! Other sports came natural to me, but I had to work at golf. I learned a lot from Tim back then, and I am still learning from him today.
Cooper: So Tim, was Tommy caddying for you when you won on the PGA Latinoamérica Tour?
Tim: No sir.
Tommy: No, that picture I sent you was actually Tim caddying for me during PGA Latinoamérica Tour qualifying school a couple of years ago.
Tim O’Neal caddies for Tommy Schaff at PGA Latinoamérica Tour Q-school. (Photo courtesy of Tommy Schaff)
Cooper: OK, so the two of you reciprocate who caddies from time to time.
Tim/Tommy: Yes, yes we do.
Tommy: Tim is a good caddy too. It’s amazing that I play great whenever he caddies for me.
Cooper: So Tim, did you get paid when you caddy for Tommy?
Tim: No (laughter)!
Cooper: (Still laughing) Wow! So, you play better when he caddies and you don’t even have to pay. That’s great!
Tommy: Normally neither of us is in position to pay when the other caddies, so…
Cooper: Now that’s true friendship!
Tommy: I’ve caddied for Tim a lot off and on throughout the years. I think it was 2008 when I caddied for him the entire year on the Web.com Tour. So that was a pretty cool experience. We both were kind of down to our last straw financially.
We had played this tour that was in the Hilton Head area. We finally had this tour started right here in our area, and we thought it was a cool thing. And the guy who started the tour owed me about $12,000, and he skipped town with my money.
Cooper/James Beatty: Whoa-a-a-a…
Tommy: I never heard from him again, and so I was at a crossroads. Was I going to go back to work at a golf course, which I didn’t really want to do? Then, Tim needed a caddy and I didn’t have nothing going on, so I hit the road with him that year. He got the discounted caddy rate (laughter), so…
All: (group laughter)
Cooper: So how close are you two? Are your families close? Do your kids know each other?
Tommy: I’ll answer that question, because his kids know way too much about me than they should know (group laughter).
Tim: Well, yeah, the year Tommy traveled with me in 2008, my little man was probably 3-4 years old, and my daughter was eight or nine. So, yeah, he knows my family. Yes, I know his family, but now we live almost 45 minutes away from each other, so I don’t get to see the kids regularly. My daughter is 14 now and Tommy’s little man is seven.
Tommy: Yeah, so now when we go on the road, and I Facetime, my son asks where is Mr. Tim? He always wants to see Mr. Tim! So, yeah, it’s cool…
Cooper: Yes, that is cool. Quite the relationship, and it’s through golf, which I think is great! So, what’s your week like next week? When will you guys arrive?
Tim: We’ll get there Sunday night, and then a pro-am on Monday. And then..ummm, yeah, it’s going to be crazy. The media and all that kind of stuff. I have to get my mind right for all of that. You know, the golf part I am not worried about, it’s just an adjustment because you’re not used to all the people.
The first time I experienced that was 2015 in the US Open at Chambers Bay. I qualified for that and it’s different, you know. I’ll see a bunch of guys that I know, but, you know, I just will have to get as comfortable as possible as soon as possible, you know.
Cooper: Yeah, I heard something similar to that from Percy Hall a couple of years ago, when his son Kevin got the exemption. He told me about the challenges of finding time to focus on the task at hand, away from the media and hoopla surrounding the occasion.
So, do you have partners already arranged for practice rounds? Are you planning to play with Harold Varner, Cameron, Tony Finau, Tiger…any of them?
Tim: No, nothing scheduled yet, but I know quite a number of the players already. I’m sure all of that will begin to happen real soon. But right now I don’t know all my media obligations and all that stuff.
That’s the stuff that I am not too comfortable with, but I know I have to do it. But to answer your question, I know that will happen as we get closer to the event. It’s the same thing that happened at Chamber Bay…guys were reaching out to get together for a practice round.
Cooper: Good stuff! Tommy, how hard is it for you to not want to grab a club and hit a few shots when you get to golf course like Riviera?
Tommy: (Laughter). I’m not even sure yet. I know I caddied for him some time ago at Harbor Town. Tim had gotten an exemption. That was back in like 2005. I was really young in my golf career. But now, there are so many guys out there that I have seen or played with throughout my career. Different tours and different qualifiers. Yeah, it will be a different experience this week, but at the end of the day, I have to keep my composure, because I am there for Tim.
It’s not about Tommy this week, but I’ll be like, what’s up Tiger, you want to play (laughter). You know, that’s just me! (More laughter)
You know, really it’s going to be a cool experience, but I’ve already been trying to talk to myself and reminding to don’t act like a fool. You know, just another day at the golf course, even though I know it’s going to be a circus. And you know, not being selfish, but I hope it will be a learning experience for me too.
You know, I’ve been pretty motivated this past winter. I’ve played pretty well and had some good finishes. I’ve been pretty motivated this year, because you know I’m not getting any younger. I’ve upped my goals to be even better. I’ve had some successes on some of the smaller tours. I’ve just missed Monday qualifiers and had other near misses.
I said dang it, in 2019 I am going to play in something major like a Web.com or PGA Tour event! Something worth it…something big, you know. So hopefully this will light a fire under my butt, but at the end of the day I have to remain cool and not call out Tiger, offering him two-up per side. (Laughter)
RELATED ARTICLE: James Black: In The Zone
Cooper: So, I am intrigued that you are so motivated for 2019! When we were in Los Angeles last week, I was shocked, but pleased, when you told me that you and Tim had been working with James Black; one of our true legends. I called James that evening. I told him that the two of you had been showering tributes and love his way. I could tell over the phone how much pride it gave him and the gratitude.
So, tell me about that. How did that come about?
Tim: We started working with another instructor about five years ago. A guy named Bill Currance. He learned from James Black. Bill would always talk about James Black. I’m really reluctant about trusting golf instructors. It takes me time to believe what they are talking about. Bill helped me fix a few things going on with my golf swing.
Fast forward, and I knew another guy who played for Fayetteville State. Guy named Terrain Gill. We played against each other in college. He and I stayed in touch. Terrain is from Charlotte. He always mentioned James Black when we talked over the phone.
I only knew about James Black through reading Uneven Lies, the book written by Pete McDaniel. Read about him and heard about him. All good stuff, you know. So, one day early last year, Terrain called me, and he had James Black on the phone.
I started talking to James Black as we were watching a golf tournament. And James said see that right there…that’s why that ball went left. This led me to asking him more questions and it went on from there. He made things seem really simple and I understood what he was saying.
I’d actually met James Black a few years ago, while on the driving range at Rogers Park Golf Course in Tampa. It was at an Advocates event. He was saying something about my swing, but I’m not looking for advice when I’m at a golf tournament. So, honestly, what he was saying at that time went in one ear and out the other (laughter).
When I was on the phone with him, though, he started breaking it down…talking about what your muscles are doing, this and that. I went to the range the next day, and I hit it unbelievable! So, now I started talking to him even more, of course. That was the start of our relationship.
Cooper: Wow, that’s incredible! JB is a walking piece of our history. And he can get deep with you…he can get spiritual and take you deeper than most.
Tommy: Oh yeah, he is real deep! He’s definitely helping me. Like Tim said, we ran into him the last year we played Rogers Park. We were on the range, and unlike Tim, when we’re on the range I hear too much. My mind the past few years has been, like, what the heck is going on.
We’d been working with Bill Currance, like Tim said. Love Bill to death, you know, but we’d butted heads a lot over the years. He helped me, and he meant well, but I was still seeking something more.
Anyway, I when I was talking to Mr. Black on the range it was something different than what Bill and others were saying. I was like dang…and then he hit a ball. I mean, he just picked the 7-iron out of my bag and hit it, and I went DAMN!
Cooper: Wait a minute…James Black is over 70-years old. He hit a ball and made you go DAMN???
James Black, right, with Craig Bowen, center, and John Merchant at Rogers Park GC in 2010. (photo courtesy of Dr. Michael Cooper)
Tommy: Yes! James hit a ball and I went, dang, that sounds like Tim’s! Maybe he does know what he’s talking about…
So, I got a call from Tim. He was headed to the range and he told me about the phone conversation with James Black. I was, like, this must be for real, because Tim doesn’t ordinarily talk about an instructor like that. Tim was headed to the driving range and he sounded like a little kid again…he was excited! So, I told Tim that I was not getting another golf lesson until I saw James Black one time. I just knew I had to see him one time and see what happens.
So, at the beginning of the year, Tim and I drove down to Rogers Park and spent about 90 minutes with Mr. Black. It blew my mind! We went out to play a practice round, and I shot a bogey-free 68.
It was amazing! I’m still trying to get used to some of the stuff we’ve been working on, but I can definitely see how much he is helping. I see the light at the end of the tunnel…
Now I talk to Mr. Black almost every other day! And he don’t care who I am, what color I am. He just wants to help me play good golf. It’s sort of cool…
Cooper: James is a good man! So, let me give the two of you some credit. Both of you are role models to some of the younger guys on our Advocates Pro Tour. I see the way they talk to you, how they act when you’re around. I’m always at the scoreboard, so I hear the questions and respect they have for you when you’re not around.
For example, one time we’re at the scoreboard and Clay Myers finishes. You guys know Clay. First thing he does is ask, what did Tim shoot. I call Tim the closer. I don’t know for certain, but I’d bet that his final round stroke average is the best on our tour.
And he closed in the final round like he always does…shot 67, or something like that, and passed most in the field. Clay goes DANG IT, that guy does it every time (laughter). That’s the sort of admiration and respect they have for you guys.
So what pearls of wisdom do you guys have for those younger guys?
Tim: Well, thank you for saying that those guys look up to us. I remember when I first got out of school and turned pro. Back then, it was the Nike Tour. So, I’m right out of school, and I get 4-5 Nike Tour exemptions. I’m out there wide-eyed, you know, and I don’t know anybody.
I always tell guys to feel free to call me and ask me anything, because when I started, I felt alone…I was the only one there, and I had to learn on the fly. I wish I could have had someone to talk to, or ask questions, or run things by. Little things…travel, all that stuff that I had to learn on the fly.
So, we travel with Marcus Manley sometimes, too, and we talk. I always leave that door open; always try to be there if one of the guys has a question. I know what it’s like to not have someone to talk to. I wish I had someone when I first started out.
I told my Mom the other day, if I had met James Black years ago, there’s no doubt in my mind that I’d be on the PGA Tour right now.
Cooper/Beatty: Really, WOW…
Tim: (Excited). Michael, I’ve worked with some of the best. I worked with Butch Harmon for a year…for one year. And James Black has told me stuff that Butch, or nobody else, has ever touched on.
Cooper: WOW, that’s a helluva compliment…
Tommy: Yeah, it’s pretty impressive…
Cooper: Yes, quite impressive. And I don’t know if it’s coincidence or not, but you mentioned Marcus Manly, and him traveling with you. Not sure if it’s coincidence or not, but Marcus just finished tied for second in the Advocates event last week in Los Angeles. Made himself a much needed $4,000.
Tommy: Yeah, so that’s the thing. Marcus traveled with us, and me and Tim stress routine. I’ve been up today since 5:15am. Me and Tim believe in getting up early, get into our daily routine. Show up at the golf course and put in your time.
Tim O’Neal swings while Tommy Schaff observes. (photo courtesy of Dr. Michael Cooper)
Cooper: Yeah, I notice you guys, so I know the younger ones notice you too. Both of you are always prepared. At the golf course early. Eat right. Working out. Loosen up. I see you, so I know they see you too.
Tommy: Yeah, I told Marcus last week to not take the shuttle to the driving range. I walked to help loosen up. All those little things add up.
Tim: Yes, I try my best to do the right things. It’s hard to eat right on the road, but when I’m home I eat right. I go to the gym when I can. My daughter runs track, so I run with her sometimes. I used to be able to out run her…but I can’t out run her anymore. It happens…
I try to stay active because all you see is guys bombing it, so you have to stay flexible, you know. It’s all a part of being professional. Golf is hard. You have to have your mind right, and you have to have your body right too.
Cooper: Yes, and you have to love the game too. You have to love the process, or you have no chance.
Tommy: That’s right! I’m not crazy about working out, but I know I have to do it. Back when I first started playing golf, they said lifting weights was bad for golfers. Now look…everybody lifts to get stronger. So, you’ve got to do it.
Tim has motivated me to do that…along with my wife, who is a fitness trainer on the side. She teaches step classes, spin classes, and kick boxing. All that extra stuff. So, between her and Tim it has motivated me to work out more. My wife also coaches our son’s soccer team. During soccer season I’m out there running around with the kids. Anything to help me keep up with the younger players out there on the golf course.
James Beatty: This is great stuff! What are your goals for next week? What’s going through your mind about that?
Tim: I am not thinking about a certain score. For me, I know it’s going to be a circus, with all the people, media and stuff. The word circus is the wrong word, but what I mean is the atmosphere will be very different than I am used to, so I’m preparing myself mentally.
I know I can play golf. It’ll be just a matter of getting comfortable with the atmosphere…with all the people. I’m going to use my experience at Chambers Bay, in the US Open. It’s the latest thing that I can compare it to.
Ummm…I played a practice round with Bubba Watson at Chambers Bay. Bubba is a friend. We get there for the practice round, and, you know, they announce your name when you get to the tee. It’s a practice round, and they announce your name. It’s the first time, in my life, that I have been nervous playing a practice round (laughter)!
Yeah, I mean we’re teeing off at 8:30 in the morning, and there are thousands of people around the first tee. I know Bubba from the Nationwide Tour. We traveled together for a brief time. So, Bubba shows up for our practice round at Chambers Bay, and he has three security guards. I look at him, and ask, what’s up with that. And he just kind of shrugs.
To me he’s just Bubba. I’m not in awe of anyone, but the whole atmosphere is so different. People were screaming his name and yelling and all. Yeah, so I’m preparing myself mentally.
Cooper: Great! So, this year you are anticipating the same scene, as opposed to being blindsided by it. That’s great…
Tommy: I’m just reminding myself that this is Tim’s time. I’m happy to be a part of it, but this is Tim’s time.
Cooper: My last question is do you guys feel like your affiliation with the Advocates Pro Tour had anything to do with this exemption?
Tommy: Oh, yes, no doubt. I remember last year when we were at TPC Craig Ranch in Dallas. Mr. Bentley asked me if Tim had ever gotten the exemption. I told him no.
Tim: Yeah, there’s no doubt the Advocates Tour helped. Ken asked me if I had ever applied for the exemption. I told him, yes, I applied for the very first one back in 2009, or whenever it was. I think I applied for it five more years in a row. Finally, I just gave up on the application process and figured it was a waste of time.
Ken Bentley encouraged me to try again. No guarantees, he said, but submit an application again, and he’d put in a good word on my behalf.
RELATED POST: Tiger Woods Plays A Round with Ken Bentley of Advocates Pro Golf Tour
Tommy: Man, I tell you when they made the announcement, I got teary-eyed. I’m a white guy, but I can’t think of a better person than Tim O’Neal to represent what that exemption stands for. I want him to represent himself and Mr. Sifford. And I want him to represent me too. I’m proud that I’ll be with him throughout that entire week.
As I reflect on the interview, I am reminded of the significant relationships we build through golf. I am honored to witness the special bond between Tim O’Neal and Tommy Schaff. I hope the week at Rivera Country Club exceeds their most vivid imagination! It couldn’t happen to better or more deserving people.
James Beatty, Executive Editor, African American Golfer’s Digest is also Founder of NCS International, an Omaha, Nebraska-based company that providers of an array of economic development services. He also serves on the Golf 20/20 Diversity Task Force and recently launched Jim Beatty Golf Ventures, a golf promotion and management company.
