Dave Stockton - "Encouragement from Hogan at Colonial" SHORT TRACK

Lee Trevino 0:07

Straight down the middle. It went straight down the middle. Then it started to hook I just had a belief in myself.

Dave Stockton 0:17

My goal was I wanted to I I wanted to be my own boss. I didn't want to have to wear a coat and tie. And in Kathy, I found the perfect partner that we could we traveled. And so we started out, just got we we I was at Alma, I was at the second term that I said in Lafayette, Louisiana, freezing cold, sitting in a Clifton cafeteria. Spicy food had nailed me. I wasn't feeling good, but I'd made the cut. And I called her, I said, we're not waiting till next summer to get married because if I'm gonna be miserable, we're gonna do this together because I'm I'm not enjoying this. And uh so we got married February 27th and our life basically started. And it was, I mean, I was an instant success. I think the first year I made 5,000 and spent seven. My sponsorship, three different people put in$2,000 apiece. So I had$6,000 to work with. And the next year I had a great year, I made$8,000 and spent$10. And then the following year, thanks to Bruce, inviting me to come play Colonial, which I almost didn't come because I had a I had a house rented in Hot Springs, Arkansas, because when we didn't get in these tournaments, I'd go either to Country Coba, North Carolina, or I'd go to Hot Springs, Arkansas, somewhere I could fish. And my dad convinced me I really need to go to this. This is really a special tournament, and I didn't know Colonial from the Western Open. I didn't know anything about it. But uh Geiberger played me a practice round with me, and uh that was that was eye-opening. I shot I had Ken still playing with me, and talk about a cheerleader. I mean, he was unbelievable. I mean, unbelievable. He he he remembers, devil. He remembered what the temperature was the day we played, who we played with. Hell, I can't remember any of that, you know. But I I shot the 65-66, and Hogan went by me in the locker room on s on Friday, never said a word. And I get paired on Saturday with uh Gardner Dickinson. And I wouldn't say Interesting. I yes, it was very interesting. Okay, Gardner didn't really like younger guys and or foreigners. Yeah, and so it was so funny because I got out there and after after two holes, I had like an eight-shot lead. And when we were on the 16th T box, everybody else is finished, and we had a rain delay. Now I don't know how many penalties they'd give now for slow play, but Gardner was just doing everything. And I shoot 74 and I'm sitting in front in front of my locker on that Saturday mor that Saturday afternoon, and I hear this voice saying, Where's Dave Stockton's locker? Well, around the corner walks Mr. Hogan, and I come jumping up, shake hands with him and everything. He said, Davey, now he's in third place. Luckily for me, he's playing with Weisskopf now, because Weisskopf and I are tied. I've blown this eight shots. And he just turned and he says, You're playing really good. I know you expected me to say something yesterday, but you you got all the adulation and everything you should get. He said, But uh, I just want to let you know you've gotten your bad round out of the way, you can win this thing. So totally under yeah, just such a classy maneuver. And, you know, I mean he started the tournament eagling the first hole, which is one more eagle than I've ever made a colonial, but uh he it really it's been an inspiration for me because you know, I every year, as you well know, you go up there and look at his trophy room and you go through all this stuff, and now they could get the plaques on the wall. And my son David was also a champion's choice, like I am, but uh and his proudest moment standing between Ben Hogan, but he and I are standing on either side of Ben Hogan. And Ben Hogan assigned the picture to David Jr. and uh uh just a lot of memories, and so it helped me, it really helped me to win on that golf course because I didn't realize how great a golf course it was. Guyberger absolutely was flabbergasted because he had a terrible record there until he realized if I won on it, then maybe he better adjust how he was playing it. And uh, of course, he's one that he won Colonial, he won the players there, yeah. So he got back at me.

Mike Gonzalez 4:28

We hope you've enjoyed this short track of For the Good of the Game. And please, wherever you listen to your podcast on Apple and Spotify, if you like what you hear, please subscribe, spread the word, and tell your friends until we tee it up again for the good of the game. So long, everybody.

Lee Trevino 4:49

Whack down the fairway. It went smack down the fairway, and it started to slice just smidge off line. It headed for two, but it bounced off nine. My caddy says long as you're still in the state, you're okay.