SENIOR PGA TOUR MEDIA CONFERENCE

January 9, 2002

Ben Crenshaw

BEN CRENSHAW: Thank you, Jeff. I think that, certainly, as I'm going into this, I'm going to have fun being a rookie. I think everyone goes through with it and I've talked with a lot of people. But it's going to be fun because I get to play places that I haven't played. So, I'm looking forward to it.

BEN CRENSHAW: I have been away from competitive golf a long time, and I'm looking forward to getting back in, going back to work. I fully well know the competition. I've watched it for a long time. I've watched these players play on many golf courses, some of which I have played, some of certainly that I haven't. But the efficiency of play I think has -- it's seemingly getting better all of the time. I know that there are a lot of players who it's almost like they go into overdrive; they play better on the Senior Tour than they have on the regular tour. I think that's exciting, and I think that -- I don't care where you play, I don't care how the golf courses are set up; the scores that are being shot are unbelievable. The hole has not changed, the size of the hole, I know that. I don't care where you play; you've got to put the ball in the hole that many times to be shooting these scores. I know how well they can play. I don't know how long it's going to take me to get in the swing of things, but I'm looking forward to getting back into competition. You've got to go back into it and try to get a feel of play again.

BEN CRENSHAW: Well, we're going to have a party on Friday night, and I hope everybody survives. It's an important milestone in everybody that plays on the Senior Tour, their 50th birthday. They look forward with anticipation to it a lot. I'm certainly no different. Those of us who have been lucky enough to achieve some things on the regular tour relish the opportunity to extend your career. You know, when you look around, there's not many other sports or endeavors that you can do anything past 50. So, we're thankful for the opportunity.

BEN CRENSHAW: Well, I'll try to do what I can. All of us -- and I alluded to it earlier; we have been lucky enough to achieve some things. I know this, as a golfer, and a professional golfer, we all have responsibilities. I think some of the things that we want to try to do on the Senior Tour are very positive. I think interaction I think is a lot more conducive on the Senior Tour than it is on the regular tour. The regular tour has become very big business, as you all know. The Senior Tour, the atmosphere is slightly more relaxed, and it should be. I think that as players get on with their careers and, you know, you have an eye down the road of playing a few years, and then going into teaching or whatever endeavor that you can, to try to promote the game. We all feel that as golfers, anyway. But I think there's a lot better chance to do it on the Senior Tour.

BEN CRENSHAW: I sure hope so. You know, I've love to come back to the Boston area. I have not made my schedule that far in advance. It's a funny thing when people have asked Julie, my wife, or myself where I'm going to start, I just say, "Well, Julie is going to point me to south Florida and I'm just going to start going." But I don't know where this is going to lead me. I know this; that I will want to play a lot this year. I think anybody, when they turn 50, when they are starting out this endeavor, wants to play a lot. The only thing that's keeping me back are three beautiful girls at home. I don't know how I'm going to balance this, but I'm going to try to play 20 tournaments this year. I don't know where they will fall. But I surely want to get to areas of the country where I'd like to get. I don't know -- since I'm going in this as a rookie, I don't know where to go. I'll have to have direction to the golf courses.

BEN CRENSHAW: I think my body has been, I think, a little inactive. I'm trying to do some more exercising. I'm trying to do some more stretching, especially the lower back and the hips. I need a lot of work there, and continual work, and I need some leg-strengthening, as well.

BEN CRENSHAW: Well, first of all, I think that -- no. I haven't been -- I played a tournament in names a long time ago, at Fiddlesticks. I remember that, a long time ago. That was a good golf course, but I haven't been back since. I know that, my gosh, what an area for golf. Somebody told me the number of golf courses that y'all have the in area there, and it's astounding. Certainly, I want to play there. And Twin Eagles, we've heard great things about. But, no, as far as getting started, it's going and trying to get back into a routine, I've been away for so long in sort of a regular assessment of professional golf. So I'm looking forward to getting back on TOUR, so to speak, and getting into a schedule, and trying to, you know, you go week-to-week trying to fix your game, so that's what I'm -- that's a lot of golf. It's going to be fun.

BEN CRENSHAW: Well, I've been lucky enough to play this game for a long time. I think that you want to relish the opportunity of having a body of golfers go around the country and have an organized tour of talented players that put on a good show week-to-week. It has grown, and I think that I want to be part of that, but I know that it would be presumptuous of anyone to think that they are going to carry this or carry that. I think we all -- at least I have always considered myself a part of a very fine bunch of guys that have been devoted to golf. Certainly, it's a life, but it's been very good to us.

BEN CRENSHAW: It certainly does. It has that capacity, certainly, for us, that we get to play, and we get to enjoy the people that we grew up learning the game and competing against. I always think that -- at least to me, the friendships and the fellowships will be -- those things that make golf what it is. It will be fun to compete, and it will be fun to get in the hunt for my first time and feel what that's like because it's been a long time. I think the fun aspect is something that someone looks forward to, certainly after a period there age 40 to age 50. There's a wide range of emotions; that you're not as competitive anymore, and you're looking at different things in your life. But to have this and to go out and play is quite something. We don't realize how lucky we are.

BEN CRENSHAW: Well, you know, someone asked me the other day: "What have you been doing all this time?" And I said, "Well, I've been living." You know, it's funny, a golfer, at least in my case, you start out on the Tour and you're totally one-dimensional. You just started tournament golf and you go as far and hard as you can to try to make adjustment, experiment, trials, tribulations, lost tournaments, winning occasionally, because that's what you do in this game. Those of us who are human, anyway. And you relish the things that -- the times and the opportunities that you had to win big tournament, or any tournament, for that matter. And then between the age of 42 to 50, you just start wondering what you're going to do with the rest of your life, where you've been, and you look forward to something else. In my own case, I was a late father, with three beautiful children. You see things differently. I know -- I'm no different than a lot of fellas. I suppose the only way I'm different in that a lot of fellas when they hit the Senior Tour, their families are out of the house. It's you and your wife and you're able to travel and you're able to play a lot of golf. I think that that's where some of the fellas really become proficient. They have become razor sharp because again they fall back into a one-dimensional state of their outlook on the game. So, I've had a lot of -- well, not life experiences, but I had the time to really slow down and enjoy life. So, I've got a lot of work to do.

BEN CRENSHAW: Well, that's right. You know, you want to go and try to test your game and try to improve it. To me, it's astounding, the level of play. A lot of them -- and I alluded to it earlier, when you see some of the scores they have shot, sure, you know, you always have people that say, oh, the golf courses are shorter and this and that. But not much. And still, in three rounds of competition, these guys are shooting on the average of 5- , 6-under a day, on some good courses. So, that's some outstanding golf.

BEN CRENSHAW: I know this: My body has been changing for a long time. I'm not as supple. I don't think any of us are, and I have not been so diligent. I certainly have not been of the category that I had been exercising for the last seven years -- I probably should have been, but I can't say that I have. But I do need improvement there, certainly with the hips, the lower back, the abdominal muscles and the legs. You want to try to stretch those muscles as much and strengthen them. I know that my swing feels like it has changed because of my body, so I need to -- that's going to be constant work there.

BEN CRENSHAW: Well, I think a golfer always wants to do that. I think there's a part of every golfer who want to try to work on that and constantly tune it. But you've got to play with the swing that you're given, basically, to a great extent because you will revert to those tendencies when you are on the golf course.

BEN CRENSHAW: Well, I think certainly I was vocal at the start, but I know that -- and I don't think that it is improper at all for the Club to think about different ways to combat the development of technology in the game. No one will disagree with that. I think these are large changes. However, you know, it may be a fine experiment. The only thing that I would hold reservation with is that I hope that it doesn't change the excitement of playing that golf course because that's what it has always been. It's been the most exciting -- not only in the way that people watching it around the world and on the golf course watch the play. It's very daring, it's very tempting; it always has been. I hope that's never changed. It certainly teams to me -- and I don't know this, but it seems like the champion will come from a few are number of players. I don't know that; that's my feeling. But you want people to try everything that they possibly can out on that golf course in order to -- you want to bring off a daring shot, and I hope that it has not become so much that a lot of people will start play defensive. That's the only thing; that's what I'm trying to get at.

BEN CRENSHAW: Certainly, the length factor, I think, is certainly rearing its head on the Senior Tour, as well. All of us, whether you play the Senior Tour or the regular tour or anywhere around the world, technology has brought us to this point. I mean, every conceivable -- every conceivable golf improvement with the wave of technology has brought itself forward to now. You can see that the median scores have been -- are so much better than, certainly, when I started the game. Technology has brought us to a point where people are thinking about lengthening their golf course. I mean, every -- the country club or the golf club anywhere in your town are thinking about putting back the tees. I think it's sad in a way, but, you know, that's technology in progress, too.

BEN CRENSHAW: Well, it certainly had to happen. I think that it had to happen sometime. And no question that when I started the game, when I started studying history, when you watch players over their careers, and when you look at players like, well, certainly, Sam Snead was the perennial. I mean, he could play golf at any age just about, and you see somebody like Jack Nicklaus who remained competitive for so long. He still is. You realize how rare those people are. Harry Vardon was very, you know, he was certainly proficient when he was approaching 50. But, no, I think that we all get a chance to experience this life. I've been lucky to be a tournament golfer. I guess it does seem an eternity from the regular tour the Senior Tour, but, it is. It's a little startling that it's coming now, and I suppose everybody feels that when they approach 50.

BEN CRENSHAW: Well, Ty is exceptional. There's no doubt about that. But the only thing that has changed is there are more capable golfers now, and there has been for a long time. I think it's a great achievement that Ty went through that school, the qualifying school and did what he did the last day. That's a major achievement, especially these days because of the proficiency level. Now, again, there's been very few people, Seve Ballesteros turned pro when he was 17. Justin Rose was, what, 17 to 18 and he's gotten himself back on track fantastically. It's a matter of -- I think it's something that doesn't happen very often. I know he and his parents had a very soul-searching decision to make to do this. But some people are just not very mature when they are 17.

BEN CRENSHAW: Absolutely. But golf talent, you know, it's a question of how he experiences things and how he -- what his environment is going to be like. I would say it's an uphill battle -- not in golf; I think he's proved that. But I think in terms of growing up as a person and experiencing things in life. That's the balance of the decision, which is tremendously difficult.

BEN CRENSHAW: I would rate it very high. I don't know what to compare it against, but it's something that's so -- well, the thing is, I think people understand that there are some very, very fine golfers with a lot of experience that fail at the school, but it's because the competition has gotten better. There's just more capable people. And for a 17-year-old to have that much confidence in his game and go through it, and I suppose the more times you try, the harder it becomes. It has to be. You just see the strain on everybody's faces. I think that's the allure for people to watch that because they know what's at stake for a young golfer and how difficult it is. It's quite an achievement.

BEN CRENSHAW: I hope so. I'd like to play every one of them. I'm going to start out the first three and then I'm going to assess just what in the heck happened. Because I've been away from it for so long, I really think that what happens is that, you know, you feel like the kid in a candy store. You want to just have fun at this stage and you want to play good golf, no question, but what I have to balance is my family. I've got three young daughters that are really going to be tugging at any heart. My gosh, they are 14, 10 and almost four. So I'm in a little different situation. I would love to play them all, but I don't see how I can. But as to where later on in the year I play, I just don't know. I think I'm just going to have to ask the fellas what they think, where -- it's like I said earlier; I'm going to have to get directions to the golf courses anyway, being it's the first year.

BEN CRENSHAW: On the regular tour, the regular Open? That would not be a conflict, I can tell you that. (Laughs). It's like I told somebody the other day, they said, "Well, how many regular tournaments are you going to play?" I said, "I'm going to play the Masters and maybe the Colonial in Fort Worth." I said, "I realize what side of the pasture I'm supposed to be on." That's all I can say.

BEN CRENSHAW: I think it's interesting to me. To me, those players, alone Doyle, Bruce Fleisher and a player like Tom Jenkins and a lot of other people play every week it seems, and the other ones don't.

BEN CRENSHAW: Who knows whether that's the difference or not. You're talking about Tom Kite and Tom Watson, and people like that are some of the best players that's ever played this game. So you start -- you start wondering. You say, well -- I mean, who knows what it could be. It just seems to me that Bruce Fleischer, Allen Doyle are playing the best golf of their lives and they are playing so well, and they are putting themselves into position so many times. Their putting holds up, their thinking, their management, their concentration. They are sharp. I don't know. I don't know what to attribute it to. It would be -- I could not come up with the answer to that. You say on paper that some of the other fellas, you know, should achieve more, but you just couldn't know that. Nobody can put a finger on that.

BEN CRENSHAW: During my Ryder Cup in Boston?

BEN CRENSHAW: Oh, boy. I'm still recovering from that. (Laughs). I look back at that and think of the effort that was put forth from my team and my individuals at a place that is very historic. Coming back from that deficit, having things happen in a very fortunate way against a great team, the European team, everything seemed to come together that day. But it was a great achievement for our side. But I will always day dream about that week and that day. It was magnificent to watch it happen, I can tell you that.

BEN CRENSHAW: I think more than satisfied. When you look at I've been a lot more fortunate than most. I've had some great experiences. Certainly, the two Major victories, the Masters, that meant so much to me in so many different ways. The first victory was more so to prove to myself that I could do it, but the second one was for someone who had meant my whole life in the game, to have happen at that time was incredible to me. And then the Ryder Cup was to follow a great captain's legacy of players who achieved some wonderful things in this game, and then to watch a team go out and give forth an effort like I've never seen at a place that I dearly loved was quite special. Those three things. And also, to have a chance to win on a lot of other occasions and not achieving it, but to win many events. I've been luckier than most. I'm very satisfied.

BEN CRENSHAW: Well, some I haven't seen, but just on television. It's like you don't see anybody from the time you're 44 on. But, you know, I just remember people like Bob Gilder that I played so much golf with and I'm glad the way he's started, he's started well. I always admired Gil Morgan's swing forever from the time where he thrashed me in the Western Amateur a long time ago.

BEN CRENSHAW: A long time ago. But that swing will last forever. To see Bruce Fleisher play the way he's playing, to get back with Tom Watson, my friend, and Tom Kite -- and I've been watching him like a hawk. He played so well. But, you know, there's a million guys: Bobby Wadkins, Bruce Lietzke, Bruce Lietzke is probably one of my closest friends. So is Bobby. And my old friend George Burns from Florida. You know, just countless guys. I'm looking forward to seeing Jim Thorpe again. I've really enjoyed watching him play. You learn with your group and feel comfortable with them, the Leonard Thompsons. There's the fun of it. There's no question, sure, you want to compete. Hopefully you get the chance to compete. But it's nostalgic, there's no doubt. Our tour, at least to me, the Senior Tour and some people may disagree with they, me, but good Lord, having the chance to do anything past 50 is pretty good. So, it is nostalgic. It's fun.

BEN CRENSHAW: Well, that's a question mark to me, to be real honest. I feel like I hit good putts. I don't feel like -- I don't feel like they go in as often, I'll say that. I'm being real honest, too. I feel like a lot of times, I make a good effort, but I certainly remember -- and I've had streaks in my putting where I didn't think that I was going to miss and sometimes I didn't, but you've got to see the ball go in the cup. I don't care how you do it. I don't care when you do it, but in order for a golfer to have any confidence, he's got to put the ball down; meaning, it's got to go in. I hope to see it more often, I know that. (Laughs).

BEN CRENSHAW: Oh, I did. And I wanted to. I think that I had the chance to and I knew while I was doing it I was going to have a chance to. But, you see, that's one thing that you had the Senior Tour to look forward to. Maybe I was going to play more during those years, but I just became a little less competitive as time went on. Just having a young family, I think, changed a lot of that, but that was the way I wanted it, too.

BEN CRENSHAW: Yes, very much. So I watch these guys play and I marvel at their abilities. I mean, they all -- I mean, the guys who are really doing well have really -- and seemingly, they have picked up where they left off on the regular tour and some of them have blossomed into better players. That's wonderful to see. You can tell which golfers they are. They have such confidence. That's what's nice.

BEN CRENSHAW: It's not so different. I think you just talk to different people. It was funny, I can't talk to Bruce Lietzke about it because he has not gone through the first half of the Tour. But I've talked some to Tom Kite a little bit and I've talked to my caddie -- my caddie lives in Tampa. His name is Lynne Strickler (ph), and I go by Lynne, too. Lynne has caddied some on the Senior Tour, so he knows quite a bit.

BEN CRENSHAW: Some. What I'm going to have the same feeling arriving at a place that I've never seen before, and that's a nice feeling. It's an anticipatory feeling because you do truly feel like a rookie. So, I've got to go and learn that golf course and figure out how to play it. So, that's fun.

BEN CRENSHAW: I would love to come back to Silverado. I remember winning the last Anheuser-Busch tournament back in 1980. I remember we played both courses. If I remember correctly we played one round on the North Course and three rounds on the South Course, and I remember battling J.C. Snead down the stretch. But it's a beautiful place to play. I mean, two fine golf courses. I've watched the Transamerica; I've watched it for many years. Sure, you want to return to places that you've done well. No doubt.

BEN CRENSHAW: Well, I tell you, the first part, that's a good question because you don't want to -- a lot of people it becomes a lot easier to be a little more entertaining than others. Fuzzy is a natural. There's a lot of people, Chi Chi Rodriguez and people like that, it becomes more natural. But I want to -- the only thing that I want to do is show people that hopefully I thank them and that I'm having fun. I don't foresee myself jumping out of my skin and being somebody else. Hopefully I don't do that because it will come off bad, I can assure you. (Laughs) . But, no, you want to try to be as appreciative as you can. And I've love to come back to Minneapolis, too. I just don't know about this schedule. I'm working from an extremely loose framework right now because I don't know. I don't know where to go just yet and I don't know what courses that I'll hear things about.

BEN CRENSHAW: I played my first U.S. Open at Hazeltine, so that will always rekindle memories for me. I remember watching Harmon Kilibrew hit a home run in the old stadium there. I remember that. And actually, my father and I stayed next door to Tony Jacklin when he won in 1970. He won by seven strokes that week. Just killed everybody.

BEN CRENSHAW: Well, I know that he's going to be extremely busy. He doesn't get a chance to play. I know he'd like to. I'm hopeful to see him maybe when the Senior Tour gets near to Baltimore or up in that area.

BEN CRENSHAW: Absolutely, it was. I can tell that you it's been a very, very big part of my life and Julie's and he has been a real friend. He and Laura, I can't express what I think of him and Laura, and it's been fascinating to watch and we're so proud for him.

BEN CRENSHAW: Yeah, I've love to. I've love to. We haven't put it together yet. I would absolutely love to. I can't confirm it yet, but I'm going to try to figure out a way to do it.