Bobby Greenwood’s sentimental journey to the Players
Tee Times report
Bobby Greenwood played on the PGA Tour for seven years and also has a career highlight victory over Jack Nicklaus in sudden death at the Colonial Invitational in late 1961.
But each spring, it’s a trip to Florida that stokes some of the 73-year-old Greenwood’s fondest memories. Greenwood and his family return to Ponte Vedra Beach to attend the Players Championship. The reason it is near and dear to Greenwood’s heart? He was the director of golf at Sawgrass Country Club and served as host professional for the event in 1977-78.
The tournament, which began in 1974, eventually moved to its current TPC Sawgrass site but Greenwood always enjoys returning to watch the tournament.
“My wife Elma got me started revisiting the different places that I played while on Tour back in the ‘70s. And, we especially enjoy going back to Sawgrass Country Club and rekindle ol’ memories. It’s almost like a healing process,” Greenwood said. “We enjoy our travels even more now that we have a purpose.”
This year’s visit to Florida will add to Greenwood’s list of memory highlights. Viola, his 13-year-old daughter, was selected as a runner/volunteer for the practice range at the Players.
“Viola has shown an interest in golf and this should be an excellent learning experience to be on the range next to the best players in the world and listening to them talk while they practice,” he said.
Greenwood, a native of Cookeville, now designs golf courses but he reflects back on an excellent career in golf. He was a three-time All-America selection at North Texas and tied for third with Johnny Miller in the 1969 PGA Tour qualifying school.
His lone tour victory came at the Rhode Island Open, a satellite PGA Tour event, and he’s a three-time Tennessee Senior Open champion. He’s credited with more than 150 wins in his amateur and professional career. When the world’s best players tee it up at Sawgrass, Greenwood will get his perspective from outside the ropes. But he’ll certainly fondly be reliving his time inside the ropes and when he was the director of golf at Sawgrass Country Club in the fledgling days of the Players Championship.
Source: http://www.teetimespaper.com/component/content/article/123
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