NFL meets the PGA Tour
Here is one more good reason to be impressed with Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt fresh off the Super Bowl: The man can golf his ball.
He is an outstanding golfer. At his peak, Whisenhunt was a plus-2 handicap, which is better than scratch. He competed in the 1994 U.S. Mid-Amateur after his nine-year NFL career as a tight end.
Whisenhunt was raised in Augusta, Ga., which obviously is exciting when it comes to golf. He has played the Masters course many times.
“(My) best score at Augusta National, 72, with an eagle on No. 11. Best ever, 65,” Whisenhunt told Golf World. “Thought I had what it took (to be a golfer) at Georgia Tech. But I’d get three strokes a side from (future Georgia Tech stars) David Duval and Charlie Rymer and couldn’t beat them.”
Whisenhunt grew up watching the Masters, worked there for some time and also had a great view of No. 18 green.
Here are excerpts from a recent Q & A between Whisenhunt and Golf World’s Bob Verdi:
Verdi: There’s more than love of the sport that made Augusta National part of your off-season vacation, right?
Whisenhunt: Absolutely. I was raised in Augusta, Ga., and for three years as a kid, I worked the scoreboard beside the 18th green.
Did you make good use of the employee badge?
I’d have a four- or five-hour shift. Rest of the day, I’d watch all over, mainly Arnie and Jack. This year my plan was to keep tabs on Rocco Mediate. We played a few years ago in Pittsburgh when I was an assistant with the Steelers.
Meanwhile, you’re a future football star.
I don’t know about star, but I played nine seasons with the Falcons, Redskins and Jets, while still playing golf in the off-season. After my NFL career I played in the Mid-Am. Then I turned to coaching.
Your name’s still mud at Notre Dame.
Hah. I was a walk-on at Tech. We were 1-7 in 1980 when our two QBs went down against Notre Dame, which was No. 1 in the country. My first pass was a perfect spiral into the seats, but we wound up tying them 3-3. Big upset.
What about the PGA Tour guys impresses you the most?
How they control the ball and themselves. As a coach, I find what they do astounding.
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