My Pro and David Toms
 

In light of all the negative press about a certain prominent golfer, I wanted to share a story that my pro told me today at my lesson. My apologies if I get any of the details wrong, as my pro and I talk constantly during my lessons and I sometimes miss things while I am swinging or working on something. But he always keeps me loose.

As a little background, my pro is not only an excellent instructor, but a very accomplished player as well. Approaching 50, he usually wins several regional tournaments a year, and almost always contends.

In any event, he was down in Palm Springs (Palm Desert?) for an event. I missed the details, but I know that he was competing and there were also a number of prominent PGA players there as well. My pro and his wife were having dinner with one of his friends (also a player) and his wife when the friend's wife said "I really hope I get to meet some famous people while we are here." My pro responded, "Oh, you definitely will. There are lots of PGA players here." She replied "No, I mean someone really famous, like Johnny Depp."

During dinner, my pro looked across the room and happened to see David Toms at another table. My pro got up and approached Toms and said something to him. He and Toms had a big laugh and my pro returned to the table and handed something to his friend's wife.

It was an autograph on which Toms had written "Dear _____, I promise I'm famous. - David Toms"

My pro said that David Toms could not have been nicer, funnier, and more accommodating - even though he was in the middle of his dinner. I have frequently heard that about Toms, and it's nice to have a first hand story to back it up.

Yay David Toms. http://www.thehackersparadise.com/fo...ons/icon14.gif

That's a great story, Harry.

Just one question--who's Johnny Depp?

Spoiler I joke! I joke!

That's good to hear out of Toms. Never been a fan of his since the "bird" incident.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwUneL--oJ0

All I can say is he must have been severely provoked. When I was managing a store in Arkansas, one of my suppliers noticed all the golf stuff in my office and mentioned that his son in law was a pro golfer. I figured it was someone on an obscure mini-tour, but when I asked who, he replied "David Toms".

My first response was, "You're Sonya's Dad!" Fortunately he has a good sense of humor. (Sonya is a hottie!)

Anyway, I digress. We did business together for over a year and we played golf together sometimes. He told many stories about David that were never made public. David grew up in a broken home, but struggled through some very tough circumstances to get where he has. He is very busy with charitable work, particularly Katrina recovery. He is a solid family man and has won the respect of his father in law who in my experience is hard to impress.

From all indications, he is the kind of guy anyone would be proud to call his friend.

I'm sorry, but anyone you cheers when a player misses a putt and is trying to set up for the next put deserves to be flipped off. And then quickly escorted from the grounds.