fairway bliss
Behind Every Good Man… It’s a saying that has been around for close to a hundred years. And unlike everything you read on the internet, there seems to be truth to it. ‘Behind every good man is a good woman.’ It’s not sexist. It’s just sensible. Being successful requires help and input. Who better to encourage and provide feedback than your partner in life? Let’s take a look at some of our beloved golfers to see if the adage holds true. Gary Player has been married since 1957. He and his wife now have six children and 21 grandchildren in the family tree. They were 14 years old when they went on their first date. At 77 years old, Player recently posed nude in ESPN. Chances are good he has that body because his wife makes sure he takes care of himself! Another lifelong married golfer is Jack Nicklaus. The Golden Bear and his wife are still going strong after getting married in 1960, before he turned pro. In addition to taking care of Jack, she is an active chairwoman on the board of his children’s health organization. Arnold Palmer is a seven-time major champion. He was married to Winnie Palmer for 45 years before she died in 1999 from cancer. Mr. Palmer knew that a wife was a good investment in life because at 75 years old, he married again and said he felt “like a 25-year-old.” Lee Westwood married the sister of one of his fellow Ryder Cup players in 1999. Her brother once told Sports Illustrated, “I told Lee that if he wanted to marry my sister, he had better start making more money on the golf course.” It’s probable that she helped him achieve that challenge. As a true testament to partnership, when Phil Mickelson’s wife was 32
diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009, he took time off then to be at her side. He would go on to win the Masters in 2010 for a third time and who doesn’t remember that memorable hug with his wife after the victory? The list goes on and on. Padraig Harrington and his wife have known each other since childhood and married since 1997. Ernie Els is a four-time major champion and married his wife in Cape Town in 1998. Both are very committed to autism awareness concerns, as their son Ben is afflicted with the disorder. Matt Kuchar, Justin Rose, Luke Donald and Bubba Watson are all married with supportive wives. Brandt Snedeker’s wife is even a very vocal Twitter supporter of her husband and his talents. But, of course, for all the good that be found to support the prov-
erb, there is always a counterpart. John Daly, whose personal life has been anything but smooth or personal, has had four wives since 1987. His most recent wife allegedly attacked him with a steak knife in 2007, no doubt contributing to the demise of their relationship. Greg Norman, also known as ‘The Shark’, has been married three times. Divorcing first in 2006, and then remarrying in 2007 for a short 2 years, he is now hoping that the” third times a charm’ axiom works for him. And, finally, any golf list would not be complete without a shout out to Tiger Woods. You know the story. There was a wife but there were also a lot of other women. Guess it just goes to show that ‘too much of a good thing’ isn’t always good!
Arizona Golf Central • Volume 3, Issue 4