THE PLAYERS
radiates love and provides a sense of purpose to Paul and Michelle Tesori’s life. Their foundation supports other families who have children with special needs, and annually before THE PLAYERS there is a charity event that Simpson, Spieth, Greller and a half-dozen other caddies attend. Faith and friendship usher them there, not fanfare. Simpson connects off-course to Tesori and seamlessly brings that inside the ropes. “A coworker,” he said, though in this case Tesori is a co-worker with an uncanny feel for the work environment. “I just love [the Stadium Course]. I just love that there isn’t one forced carry [on the par 4s and par 5s],” said Tesori, who grew up in the area and still lives nearby. Good enough to earn a PGA TOUR card back in the 1990s, Tesori just was not good enough to keep it. “Allergic to nylon,” he laughed, meaning that he just never played well “when the ropes went up.” He figures he’s played the Stadium Course “700 times, conservatively,” and was bullish on Simpson’s chances all week. Unlike a year ago “when I wasn’t sure if we’d ever putt well again,” said Tesori. But Simpson preached faith and Tesori believed in his player. Truly amazing what you can do together.
Jimmy Walker (left) and Xander Schauffele (right), claimed a share of second place, four shots behind winner Webb Simpson.
IMAGES: GEtty IMAGES; US PGA tOUR
hand low with ‘the claw’ grip and I showed him,” said Clark. Simpson gave it a shot, finished joint 16th at the 2017 PLAYERS and gradually a comfort level set in. Okay, not to the point where Simpson was the focal point headed into this year’s championship. No, sir, that storyline still belonged to Woods, who in his first PLAYERS since 2015 didn’t disappoint. After making the cut on the number, 1-under 143, Woods blitzed the front nine twice—30 Saturday, 32 Sunday—to tickle the leaderboard. He closed 65-69 for a share of 11th and further confirmation that his game is surely trending. It just wasn’t near enough to wrestle away the bear-hug Simpson put around this championship Friday when he made seven birdies in an eight-hole stretch starting at the par-5 ninth. Nor could it dent the inspiring camaraderie between Simpson and Tesori, who is far more than a caddie. “He’s as quality as a person as you’ll find,” said caddie Michael Greller, who arrived untested and unknown alongside rookie Jordan Spieth in 2013 and was immediately embraced by Tesori. “One of the absolute best persons I’ve ever met.” The center of Tesori’s world is 4-year-old son Isaiah. Born with Down Syndrome, Isaiah
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