2015 MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT
Below: Justin Rose and David
“HI, THOMAS, THIS IS JACK NICKLAUS,” THE FAMOUS VOICE SAID ENTHUSIASTICALLY INTO THE PHONE. “HAPPY BIRTHDAY! WHAT A GREAT BIRTHDAY PRESENT!”
afternoon? Priceless, as the famous commercial catchphrase says. Yes, Thomas Lingmerth had a good day. So did David, 27. And better still than the luckless spectator standing well right of the 18th green as the leader played the 72nd hole.
PGA TOUR IMAGES (2)
Lingmerth on the 18th green.
This is not the usual recipe to cook up an unforgettable golf event, so kids, don’t try this at home. Let’s start with the cell phone. Megan Lingmerth, like most wives, was two moves ahead of everyone else. Her husband, David, had just scored his breakthrough PGA TOUR victory, a moment so thrilling that all the normally stoic Swede could think of to tell Peter Kostis of CBS as the telecast signed off was, “I’m so happy I don’t know where to go.” Luckily, Megan did. After her husband sat through a press conference with reporters, where he was joined by Tournament Founder and Host Jack Nicklaus, Megan was ready to pounce. Besides being the day her husband scored a career-shaping victory, it was also the birthday of David’s father, Thomas Lingmerth. So as the official duties on the stage of the media room ended, she dialed the elder Lingmerth’s number and held up the phone so he could talk to the man of the moment. His son, David? Nope. Surprise—the Tournament Host himself. A brief word of explanation tipped him off and he graciously grabbed the phone. “Hi, Thomas, this is Jack Nicklaus,” the famous voice said enthusiastically into the phone. “Happy birthday! What a great birthday present!” Winning the Memorial Tournament? That’s $1.116 million. Getting a phone call from Jack Nicklaus AND a victory by your son on the same
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