Congratulations Are Due!

Written by Posted On Friday, 05 March 2021 00:00

The Coronavirus Pandemic continues to wreak havoc on our country and the world. While we must maintain our safety by wearing masks (which we all dislike) and maintaining physical distancing (will we ever get back to congratulatory hugs?), we all so desperately desire to resume a normal lifestyle. Those in the world of sports remain determined to schedule games and sporting events. While it is certainly challenging, we do what we can to maintain normalcy.

Such a challenge recently faced the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in that beach-town community. In order to follow state guidelines, the “AM” –meaning “amateur” had to be canceled. For more than 75 years this tournament – started by Bing Crosby and initially held in the southern California community of Rancho Santa Fe — had to be held without amateur partners of professional golfers and without the massive crowds that it usually draws.

The Monterey Peninsula Foundation along with its partner the Pebble Beach Company as well as its corporate sponsor, AT&T, successfully put on a “Celebrity Shootout” with six golfers participating: Bill Murray, a perennial favorite, teamed with Arizona Cardinals Wide-receiver Larry Fitzgerald, competing against Alfonso Ribeiro who partnered with Macklemore (yes, just one name) and Kathryn Newton and Kira KDixon (former Miss America) with the latter two as winners for this AT&T “Every Shot Counts Charity” $1.6 million dollar event. Jim Nantz was M/C.

The 2021 Pro-Am champion was Daniel Berger who stood on the 18h tee box tied for the lead needing a birdie on this iconic Par 5 finishing hole. Going through his mind had to be that on Saturday (the day before), Berger had hit his tee-shot out-of-bounds for a double-bogey. Berger not only won that hole and the tournament but sank a 31-foot eagle putt for 65 – 7 under par!

The tournament for the pro golfers and their caddies had good weather. The “Crosby” as it was called for years traditionally drew rainy weather with everything from sprinkles to stormy to blizzard conditions. For the most part, golfers don’t mind what the conditions are –“just get me on the course and I’ll play”. Spectators who are golf-enthusiasts don’t seem to have a concern about weather conditions either. Mostly, they just want to follow their favorite golfer wanting to learn how and which club to use for each shot.

Playing both the Pebble Beach golf links and Spyglass Hill courses this field of 156 pro golfers played four days of challenging golf. The pre-tournament favorite Jordan Spieth, while not the winner this time, had a 62 on the first day (tying the course record at Pebble), but sadly finished in a tie for third. Maverick McNealy, a Stanford graduate who once lived on Pebble’s 16th  fairway finished second.

Will you join me in congratulating the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, the PBC and AT&T?

 

Source: TunneySideofSports.com

Rate this item
(0 votes)
Dr. Jim Tunney

Jim Tunney had an exemplary career in sports. A former high school coach, teacher, principal and district superintendent, he had a 40-year career in officiating football and basketball.

Thirty-one of those years he was an NFL Referee working a record twenty-nine post-season games including four Super Bowls, ten NFC/AFC Championship games, six Pro Bowls and twenty-five Monday Night Games.

He officiated some of the most memorable games in NFL history. His book Impartial Judgment: “The Dean of NFL Referees” Calls Pro Football As He Sees It, chronicles his NFL career.

As a Professional Speaker, he is Past President of The National Speakers Association and a Charter Member of its most prestigious group – The CPAE Speakers Hall of Fame. Jim holds every professional designation of the NSA, including the Oscar of Professional Speaking – The Cavett. NSA named him Philanthropist of the Year in 2007.

Dr. Tunney (a doctorate in Education from the University of Southern California) continues to serve his community as  Trustee Emeritus of both Monterey Peninsula College and York School; where he once served as Headmaster. In 1993, he founded the Jim Tunney Youth Foundation to support local community programs that develop leadership, work skills, wellness and self-esteem in youth. He and his wife Linda live in Pebble Beach, California. They have six children and sixteen grandchildren.

As an author he has written and/or co-authored thirteen books: Impartial Judgment, Chicken Soup for the Sports Fan’s Soul, Speaking Secrets of the Masters, You Can Do It!, Super Bowl Sunday, Insights into Excellence, Lessons in Leadership, Build a Better You and his most recent book, It’s the Will, Not the Skill.

If you are looking for a keynote speaker who educates, motivates and entertains with a lifetime of stories about leadership, team building and sports 831-595-3258.

tunneysideofsports.com/

Realty Times

From buying and selling advice for consumers to money-making tips for Agents, our content, updated daily, has made Realty Times® a must-read, and see, for anyone involved in Real Estate.