|
 |
 |   |
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Video Plus Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities 
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE
|  |
My Shot Winning at Hilton Head has changed my life, but I'll never forget where I came from
By José Coceres
I began dreaming about winning a PGA Tour event 25 years
ago, when I won a set of clubs -- the first new set I had ever owned -- for
finishing first in Argentina's national caddies' tournament. On the practice tee
I would pretend I had a huge gallery and would graciously wave to my imaginary
fans. Thank God nobody saw me. My wish came true two weeks ago, when I beat
Billy Mayfair in sudden death to win the WorldCom
Classic.
Life after the victory has been overwhelming. Nobody used to recognize me, even in Argentina, so when other passengers asked for my autograph on the flight home, I was shocked. I was mobbed by journalists when we stepped off the plane in Buenos Aires, and a few days later a taxi driver gave me a big thumbs-up. That was a lovely, but unexpected, moment. So many friends and journalists called the house, I instructed my wife, Monica, and my children to tell people I wasn't home. I needed time to reflect. As usual, I'll go alone on my victory walk, a 23-mile hike from my house on the outskirts of Buenos Aires to the famous Basilica of the Virgin of Lujan, where I give thanks after a win. I also plan to visit Chaco, the province in northern Argentina where I grew up, because I want to donate clubs to the caddies. My 10 brothers and I caddied as boys, and now five of us are either touring or teaching pros. We couldn't afford clubs as kids so we built them ourselves. We'd go deep into the forest to get branches from "tala negra" trees -- the best trees for making clubs -- strip the bark, and carve glass-smooth clubs out of the heart of the wood. I've been a member of the European tour since 1991, but now I'm going to focus on the U.S. I love American fans, but it's important to acknowledge my fans at home, too, because they suffer and celebrate with me. That's why I wrote, FOR ALL MY FAMILY, FOR ALL MY FRIENDS, FOR ALL ARGENTINA, A MILLION THANKS on a pillowcase and waved it to the gallery after my victory at Hilton Head. José Coceres's next start will be the May 3-6 Compaq Classic.
Issue date: April 30, 2001
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
