Experience is a wonderful thing. I’m a strong believer in that and how preparation meets opportunity. Larry Fitzgerald Jr. one week after covering Super Bowl LII in his hometown teamed up with PGA Tour Pro Kevin Streelman to win the prestigious AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am by seven shots at -41.
The AT&T is one of the most famous and recognized PGA tournaments in the world of golf. Since 1937 they have been playing golf on the banks of the Pacific Ocean on this scenic, breathtaking location. Once called the Bing Crosby, named after the legendary entertainer, this tournament’s history speaks for itself.
Last year Fitzgerald and Streelman were close — they finished second. But as the Philadelphia Eagles’ 41-33 win avenged a previous Super Bowl loss to the Patriots, Streelman and Fitzgerald dominated the field this time around.
Fitzgerald is the first Black man to win this tournament, and he’s just the third NFL player ever to win it since John Brodie and Dan Marino in 1988 some 30 years ago. Fitzgerald is just the seventh pro athlete to capture the AT&T.
I remember years ago when he was a child taking Larry Jr. to Hiawatha Golf Course when I was trying to practice chipping and putting between jobs. In 1999 the great Tiger Woods had his Tiger Woods Foundation Clinic at Hiawatha Golf Course, and I made certain that my two sons Marcus and Larry were there, where they learned a lot. I have long believed that teaching children how to dream and exposing them to greatness has its rewards.
Woods has won 14 majors, and one of those Majors was the 2005 United States Open at Pebble Beach. Woods won by a record 15 shots that summer.
Playing in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals, where golf is 365 days a year in the Grand Canyon state, the golf bug has bitten Larry Jr. the last five to seven years, and he’s now obviously a pretty good player. Fitzgerald will decide soon if he will continue his NFL career. After 14 seasons at age 34, Fitzgerald is third all-time in receptions (1,234) and yards receiving (15,545), and he is eighth in touchdown receptions with 110.
Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, on WDGY-AM 740 Monday-Friday at 12:17 pm and 4:17 pm, and at www.Gamedaygold.com. He also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). Follow him on Twitter at FitzBeatSr. Larry welcomes reader responses to info@larry-fitzgerald.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.