WGA Evans Scholars Magazine, Winter 2018

and the game has changed Its very hard to compete against guys that can carry a ball 320 yards whenever they want to and it takes a special kind of player to combat that Ive got four kids ages 7 to 14 I dont mind traveling and putting in the work as long as theres something to show for it For a while there hadnt been anything to show for it We moved to Colorado a couple years ago to slow life down and I thought I dont really want to be doing this and I feel like Im beating my head against the wall In 2016 I played 12 events and I worked five for NBC and Golf Channel and I played through August I finished in Greensboro got home and looked at my wife and said I think Im done playing I think Im ready to move on Its hard to do both well and I dont really want the mediocrity so I think I can be good at TV and this is what I want to do Ive enjoyed the transition and Im looking forward to the possibilities One of the big stories well cover in the next year is Tigers comeback With the way the game has changed and all the injuries hes had will he have to play differently than when he was at his peak Hes going to have to be more strategic and put the ball in play and get it on the greens quicker He doesnt have the same ability to hit as far he doesnt have that advantage like he did 10 or 15 years ago Weve got a great number of young players and I would love for those guys to see Tiger play at a competitive level I would like for them to see him play and say I did get to play with Tiger Woods Because I got to play with him and it was not a lot of fun for about 15 years He may still feel like he can get to Jacks record and be in contention Im not saying thats not possible I think its highly improbable I hope he views being successful as feeling good physically as contributing to the game bringing some interest and maybe some fans that have stepped away back into the game I think for him being successful is growing the game of golf beyond selling a few more tickets and really becoming a spokesman for the sport Success for him to me is not about winning golf tournaments Its about feeling good physically to play and maybe well get a glimpse of the old Tiger whether its a putt or something When you look at TV now what has been the most surprising thing to you and what has the been the most difficult The most surprising thing to me has been the work you put in during the week Ive never read this much in my entire life as I have this year Its fairly sad when you know Marc Leishmans dog just had puppies last winter and they kept two of them because they were so cute and the other three they gave to neighbors Thats the kind of information we get in our bios Its amazing the amount of work The hardest thing for me I spent my career as I was playing trying to not to say anything that would stir anything up Now Ive got to change gears and thats what my job is to give my opinion For so long I was like Nobody needs to know my opinion Ill stick with the facts Thats been a learning process Im figuring out a way to be honest about players and not in a hurtful way But youve got to be able to call a spade a spade and I think theres ways to do that and hopefully Ill get that right most of the time A caddie at Michigans Meadowbrook Country Club Lauren Farhat was born with a condition that caused one leg to be significantly shorter than the other When she was 7 a part of her leg was amputated creating the ability for her to use a prosthetic Despite this challenge Lauren found a way to thrive on the golf course Many of the best things in my life have happened because of caddying she told supporters at the Green Coat Gala Its incredible to think that what started as a summer job has changed my life so profoundly You have helped me realize that anyone has the ability to improve their lives with enough motivation and proper resources You have taught me that just because people need help it does not make their own efforts and hard work invaluable In fact with a little help the greatest version of yourself can often be revealed These lessons are the greatest gift I have received I hope you know you are doing so much more than just providing kids with an education Each day you are mentoring us you are motivating us you are inspiring us and you are empowering us to be the best versions of who we can be For helping us realize our full potential both on and off the course you are the real heroes Thank you Q Q Evans Alum Lauren Farhat shares how caddying changed her life Laurens incredible story is the subject of an Evans Scholar profile video View it at www wgaesf org Lauren 11 Winter 2018