Finger fixed for Frys.com Open
University of Arizona golf coach Rick Larose knows how to kiss up to the boss. During his
team's fundraising tournament at Tucson Country Club Friday (Oct. 17, 2008), Larose put
UA Athletic Director Jim Livengood and USA Olympic softball coach Mike Candrea on the
same 3-person scramble team with one of his former players, PGA Tour pro Ted Purdy.
Must be nice to have a Tour golfer on your squad. They shot 15 under par to win the gross
portion of the tournament, the first time Livengood has ever taken a trophy home from the
annual event.
Purdy found some inspiration in beating up on the field of amateurs as he gets ready for
this week's Frys.com Open in Scottsdale. He has been struggling through one of his worst
years on tour after injuring his left index finger in a freak kitchen accident. In May, Purdy
was popping the pit out of an avocado with a "miracle" knife that he'd just purchased from
a late-night infomercial. The sharp blade poked through the fruit and deep into his left
index finger, slicing tendons in that all-important golfing appendage.
All summer, the digit has been swollen to bratwurst size, forcing Purdy to switch from an
overlapping to an interlocking grip. He lost feel and confidence in his swing. Bad golf and
missed cuts, no pun intended, ensued. He weighed getting the finger surgically fixed, but
decided to tough out the Tour's Fall Series and a probable Q-School run.
When Purdy didn't get into Las Vegas's Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children
Open last week, he got a second opinion on the finger. A simple cortisone shot has the
digit shrunk back to size and in wonderful working order. "My finger feels great; I can finally
hit the ball," Purdy said Friday. "All year, I've been having to take enough ibuprofen so I
could kind of make the finger bend around the grip. Now I'm kind of frustrated that I didn't
get the cortisone shot earlier."
University of Arizona golf coach Rick Larose knows how to kiss up to the boss. During his
team's fundraising tournament at Tucson Country Club Friday (Oct. 17, 2008), Larose put
UA Athletic Director Jim Livengood and USA Olympic softball coach Mike Candrea on the
same 3-person scramble team with one of his former players, PGA Tour pro Ted Purdy.
Must be nice to have a Tour golfer on your squad. They shot 15 under par to win the gross
portion of the tournament, the first time Livengood has ever taken a trophy home from the
annual event.
Purdy found some inspiration in beating up on the field of amateurs as he gets ready for
this week's Frys.com Open in Scottsdale. He has been struggling through one of his worst
years on tour after injuring his left index finger in a freak kitchen accident. In May, Purdy
was popping the pit out of an avocado with a "miracle" knife that he'd just purchased from
a late-night infomercial. The sharp blade poked through the fruit and deep into his left
index finger, slicing tendons in that all-important golfing appendage.
All summer, the digit has been swollen to bratwurst size, forcing Purdy to switch from an
overlapping to an interlocking grip. He lost feel and confidence in his swing. Bad golf and
missed cuts, no pun intended, ensued. He weighed getting the finger surgically fixed, but
decided to tough out the Tour's Fall Series and a probable Q-School run.
When Purdy didn't get into Las Vegas's Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children
Open last week, he got a second opinion on the finger. A simple cortisone shot has the
digit shrunk back to size and in wonderful working order. "My finger feels great; I can finally
hit the ball," Purdy said Friday. "All year, I've been having to take enough ibuprofen so I
could kind of make the finger bend around the grip. Now I'm kind of frustrated that I didn't
get the cortisone shot earlier."
Purds.com
If there were a Parrothead Golf Association, Ted Purdy
would probably be on the board of directors, considering
he lists Jimmy Buffett as a hero in his PGA profile.
Being a fan of Buffett is something Ted has in common with a
lot of people on the planet, but there’s something else about
the Scottsdale resident and up-and-coming star that only a
handful of people can relate to. He has beaten Tiger Woods
in golf. Not in a video game, but on a real golf course.
“I beat Tiger, I think four times out of 4000, but I have beaten
Tiger,” Ted told POST. Purdy actually grew up playing
against Woods in junior tournaments around the country,
has competed against him in college when Tiger was at
Stanford and Ted was at the University of Arizona, and of
course on the PGA Tour, so 4000 rounds against the world’s
greatest player might not be much of an exaggeration.
Ted grew up in Moon Valley, Arizona, and if you’re looking for
an early sign that a future as a pro golfer might be on the
horizon, consider this — the school bus used to pick
him up and drop him off at the driving range. “I would hand
my clubs to the range attendant, go to school, then come
back and hit more balls.” The practice most definitely paid
off, as Ted is into his 12th year as a professional golfer, with
stops on the Asian, Nationwide and PGA tours.
In 2005, Ted earned his first PGA tour win with a one-shot
victory at the Byron Nelson Championship. With that win under
his belt, Ted was invited to play the Masters at Augusta
National for the very first time. “My first year I played it, I hated it.
I thought it was the worst course I had ever played. It was long,
it was hard, it was hilly. I thought it was terrible.” A year later,
Ted found the legendary track to be more to his liking, and
obviously would someday like to add an odd-looking green
blazer to his wardrobe. “I played it in 2006, now it’s my favorite
tournament. I have to find a way to beat that sucker.”
Off the course, Ted does even more good things than he does
on it. He stays busy when he isn’t traveling to the next PGA
stop by helping underprivileged youth in the Phoenix area
through his foundation, The Ted Purdy Foundation, which
works closely with A Stepping Stone Foundation to help
children prepare for the elementary school experience. Each
year, Ted finances an impressive and star-studded charitable
golf tournament, with 100 percent of all proceeds going to
support A Stepping Stone Foundation. “I look at this as an
opportunity to give back to the community, and I’m thankful
to have that.”
would probably be on the board of directors, considering
he lists Jimmy Buffett as a hero in his PGA profile.
Being a fan of Buffett is something Ted has in common with a
lot of people on the planet, but there’s something else about
the Scottsdale resident and up-and-coming star that only a
handful of people can relate to. He has beaten Tiger Woods
in golf. Not in a video game, but on a real golf course.
“I beat Tiger, I think four times out of 4000, but I have beaten
Tiger,” Ted told POST. Purdy actually grew up playing
against Woods in junior tournaments around the country,
has competed against him in college when Tiger was at
Stanford and Ted was at the University of Arizona, and of
course on the PGA Tour, so 4000 rounds against the world’s
greatest player might not be much of an exaggeration.
Ted grew up in Moon Valley, Arizona, and if you’re looking for
an early sign that a future as a pro golfer might be on the
horizon, consider this — the school bus used to pick
him up and drop him off at the driving range. “I would hand
my clubs to the range attendant, go to school, then come
back and hit more balls.” The practice most definitely paid
off, as Ted is into his 12th year as a professional golfer, with
stops on the Asian, Nationwide and PGA tours.
In 2005, Ted earned his first PGA tour win with a one-shot
victory at the Byron Nelson Championship. With that win under
his belt, Ted was invited to play the Masters at Augusta
National for the very first time. “My first year I played it, I hated it.
I thought it was the worst course I had ever played. It was long,
it was hard, it was hilly. I thought it was terrible.” A year later,
Ted found the legendary track to be more to his liking, and
obviously would someday like to add an odd-looking green
blazer to his wardrobe. “I played it in 2006, now it’s my favorite
tournament. I have to find a way to beat that sucker.”
Off the course, Ted does even more good things than he does
on it. He stays busy when he isn’t traveling to the next PGA
stop by helping underprivileged youth in the Phoenix area
through his foundation, The Ted Purdy Foundation, which
works closely with A Stepping Stone Foundation to help
children prepare for the elementary school experience. Each
year, Ted finances an impressive and star-studded charitable
golf tournament, with 100 percent of all proceeds going to
support A Stepping Stone Foundation. “I look at this as an
opportunity to give back to the community, and I’m thankful
to have that.”
Purdy Darn Impressive
PHOTO BY ANNA PENA, POST PHX
His involvement has made an unbelievable difference. The
tournament had never raised more than $5,000 before Ted and
his wife Arlene got involved, and to give you an example of power
of Ted’s rolodex, and his ability to get his friends involved, the
event in November of 2006 raised over $100,000.
It’s understandable that Ted’s favorite week on the tour is the
FBR Open at The TPC of Scottsdale, and he recently purchased a
skybox on the course for his friends and family to hang out on the
infamous 16th hole.
“It’s so fun. I went to the U of A (University of Arizona), so I get
heckled a lot by the Arizona State guys. I’ll miss a putt and they’ll
yell, ‘If you went to ASU, you would have made that!’”
tournament had never raised more than $5,000 before Ted and
his wife Arlene got involved, and to give you an example of power
of Ted’s rolodex, and his ability to get his friends involved, the
event in November of 2006 raised over $100,000.
It’s understandable that Ted’s favorite week on the tour is the
FBR Open at The TPC of Scottsdale, and he recently purchased a
skybox on the course for his friends and family to hang out on the
infamous 16th hole.
“It’s so fun. I went to the U of A (University of Arizona), so I get
heckled a lot by the Arizona State guys. I’ll miss a putt and they’ll
yell, ‘If you went to ASU, you would have made that!’”
There are a lot of PGA players that, dare we say, don’t deal with the
good-natured heckling very well, but the laid-back Purdy is one of the
easiest-going, most personable players on the PGA Tour. He knows
how lucky he is to be making a very good living playing a game that
he has loved his entire life.
“The game of golf really brings out your personality, good or bad.”
Ted Purdy is one of hundreds of professional athletes who call the
Valley home. But you’d be hard-pressed to find one as personable
and adamant about making a difference in the community as he is.
Oh, and there is that other thing that separates him from just about
everyone else who’s laced up a pair of golf shoes.
He has beaten Tiger Woods.
good-natured heckling very well, but the laid-back Purdy is one of the
easiest-going, most personable players on the PGA Tour. He knows
how lucky he is to be making a very good living playing a game that
he has loved his entire life.
“The game of golf really brings out your personality, good or bad.”
Ted Purdy is one of hundreds of professional athletes who call the
Valley home. But you’d be hard-pressed to find one as personable
and adamant about making a difference in the community as he is.
Oh, and there is that other thing that separates him from just about
everyone else who’s laced up a pair of golf shoes.
He has beaten Tiger Woods.
Photos by Scott Halleran/Getty Images North America
Ted Purdy plays the back 9 of the TPC Scottsdale during the FBR
Open in February 2008.
Ted Purdy plays the back 9 of the TPC Scottsdale during the FBR
Open in February 2008.
Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images North America
Ted Purdy hits a tee shot at the Puerto Rico
Open presented by Banco Popular at Coco
Beach Golf & Country Club in Rio Grande,
Puerto Rico.
Ted Purdy hits a tee shot at the Puerto Rico
Open presented by Banco Popular at Coco
Beach Golf & Country Club in Rio Grande,
Puerto Rico.
GASP! Purdy survives Q-School
Ted Purdy gutted out the final day of the PGA Tour Qualifying
Tournament Dec. 3-8, emerging from the grueling 6-day
event with his 2009 Tour Card.
Purdy played solidly all week in La Quinta, Calif., shooting
68-67-74-65-71-68, but was agonizingly close to falling out
of the Top 20 until the 108th and final hole.
Golf Channel cameras swarmed in to watch the carnage.
"I knew where I stood when Gaga (Paul Goydos) arrived on
scene," Purdy would say later. "If they're covering you on the
last day of Q-School, you're on the bubble."
After his drive split the fairway on his last hole, Purdy slightly
yanked his second shot into a deep bunker at the back of
the green. This was going to be dicey. He was looking at a
50-yard sand shot to a lightning fast green that moved away
from him. A lake loomed behind the flag for good measure.
Tournament Dec. 3-8, emerging from the grueling 6-day
event with his 2009 Tour Card.
Purdy played solidly all week in La Quinta, Calif., shooting
68-67-74-65-71-68, but was agonizingly close to falling out
of the Top 20 until the 108th and final hole.
Golf Channel cameras swarmed in to watch the carnage.
"I knew where I stood when Gaga (Paul Goydos) arrived on
scene," Purdy would say later. "If they're covering you on the
last day of Q-School, you're on the bubble."
After his drive split the fairway on his last hole, Purdy slightly
yanked his second shot into a deep bunker at the back of
the green. This was going to be dicey. He was looking at a
50-yard sand shot to a lightning fast green that moved away
from him. A lake loomed behind the flag for good measure.
Bobby Conlin's keen reads helped Ted make it through Q-School.
After six or seven truncated, maybe nervous, practice swings, Purdy
blasted a beautiful high-arching shot out of the trap. The ball
checked, then hurtled down the glassy incline toward the pin. It
looked like it had a chance to go in, but missed and picked up speed.
Now it was gut-check time. He faced a 10-foot uphiller to secure a tie
for 18th and his playing privileges on the 2009 PGA Tour. He stood
far away from the important putt while the other players putted out.
Ted stroked the putt. It rolled toward the hole, a little too poky for
comfort. It didn't seem to have enough gas to make it to the cup. On
its last revolution, the ball tumbled in --- probably propelled by all of
Ted's friends and family gasping in front of their TV's.
"To think that 19-under nearly didn't make it is crazy," Ted said after
the round. "This is dome golf out here, but those numbers are nuts."
Ted's first tournament will be the Sony Open in Hawaii. Then he will
try to make it into all the fields on the West Coast Swing.
blasted a beautiful high-arching shot out of the trap. The ball
checked, then hurtled down the glassy incline toward the pin. It
looked like it had a chance to go in, but missed and picked up speed.
Now it was gut-check time. He faced a 10-foot uphiller to secure a tie
for 18th and his playing privileges on the 2009 PGA Tour. He stood
far away from the important putt while the other players putted out.
Ted stroked the putt. It rolled toward the hole, a little too poky for
comfort. It didn't seem to have enough gas to make it to the cup. On
its last revolution, the ball tumbled in --- probably propelled by all of
Ted's friends and family gasping in front of their TV's.
"To think that 19-under nearly didn't make it is crazy," Ted said after
the round. "This is dome golf out here, but those numbers are nuts."
Ted's first tournament will be the Sony Open in Hawaii. Then he will
try to make it into all the fields on the West Coast Swing.
Valley native Purdy inches closer to dream
By Tim Tyers
Jan. 31, 2009
Special for The Republic
Ted Purdy admits he has dreamed of winning the FBR (Phoenix) Open
ever since he began taking golf seriously as a youth.
The native Phoenician and former University of Arizona star, who is
playing this week on a sponsor's exemption, gave himself a chance to
accomplish that goal on Saturday, firing a 6-under 65 to move into a tie
for sixth at 9-under, three strokes behind leader Kenny Perry entering
Sunday's final round at TPC Scottsdale.
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't dream as a kid of winning this golf
tournament," said Purdy, who won the 1991 state high school
championship while at Phoenix Brophy Prep. "I was asked the other day
what would be my ideal year. I said to win the Phoenix Open and back it
up with a major."
That said, he now faces a Herculean task in the final round: Attaining a
title he dearly wants in front of his fans, friends and family, while clearing
his mind and convincing himself that it's just another golf tournament.
Jan. 31, 2009
Special for The Republic
Ted Purdy admits he has dreamed of winning the FBR (Phoenix) Open
ever since he began taking golf seriously as a youth.
The native Phoenician and former University of Arizona star, who is
playing this week on a sponsor's exemption, gave himself a chance to
accomplish that goal on Saturday, firing a 6-under 65 to move into a tie
for sixth at 9-under, three strokes behind leader Kenny Perry entering
Sunday's final round at TPC Scottsdale.
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't dream as a kid of winning this golf
tournament," said Purdy, who won the 1991 state high school
championship while at Phoenix Brophy Prep. "I was asked the other day
what would be my ideal year. I said to win the Phoenix Open and back it
up with a major."
That said, he now faces a Herculean task in the final round: Attaining a
title he dearly wants in front of his fans, friends and family, while clearing
his mind and convincing himself that it's just another golf tournament.
He was loosey-goosey Saturday, hitting a full sand wedge nine inches
from the cup on the raucous 16th hole, and then delighting fans by
waving a huge Arizona Cardinals flag on the way to the green for his
tap-in birdie.
"Who knows, I might do it again (Sunday)," he said. "It got me loose, and
that's the point. It's just a golf tournament. It's not that big of a deal. As
long as I have that attitude, I think I'll be fine."
"It's important for me to play well here because of my fans, friends and
family," he said.
He played well in two late season events in October, then regained his
Tour card in December by dropping a 12-foot putt on the final hole of the
final stage of the Tour qualifying school, tying for 18th. His exempt status
should gain him entrance to 28-30 events this year.
"When I make that putt to win the FBR Open, it won't be the biggest putt
I've ever made," Purdy said. "It'll be the one I made in December,
because without that putt, I wouldn't be here (today)."
from the cup on the raucous 16th hole, and then delighting fans by
waving a huge Arizona Cardinals flag on the way to the green for his
tap-in birdie.
"Who knows, I might do it again (Sunday)," he said. "It got me loose, and
that's the point. It's just a golf tournament. It's not that big of a deal. As
long as I have that attitude, I think I'll be fine."
"It's important for me to play well here because of my fans, friends and
family," he said.
He played well in two late season events in October, then regained his
Tour card in December by dropping a 12-foot putt on the final hole of the
final stage of the Tour qualifying school, tying for 18th. His exempt status
should gain him entrance to 28-30 events this year.
"When I make that putt to win the FBR Open, it won't be the biggest putt
I've ever made," Purdy said. "It'll be the one I made in December,
because without that putt, I wouldn't be here (today)."
Ted Purdy sports an
Anquan Boldin jersey
on the 16th hole
Sunday.
Ted Purdy, of Phoenix, tips his hat
after a birde putt on the 18th hole
during the second round of the
Texas Open in San Antonio, Friday,
May 15, 2009. From USA Today.
after a birde putt on the 18th hole
during the second round of the
Texas Open in San Antonio, Friday,
May 15, 2009. From USA Today.
Rick Guy, The Clarion Ledger
PGA Tour pro Ted Purdy of Phoenix tees off on the first hole Wednesday during the Pro-Am play at
Viking Classic Golf Tournament at Annandale Golf Club in Madison, Miss., Oct. 28, 2009.
PGA Tour pro Ted Purdy of Phoenix tees off on the first hole Wednesday during the Pro-Am play at
Viking Classic Golf Tournament at Annandale Golf Club in Madison, Miss., Oct. 28, 2009.
3 aces, double-eagle at Frys.com Open
By Todd Kelly
azcentral.com
Oct. 24, 2009
Ted Purdy, a Valley resident and former UA standout golfer, made a hole-in-one Saturday on the
par 3 16th hole at the Frys.com Open. For his efforts, he also won a blue Mercedes-Benz E350
sedan. What he really did was start a firestorm of amazing shots. Within moments, Nicholas
Thompson recorded a double-eagle on the par 5 11th hole, holing a 3-wood 261 yards away. It
was the fourth double-eagle on the PGA Tour this season. Two holes later, Thompson, born on
Christmas Day, struck again. On the par 3 13th, he made a hole in one with a seven-iron, the
second on of the day at Grayhawk. He went from six-under to 11-under in roughly 30 minutes.
Not to be outdone, Chad Campbell his a six-iron to the 16th green and he, too, made a hole in
one, the third ace in a wild day of scoring in great conditions during the third round of play.
Campbell, however, made his ace too late to win a Mercedes. Only the first golfer of the day to
make a one on the 16th gets the vehicle.
By Todd Kelly
azcentral.com
Oct. 24, 2009
Ted Purdy, a Valley resident and former UA standout golfer, made a hole-in-one Saturday on the
par 3 16th hole at the Frys.com Open. For his efforts, he also won a blue Mercedes-Benz E350
sedan. What he really did was start a firestorm of amazing shots. Within moments, Nicholas
Thompson recorded a double-eagle on the par 5 11th hole, holing a 3-wood 261 yards away. It
was the fourth double-eagle on the PGA Tour this season. Two holes later, Thompson, born on
Christmas Day, struck again. On the par 3 13th, he made a hole in one with a seven-iron, the
second on of the day at Grayhawk. He went from six-under to 11-under in roughly 30 minutes.
Not to be outdone, Chad Campbell his a six-iron to the 16th green and he, too, made a hole in
one, the third ace in a wild day of scoring in great conditions during the third round of play.
Campbell, however, made his ace too late to win a Mercedes. Only the first golfer of the day to
make a one on the 16th gets the vehicle.
John A. Lacko / Special to the Kalamazoo Gazette
Patti Huiskamp and Western Michigan University dance
student Tajh Stallworth swing dancing to Route 66 won the
WMU Department of Dance "Dancing with the Stars" Oct. 29.
Patti Huiskamp and Western Michigan University dance
student Tajh Stallworth swing dancing to Route 66 won the
WMU Department of Dance "Dancing with the Stars" Oct. 29.