Nice little story on our man of the monent thought u all would enjoy reading...
LMFAOROTF at the 4th paragraph - should read "...I sure would love to see him eat somewhere else"
GOLF-MASTERS-PERKS
PERKS GOES FROM HOOTERS TOUR TO AUGUSTA NATIONAL
Augusta, Georgia, April 8, Bloomberg - Less than a mile from Augusta National Golf Club's famed Magnolia Lane entrance, New Zealand's Craig Perks can visit a reminder of his past -- a Hooters restaurant.
Perks was an occasional customer of the chain's eateries during his four years on the minor-league golf circuit sponsored by Hooters Inc, which gives its tour players discounts to eat at the restaurants known for their spicy chicken wings and scantly clad waitresses.
But Perks, who earned $US1.08 million ($NZ2.50 million) and an invitation to this week's Master Tournament for winning last month's Players Championship, can now afford to eat anywhere he wants.
``I'm sure the food is fine and the sights are adequate,'' said Perks' wife, Maureen, ``but he would rather eat somewhere else.''
By winning the Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, Perks had the biggest pay day of his career and a three-year exemption to the Masters, golf's first major event of the year.
``Obviously, the money is nice,'' the 35-year-old New Zealander said. ``But I've worked so hard to get here and show I can play with the best in the world, I hope this is not my defining moment.''
In addition to his first Masters invitation, Perks' first US PGA Tour title gave him a five-year playing exemption on the tour, eliminating his almost annual stop at qualifying school, a gruelling six-day tournament for those trying to play their way onto golf's top circuit. With two young children to support, Perks and his wife couldn't afford many luxuries during his struggling years on golf's minor-league circuits. He earned only $US11,000 for his last victory on the Hooters Tour, at a 1995 event in Mexico.
However, Perks' victory at the Players Championship has given his family more financial freedom. Maureen Perks said she recently bought her first cell phone and plans to buy a home computer.
``That would make things so much easier,'' she said.
The couple, who have a five-year-old daughter and three-year-old son, have been together since meeting in 1988 while they were students at the University of Southwestern Louisiana. During Craig's long road to the PGA Tour, Maureen said there were times they were ``flat broke'' but she never lost hope.
``If I didn't think he could do it, I don't think I would have put up with the weeks of being on my own while he was on the road,'' she said. ``It can be pretty lonely out there when things aren't going your way.''
Perks now has job security for the first time since he quit working as an assistant pro at Le Triomphe Golf & Country Club in Lafayette, Louisiana, more than a decade ago.
``I have a lot of confidence in my game,'' he said. ``If I drive the ball well, and continue to chip and putt well, you never know what can happen.''
No matter how well he's playing, Perks may have a hard time adjusting to the narrow fairways and sloping greens in his first trip to Augusta National.
``A lack of experience makes it even more difficult to win,'' said David Feherty, a former European PGA Tour player who's now a golf analyst for Viacom Inc.'s CBS. ``To see him contend wouldn't be a surprise, but to see him win certainly would be.''
Perks, who has five career top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour, ranks 71st in driving distance this season with a 255m average and is tied for 109th in putting, which might be his downfall on a course that requires long tee shots and a deft touch on the greens. If history is a guide, however, Perks will probably win the Masters or another one of golf's four major championships before his career is over.
Of the 28 previous Players Championship winners, 24 have gone on to win a major. The last Players champion not to do so was 1990 winner Jodie Mudd.
Perks, who turned down offers to attend the Masters as a spectator because he wanted to earn an invitation to play there, said his style is suited for the course, which favours players who typically hit the ball from right to left.
If Perks does win, his wife said he won't choose Hooters chicken wings to be served at next year's Masters dinner, where the defending champion gets to select the menu.
``Sometimes it's good to be reminded of how far you've come, but that restaurant is such a symbol of some difficult times for us,'' she said.
LMFAOROTF at the 4th paragraph - should read "...I sure would love to see him eat somewhere else"
GOLF-MASTERS-PERKS
PERKS GOES FROM HOOTERS TOUR TO AUGUSTA NATIONAL
Augusta, Georgia, April 8, Bloomberg - Less than a mile from Augusta National Golf Club's famed Magnolia Lane entrance, New Zealand's Craig Perks can visit a reminder of his past -- a Hooters restaurant.
Perks was an occasional customer of the chain's eateries during his four years on the minor-league golf circuit sponsored by Hooters Inc, which gives its tour players discounts to eat at the restaurants known for their spicy chicken wings and scantly clad waitresses.
But Perks, who earned $US1.08 million ($NZ2.50 million) and an invitation to this week's Master Tournament for winning last month's Players Championship, can now afford to eat anywhere he wants.
``I'm sure the food is fine and the sights are adequate,'' said Perks' wife, Maureen, ``but he would rather eat somewhere else.''
By winning the Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, Perks had the biggest pay day of his career and a three-year exemption to the Masters, golf's first major event of the year.
``Obviously, the money is nice,'' the 35-year-old New Zealander said. ``But I've worked so hard to get here and show I can play with the best in the world, I hope this is not my defining moment.''
In addition to his first Masters invitation, Perks' first US PGA Tour title gave him a five-year playing exemption on the tour, eliminating his almost annual stop at qualifying school, a gruelling six-day tournament for those trying to play their way onto golf's top circuit. With two young children to support, Perks and his wife couldn't afford many luxuries during his struggling years on golf's minor-league circuits. He earned only $US11,000 for his last victory on the Hooters Tour, at a 1995 event in Mexico.
However, Perks' victory at the Players Championship has given his family more financial freedom. Maureen Perks said she recently bought her first cell phone and plans to buy a home computer.
``That would make things so much easier,'' she said.
The couple, who have a five-year-old daughter and three-year-old son, have been together since meeting in 1988 while they were students at the University of Southwestern Louisiana. During Craig's long road to the PGA Tour, Maureen said there were times they were ``flat broke'' but she never lost hope.
``If I didn't think he could do it, I don't think I would have put up with the weeks of being on my own while he was on the road,'' she said. ``It can be pretty lonely out there when things aren't going your way.''
Perks now has job security for the first time since he quit working as an assistant pro at Le Triomphe Golf & Country Club in Lafayette, Louisiana, more than a decade ago.
``I have a lot of confidence in my game,'' he said. ``If I drive the ball well, and continue to chip and putt well, you never know what can happen.''
No matter how well he's playing, Perks may have a hard time adjusting to the narrow fairways and sloping greens in his first trip to Augusta National.
``A lack of experience makes it even more difficult to win,'' said David Feherty, a former European PGA Tour player who's now a golf analyst for Viacom Inc.'s CBS. ``To see him contend wouldn't be a surprise, but to see him win certainly would be.''
Perks, who has five career top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour, ranks 71st in driving distance this season with a 255m average and is tied for 109th in putting, which might be his downfall on a course that requires long tee shots and a deft touch on the greens. If history is a guide, however, Perks will probably win the Masters or another one of golf's four major championships before his career is over.
Of the 28 previous Players Championship winners, 24 have gone on to win a major. The last Players champion not to do so was 1990 winner Jodie Mudd.
Perks, who turned down offers to attend the Masters as a spectator because he wanted to earn an invitation to play there, said his style is suited for the course, which favours players who typically hit the ball from right to left.
If Perks does win, his wife said he won't choose Hooters chicken wings to be served at next year's Masters dinner, where the defending champion gets to select the menu.
``Sometimes it's good to be reminded of how far you've come, but that restaurant is such a symbol of some difficult times for us,'' she said.
