The Boo Files: "This golf is a crazy game. That's why I only want to do it for so long and get out of it."
/Boo Weekley successfully defends his Heritage Classic title, drops three aint's and two reckons, and as usual provides more transcript entertainment than the rest of the PGA Tour's finest combined.
Q. Did you ever doubt yourself today?
BOO WEEKLEY: Yes, once or twice I did. I mean, I just kind of aggravated -- like on 10, I got probably the lowest point I got all day was on 10. They just put us on the clock, you know, we're under two minutes or two hours on our time, you know, and it's kind of hard to believe they had us on the clock. The guys in front of us were playing pretty quick. It kind of got aggravating and, okay, there you go, you kind of give it away now hitting shots like that. That was my lowest point.
It was the guys in front going fast, not Boo and buds playing slow. I like that rationalization.
Q. Do you think the adrenaline and your emotional state today had anything to do with you getting the rights?
BOO WEEKLEY: No, ma'am, I had the rights all day. I had them all week with the driver and a little bit with the iron. I was standing on the tee box or on the practice round this morning and I had the pulls.
This golf is a crazy game. That's why I only want to do it for so long and get out of it (laughter).
Not yet please.
Q. Golf has always had an elitist label on it. Do you think you might be an inspiration to guys out there who talk like you and chew like you?
BOO WEEKLEY: I'm pretty sure I do. I hope it's mostly the kids. That's who you want to touch anyway is the kids. And I hope they don't chew.
SI's Gary Van Sickle filed this Boo tribute on the golf.com Press Tent blog, including this killer Boo story (along with one other, so hit the link.)
I was standing behind the 18th green at the end of Saturday's round when CBS commentator Jim Nantz climbed down from the telecast tower and ambled toward the players' scoring trailer. I talked to him for a minute but he was interested in getting some face time, he said, with Boo. They had never met, Nantz said.
When Boo signed his card and came out, Nantz was there to introduce himself and have a short, smiling conversation.
Later, after Boo finished another rollicking interview session in the press tent, I asked him about meeting Nantz. "Wail (that's southern for "Well"), he said he just wanted to put a face with a name," Boo said. "He was real nice."
"What was the conversation about?" I asked, "Did he ask any deep questions?"
Boo shook his head. "I don't even know what he does," he said.
"He's a golf commentator," I said. "I'm sure you've heard him on college basketball or football."
"Wail, either I don't watch much of that or I just don't listen," he said, non-plussed.