NHL hockey player Teemu Selanne is an enthusiastic golfer – and an idol for many
All of us have an idol or role model, and although not all are prepared to grant we all have our favorite player(s), whose interesting moves we follow relentlessly. I started to play golf when I was 11 years old and still remember very well the first major tournament I watched from TV.
It was men’s U.S. Open Championship in 1997 at Congressional Country Club. Big Easy won and Monty was second, one shot behind. Three years earlier Monty lost the same title to Ernie in playoff. Well, we all know how tough times Monty has been thru in majors. Eight European Tour Order of Merit titles and Ryder Cup performances as a player and later as a captain relieves the pain a little I hope.
I did not recognize Els before the U.S. Open but I sure did recognize Monty! And why’s that so? Check out the picture of world’s funniest driver head cover (below). I bought that one on the same day when I got green card – license to play golf in Finland. Lost the head cover later, but still has Jesper Parnevik’s head still covers my spoon.
Driver’s Head Cover! It’s Monty!
Still, Monty or Ernie wasn’t my idols. Not before of after. Tiger Woods has never been either although I respect the man’s golf achievements hugely!
Corey and Payne
I knew three Finnish golfers on that time: Anssi Kankkonen (who won well respected tournament here in Finland a week ago btw.) and two Kalles: Aitala & Väinölä. Still men who were my wall posters (sorry mom about Blu-tack prints on the wall) were Corey Pavin and Payne Stewart.
That’s right. Those guys were my golf heroes. Like yesterday I remember Pavin’s fish fingers under the nose and diamond-precise putts.
First time when I cried a little because of golf was 1999, U.S. Open again. Stewart’s bold character, plus-fours, knee socks and MLB hat got a little boy’s attention. When Stewart holed his putt on the 18th green at Pinehurst leaving Phil Mickelson behind by one, I experienced a touching moment! Our great sadness, Stewart’s life ended only months later in targic plain crash.
Payne Stewart (1957-1999) was my golf hero.
GameBook Cup is getting exciting!
As the 3rd week of Golf GameBook Cup is running and the current situation is tie 1–1, Team Europe received great support from the top of the ice hockey world. We Finns love hockey and we love Teemu Selanne, Teemu loves golf J Filmed that video at Linna Golf when The Finnish Flash hosted charity tournament. Pics of the day here.
What could suit more to this post. Teemu has hundreds of thousand fans all over the world.
– Olli
@OlliLehtonen in Twitter
