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The Time isNOW It's an important time for Illinois native Todd Hamilton, who is seeing some of the perks for his 2004 British Open win nearing an end By Art Stricklin At the end of his British Open odyssey in 2004, Todd Hamilton had possession of the Claret Jug, one of golf’s most revered prizes. PHOTOS BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS BY THE ASSOCIATED 20 | CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLFER WWW.CDGA.ORG he long and lands of the Japanese Tour, to winding road becoming a 38-year-old PGA Tour Illinois native rookie, to a British Open title at Royal Todd Hamilton Troon, to five mostly inglorious years has taken in his wandering in golf’s wilderness. professional golf Hamilton sometimes shakes his career would be head in disbelief over the journey, Tenough to make many people queasy but the Dallas-area resident says with from motion sickness: from the conviction that as the 2009 season small-town, nine-hole course in heads into its second half, he feels his Biggsville to the plains of the career is again headed in the correct University of Oklahoma, to the exotic direction. JULY 2009 CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLFER | 21 “I know I’ve done it, played his utility wood to get THE TODD HAMILTON FILE himself out of trouble, well, but it just takes some AGE: 43 he stayed steady as others fell back. guys longer than others to BORN: Galesburg, Ill. After a bogey on the feel comfortable and feel RESIDES: Westlake, Texas 72nd hole to fall into like they belong.” COLLEGE: University of a playoff with Els, Oklahoma (three-time Hamilton put together All-American) four straight pars in the four-hole playoff With the five-year exemption (for a PGA Tour playing TURNED PROFESSIONAL: 1987 to earn a one-stroke card) he received for winning the British Open about to run PGA TOUR VICTORIES: 2 victory. out, Hamilton is again playing some inspired golf. The perks (Honda Classic and British “It was a great thrill, awarded for winning a major championship are about to Open, both in 2004) that’s something I will reach their expiration date, which means if Hamilton wants always remember,” he CAREER PGA TOUR EARNINGS to play in the 2010 majors, he’ll have to earn his place said. in them. (through 2008): $4,483,753 After his playoff “I played pro golf for a long time, and once you get the INTERNATIONAL VICTORIES: victory, Hamilton ret- taste, get the juices going, it’s like baseball players in a long 14, including the Singapore urned to Texas and slump,” Hamilton said. “You get a couple of homers, then Masters (1992) and two Japan was honored by his break out with a long string of base hits, and it’s the same GA Match Play Championships home club in Dallas thing in golf.” with a lavish party and Without a top-15 finish in all of 2008 or celebration. a top-30 in 2007, Hamilton already has two As an extended top-15 finishes in the first half of 2009, thank you to many including his best Masters finish, a tie for of his North Texas 15th, that earned him a return invitation for friends, Hamilton 2010. He earned more money in the first often would tote the four months of 2009 than he did in all but famed Claret Jug in the three of his past PGA Tour seasons. back seat of his car “Golf is such a mental game,” he said, when he was going to “that if you’re not mentally into it, it’s tough. the golf course so his I needed to see something good happen, friends and club not just for nine holes or 18 holes, but for members could get a 36 holes or longer.” look at it up close and After capturing the British Open have their picture Championship title in 2004 in Scotland as a taken with it. long shot—in three previous British Open He said he’s not far starts he had two missed cuts and a tie personality-wise from for 44th—Hamilton acknowledged he his small town Illinois was taken aback by the increased roots, where he knew responsibilities he faced and the new just about everybody expectations as well. growing up and many “I know I’ve done it, played well, but it felt they had a part of just takes some guys longer than others to his golfing success. feel comfortable and feel like they belong “Sure, my parents and I guess I’m one of those guys,” he said. Todd Hamilton at the 2009 Masters still live up there and “I just know I’m not on the list of best will call when I do players not to win a major. well,” he said. “I get a text message from my sister, who is still “Most people think you should win a couple times before a up there. My best friend from high school lives in the major, but sometimes it’s the other way around. Tiger had to Champaign area. He has my number and will call after a good win his first major sometime, you know.” week.” Going into the final round of that British Open at Royal While he has lived in North Texas since leaving the Troon, Hamilton held a one-stroke lead over Ernie Els and was University of Oklahoma in 1987, he said other than another two better than Phil Mickelson and Retief Goosen. Often using major championship, nothing would mean more than a PGA 22 | CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLFER WWW.CDGA.ORG More than 35 CDGA member clubs utilize HUB for their insurance needs What’s Your Risk Management Strategy? 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PROPERTY and CASUALTY EMPLOYEE BENEFITS Endorsed by: Business Property Insured and Self-funded Health Plans Comprehensive Business Liability Group Life Insurance Business Interruption Accidental Death and Dismemberment Tee to Green Coverage Dental Plans Pollution Liability Vision Plans Flood & Earthquake 401(k), 403(b), Pension, and Profit Sharing Workers’ Compensation Cafeteria Plans IER C M L E U R B Dram Shop/ Liquor Liability Short and Long Term Disability Plans P Directors and Officers Liability Professional Employer Organization (PEO) A HUB Division I N S S E Umbrella U C R I A V N R Employment Practices Liability C E S E Loss Control and Risk Management Services Mark Toral, Vice President Jeffrey Wilson, Hospitality Benefits Leader 312-279-4643 312-279-4858 [email protected] [email protected] Insurance and Risk Management Solutions for Golf and Country Clubs TODD HAMILTON, 2004-08 Here’s an event-by-event summary of Todd Hamilton’s PGA Tour starts since 2004, the year of his British Open victory. His two wins in 2004 came at the Honda Classic and the British Open. Since his major championship, he has only two top-10 finishes: at the 2004 American Express Championship in Ireland and the ‘06 John Deere Classic. ‘04 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■★ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■★ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ A year to remember: Two wins, season earnings of $3.063 million ‘05 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Finished in the top 45 just once after the Byron Nelson in mid-May ‘06 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ John Deere Classic (T10) provided more than half his earnings ‘07 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Played on the weekend just once in his first 12 events ‘08 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Made the cut in three majors for the second time in his career ■ Missed cut or withdrew ■ Made cut ■ Top-10 Finish ■★ Won Tour win at the John Deere Classic in the Quad Cities, where Hamilton will have to he first saw professional golf in person. consider two dreaded “The John Deere would be a better representation of my words—Qualifying home area,” said Hamilton. “I grew up around there and played School—or returning a lot of golf there.” to Japan, where he With his exemption from winning the British Open running enjoyed great success. out at the end of this season, the possibility exists that But Hamilton said he feels he’s getting closer to regaining his top 2004 form. “I really feel good and think I should have won at Harbour Town this year,” he said. “I am making progress, but I am still wasting shots here and there. When I Remember when? Todd Hamilton shocked the golf world with his 2004 miss it’s a little easier British Open victory. up-and-down. It’s a very fine line between winning and losing out here.” Hamilton said he doesn’t get upset when he hears people refer to him as one of the most unlikely of major championship winners. He believes in himself, his playing career and, most importantly, his PGA Tour prospects for 2009 and beyond. “It doesn’t bother me,” he said. “I think a lot of people who would say this only believe the U.S. tour exists. If they want to The Tradition Continues get on the computer and do some research, they can see what I’ve accomplished overseas. 2009 Amateur Tournaments “I’ve searched for confidence and had some good weeks earlier this year and that should have me going down the good path.” It’s a path that will lead to the British Open Championship this summer at Turnberry Golf Club in Scotland and, Hamilton hopes, a return to the smoother travels along golf’s winding cpdgolf.com road. Art Stricklin is a freelance writer based in Plano, Texas.

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