One of the great sportswriters of our time was honored last night with the PGA of America Lifetime Achievement in Journalism at the annual Golf Writers Association of America dinner in Augusta.
Sirak doesn’t just write about the PGA Tour and the men that dominate the headlines. He covers the business side of the game, the amateurs and most importantly the women in the game.
The LPGA, LET and the women that make up those sometimes overlooked tours have been featured by Sirak for years. He was a pioneer in bringing the women’s game to the forefront and is partly responsible for the popularity of their game today.
On the rare occasions that I am in a media center with Sirak it’s always fun to try and eavesdrop on him telling one of his wonderful stories. When he isn’t busy writing golf he’s probably talking golf.
He gave a wonderfully entertaining acceptance speech and of course told a few stories. He’s one of the personalities that make this game special.
Two Classics: Sirak & Jenkins
The love of the people who do this job is as much of a reason why we do it as the love of the job itself. No one gets rich and famous as a journalist. Well, OK, Rick Reilly, but it’s a short list.
I want to single out three editors. 20 years ago, Terry Taylor at the AP listened to my plan to expand golf coverage to include not just the PGA Tour but women, amateurs, the recreational game, the business of golf. She let me build a bridge from Bob Green to Doug Ferguson, who’s taken the beat to a place I never dreamed of. Thanks, Terry.
Mike O’Malley at Golf Digest is simply the best line editor I’ve worked with. He asks the right questions, he fights for journalism and he treats writers with respect. Thanks, Mike.
And I owe three debts of gratitude to Golf Digest editor-in-chief and chairman Jerry Tarde. First, he hired me; Then, when I had an offer to leave, he wouldn’t let me go and third and most important, professionally and personally he’s always had my back.
I write a lot about the news of golf: TV deals, title sponsorships, endorsements, changes in leadership in organizations. And when you write about news you are sure to ruffle some feathers. The message from Jerry to me has always been, “You do your job. Be a reporter. And I’ll do my job and deal with the fallout.” Thanks, Jerry.
Here it is easy to see where Sirak likes to spend his time working:
Combining golf and journalism is my dream job. I love everything about it. And I cherish the relationships I have with the game’s organizations: The PGA of America, USGA, R&A, PGA Tour, European Tour, Augusta National Golf Club and others. Their trust in me has made me better able to do my job.
But I do need to single out one group that has brought me special joy – the LPGA. I’ve known LPGA commissioners John Laupheimer, Charlie Mechem, Jim Ritts, Ty Votaw, somebody whose name I forget, Marty Evans and Mike Whan. I’m not sure why I became such an advocate for women’s golf. Maybe it was because my Mom worked as a welder during the day and then as a cleaning woman at night to take care of us. In the LPGA founders I have been fortunate to become friends with – Louise Suggs, Marilynn Smith, Shirley Spork among them – and some of those who followed, like Kathy Whitworth and Patty Sheehan as well as Morgan Pressel and Stacy Lewis, who are here tonight, I saw women as strong as Mom. And I saw people who were trying to hold them down, belittle them. I wasn’t going to let that happen. I’ve always felt the biggest critics of the LPGA both among fans and media are people who don’t go to their tournaments. Once you go, you are a convert.
Click here for the entire text on Virtually Certain Missy.com.
Related Articles
