The 5-under-par 65 that Kyle Gallo shot to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the Connecticut Open at the Country Club of Fairfield on Monday was inspired. Inspired? Yes, inspired — by playing partner Ken Green.
“I told Kenny he’s my new hero,” said Gallo, whose only previous pairing with Green was in the first two rounds of the 2002 PGA Tour qualifying school finals. “How can I comment on what he’s been through?”
Gallo said he — and no one else — knows exactly what it’s like trying to play golf after having the lower part of your right leg amputated and losing your girlfriend (Jeannie), brother (Billy) and dog (Nip) in a horrific RV accident nearly 14 months ago and then having your son (Hunter) found dead in his dorm room at Southern Methodist University from an accidental drug overdose in January.
But Gallo, a three-time champion, sure had some stirring words about Green. “I have tremendous admiration for the guy for what he’s been through, what he’s done and what he did today,” said Gallo, who shot nine less than the two-time champion. “It was very special, and I consider myself very fortunate to have been paired with him and (2003 winner) Steve (Sokol), whom I’ve known for many years. I wouldn’t want to be paired with anybody else than (Green) today. That was an absolute treat to see that first-hand. I’ll definitely take a lot away from this as it soaks in over the years and looking back on this day. Whether he makes it here tomorrow or not is relevant to what this State Open is right now.”
Gallo said it’s “amazing” that Green, a Danbury native now living in West Palm Beach, Fla., has been able to keep a somewhat positive attitude after what he has endured. “The game is hard enough, but to see him come out here …,” Gallo said. “He’s got to be in pain, not only with what’s going on inside his head but physically. I saw him grimace a few times, but it’s so inspiring and puts things in perspective. The more you live, the more bad things tend to happen and the more experiences you have. I think 10 years ago I probably would have looked at it in a different light as far as brushing it off, but to recognize what he’s been through and to see him out here just giving it all he’s got is just something to admire. His score is irrelevant. It means nothing. What he did in the past and is doing now just keeps him going.”
The free-spirited Green, who turned 52 on Thursday, said he wasn’t sure if he would make his 8:10 a.m. starting time Tuesday but was generally satisfied with how he played to finish in a tie for 49th (the low 40, plus ties, make the cut Tuesday), beating 70 able-bodied entries. Green did it riding in a cart with longtime friend/caddie Greg Begler that the Connecticut State Golf Association allowed Green to use, though he did back off several shots because of pain. He putted with a miniature golf putter (24 inches). His hat had a NIP pin on it. He wore a shirt that had a golf ball logo on the sleeve with the words Jeannie, Bill, Hunter and Nip under a 14th-hole flag (the 14th was his former girlfriend’s birthday). His green (of course) prostheses included golf balls inscribed with Jeannie, Billy, Hunter, Nip and BJHN (for all four).
“It’s a different world that I’m in,” said Green, a five-time PGA Tour winner and now a part-timer on the Champions Tour. “Finishing 18 holes is the first accomplishment with the leg problems I’ve had. So when you do that, you have to say, ‘OK, that was a positive.’ “My brain is still my brain, so you don’t like shooting 74s, but it was just a fraction away. The lowest I’ve shot in competition is 2 over, so I was just a fraction from that.”
While Green’s swing and game have changed, his humor hasn’t. After the first of two putts rimmed the cup and stayed out, Green walked off the green and muttered, “I still lip out the same.” When he hit a low shot into the right rough, he said, “Nice shank.” And Green certainly is high on determination.
“Lately, it’s more of trying to get rid of the pain,” he said. “That’s my first priority, to get through days without slitting my throat. When that (no pain) happens … I believe it will happen. Can I go out and shoot scores? It’s there, just a question of how to make certain swings under certain conditions. But being out here and just playing is just an automatic high. It’s weird because you’re so happy to be just playing, but then when you don’t play well, part of you is, ‘Oh, some of those lips outs.’ You pretty much lost everything in life, have to start over and figure it out. I’ll never be angry. I might be angry at a shot or moment now where I knew where I was. I was expressive back in my earlier years. You knew how I felt. It’s kind of ironic because they’re begging for players to show emotions.”
Green could play and show some of his emotion for the first time since pain forced him to withdraw from the final round of the Champions Tour’s Dick’s Sporting Goods Open on June 28 only because of a recent procedure in which a doctor stuck “big ass needles” with minus-100 degree Freon in his leg to try to kill one nerve that had curled up. They froze me up pretty good, and I didn’t feel much,” Green said. “The other option is to slice me open and cut it out. I’ve played twice since the Dick’s, and here I am trying to shoot a decent score. But I haven’t done anything on a brand new leg, really, in the last few weeks. But what I’ve done (since the accident) is pretty good. It’s my world to get these (pain) zaps. It’s a bolt of pain. I say to myself, ‘I have to get rid of this nerve issue.’ I really think I can play some quality rounds. I’m really curious as what will happen, but I can’t stay like this forever.”
Green showed some flashes of brilliance while hitting 13 of 14 fairways, but he hit only nine greens in regulation and missed nine of 11 putts from 4-to-10 feet, including for birdie at his first hole, No. 10, and for par at his last, No. 9. He finished with one birdie (30-yard pitch to 3 feet at the par-5 first) and five bogeys, with his best shot coming at No. 12, where he lofted a 50-foot pitch shot over a bunker to 3 feet and made the putt for par.
Meanwhile, Gallo, shooting for a record-tying fourth State Open title, had six birdies and one bogey to finish two ahead of Cody Paladino (Timberlin GC-Berlin) and amateur Brian Murphy (Brooklawn CC-Fairfield). Murphy’s 67 started with a bogey at the par-5 10th hole, and he then made two pars and six birdies for a back-nine 29 before closing with a bogey and double bogey in his final two holes for a 2-over 38 on the front nine.
“I’m very pleased,” said Gallo, of Hop Meadow CC in Simsbury. “I missed one shot all day that cost me a bogey (at the par-4 16th). I feel the 65 could have been a 62 or 63, definitely feel I left shots out there. But considering the (windy) conditions and how well I struck the ball and thought my way around the course and how well I made putts on a little bumpy greens late in the day, I’m thrilled.”
Gallo, who won his second of three State Open titles at Fairfield in 2000, said it was his best round of the year. “It was very nice to see because I’ve been working very hard at Hop Meadow (with teaching pro Ken Doyle) but haven’t really seen much out of my golf game,” said Gallo, who also won in 1998 and 2004 before playing on the Nationwide Tour in 2005-06. “I’ve played well, but it’s always even (par), 1 under, 2 under and then scrape it around to an even-par round. Nothing ever seemed to flow and finally everything was on, from the driver to the irons and putter. I’ve been waiting for this all year, so it was nice to come in the first round, with the morning round tomorrow. The only way to play well in the wind is to hit it solid, and I did that and hit my spots all over the golf course. Hopefully tomorrow the wind is a little less and the greens a little smoother. If I bring the same game, then that 63 or 64 might be out there.”
If so, Gallo would be well on his way to winning the $10,000 first prize and, more importantly, joining John Golden (1932-35) as the championship’s only four-time winners. Green, meanwhile, doubts even making the cut Tuesday will get him to the final round Wednesday. “The odds of (playing three days) are pretty slim,” Green said. “I just do one day at a time. In my case, it’s one hour at a time. I’ll see what happens (Monday night). If (the leg) fires up, I’ll just say no (on playing Tuesday).”
Despite the thoughts of Gallo and anyone else who sees Green play, Kenny says he doesn’t consider himself an inspiration. “It’s hard to think of myself that way,” he said. “I do understand (the last year) has been pretty bizarre. We’re trying to do some things that are good for me. If I can turn it around and do it for other people, put a little smile on their face or a slap on the back, he or she can regroup. “It’s not such a bad deal that I’m going through. I’m starting to do stuff with the disabled and Wounded Warriors in Florida. I’ll do whatever I can. It’s my job, my obligation.”
Kenny, you don’t think you’re inspiring? Don’t tell that to Kyle — or me. I watched you play for the first time since your accident, and I must say I was more moved than when you were winning tour events and representing the United States in the Ryder Cup.
Here’s hoping Ken can make the cut and play 54 holes, though more pain and suffering is the last thing anyone, including the championship leader and yours truly, wants to see for the gritty Green.
Leave a comment