From the hearth - Caddie Steve Duplantis recalling the counsel he gave Rich Beem headed into the final round of the 1999 Kemper Open. Beem was clinging to the lead seeking his first victory. Tommy refers to PGA Tour journeyman Tommy Armour III.

"So on Sunday I got in Beemer's face and told him, 'Tommy is gonna be a prick out there. He doesn't respect you, and he thinks you're weak. Well, fuck him. Who the fuck does this fuckin' guy think he is? You don't need his approval. The only friend you need out there is me. We're gonna wipe that shitty little grin off his fuckin' face. We've been shoving it up his ass all week, and we're gonna do it again today.'

"I know Tommy," Duplantis continues. "I knew he wasn't gonna talk to Rich, and that he would have this look of disdain on his face all day. I just wanted to prepare Rich for what was coming. You know how Rich is, he always wants to be friends with everybody. I didn't want him out there going, 'Gee, I don't think Tommy likes me. Why doesn't Tommy like me? What can I do to make Tommy like me?' Fuck Tommy. This was business."

From Bud, Sweat, & Tees by Alan Shipnuck, Simon & Schuster, 2001. Reprinted without permission.

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