Andreas Huber
Scottsdale, Ariz.
Hometown: Garden City, N.Y.
Home Golf Course: Garden City Golf Club, Garden City, N.Y.
Birthday: 2/28/80
College: Georgetown University
Interests: Snowboarding and Travel
Family: Single
Andreas Huber is a former Wall Street broker who left the color of money to seek his fortune on the green.
Huber, son of actress Susan Lucci, played golf at Georgetown University, where despite playing consistently for his first three years with scores ranging from level par to a few strokes over par, he never felt that playing on the PGA TOUR was a sure shot. After graduation, he became a lucrative trader on Wall Street. It was something he enjoyed, but he realized after five years that golf was a career he always wanted. He knew that he could always come back to Wall Street but didn’t feel that way about golf. At 27, with his finances in order – a luxury that most Big Break contestants don’t enjoy – he left Wall Street, a decision he now calls the best one he’s ever made considering the current economic climate.
The spring and summer of 2007 was spent practicing and playing in amateur events before turning professional in the fall. For the next two years, Huber got acclimated to life on the mini tours while competing on the Canadian Tour. Out of 12 events in 2008, he made only one cut and finished tied for 62nd.
This year he has been working hard on his game and preparing for the European Tour and PGA TOUR qualifying schools. While confident that he will find success this fall in the qualifying tournaments, Huber has indicated that should he fail to qualify, he may hang up the competitive clubs for good and go back to Wall Street.
Q: What made you leave a successful job on Wall Street to play golf?
It was more watching the U.S. Open on the trading floor and dreaming about playing. I did fairly well in amateur tournaments in the New York area without playing that much, so I thought I should give it a try. Some people thought I was a little crazy, but my parents were very supportive, and my friends were excited, because they want to have a friend that played on TOUR.
Q: Are there similarities in the dedication it takes to be successful in both working on Wall Street and playing golf?
On Wall Street, you have to be disciplined and structured in your day. I tried to take that over into golf. It is harder, because it is just you, and you must structure your day like you want. It is not like in a job where you do the same thing every day. In golf, if you let yourself go, it is just you, and there is no one to answer to. The beauty of the business of golf is that if you shoot low numbers, then you make more money.
Q: Why do you think that you were selected for Big Break Disney Golf?
I think that I was selected for Big Break because I come from a family with a mother that is an actress, and also because I worked on Wall Street for five years before I turned professional. I am excited to be on the show. I think that I have a really good chance to succeed, and I’m excited to test my skills under pressure.
Q: How has your mother’s celebrity impacted your career choice?
My mom has inspired me in many ways, the most important being her work ethic. I take from her the idea that I want to try and succeed in everything that I do. One of the advantages of growing up in the environment I did was getting to travel to some cool places.
Q: How do you think that Big Break Disney Golf differs from other Big Break seasons?
This one will be different because we’ve got 12 completely different people who are really good at golf and all have unique personalities. It really is a diverse group.
Andrew Giuliani
New York, N.Y.
Hometown: New York, N.Y.
Home Golf Course: Trump National, Westchester, N.Y.
Birthday: 1/30/86
College: Duke University
Interests: All New York Sports
Family: Single
Son of Donna Hanover and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Andrew Giuliani is an aspiring professional attempting to make a name in golf. However, the combination of his last name and a dispute with Duke University that led to a lawsuit has overshadowed his budding golf career.
Since turning professional in January, he has taken steps to focus people’s attention on his golf. In August, he won the 94th Met Open Championship to join the likes of golf legends Walter Hagen, Byron Nelson and Gene Sarazen, as well as current PGA TOUR player Johnson Wagner, as a winner of the event. Giuliani fired a final round 71 for a 3-under-par total at Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, N.J. to earn the $27,500 winner’s portion of the $150,000 purse, the largest payout for a regional championship. It marked the New York, N.Y. native’s first victory as a professional.
"This is a big-time first step," said Giuliani. "To win a championship like this for my first pro victory in my home area, it's just awesome. It's the culmination of a lot of work I've been doing on my game, and hopefully, it's a step onto even greater things in the future."
Originally, he had not considered Big Break as a possible outlet for his game. However, traveling the Gateway Tour with Andreas Huber and Jamie Miller (son of two-time former Big Breaker, Cindy Miller), gave him a glimpse into the Big Break experience. A discussion with Cindy Miller about her experiences on the Big Break changed his mind and convinced him it would be a great experience and test for his game.
Q: You seem to have a good mental game that allows you to understand your skills and you play to your strengths.
I think if you’re able to focus on what you need to do and the best ways to help yourself as a competitor out there by using the mental side, you make the physical side of the game so much easier. Really focusing in on the target is a great suggestion I have for all amateur players or younger players. You know you’re capable, and you don’t need to show ridiculous amounts of emotion to let people know that you care about the game. Your job as a competitor is to get yourself as ready for each shot as possible. If you do that, then you’re going to have an advantage over the field.
Q: After Big Break, what do you want viewers to think about you?
It’s one of those things, you know, people think what they want to think. One of the great things about this country is that we have our opinions and are allowed to express them without consequence. I hope that people see a guy that stays consistent and focused on the goal when he needs to pull off a big shot. I feel that I really try to focus on every single shot, no matter what the importance, but I hope they see somebody that’s a “good stick.”
Q: Was there pressure to go into politics?
As the son of Donna Hanover and Rudy Giuliani, I’ve been given some great opportunities in life. To be honest, I haven’t had any pressure to go down the political path. I have a real passion for sports. I love my Yankees baseball and Giants football. Golf is amazing. I have been able to find so much solitude in it. I love competing, not just against other players, but against the golf course and myself. You really find out what you are made of.
Q: Why do you think that you were selected for Big Break?
I think I was selected because I have some game and have a pretty solid amateur record. In my first six months as an amateur, I have done some good things. I’ve also been in the news for some other things, so I think it is a combination of both my playing performance and past history off the course.
Q: What are you looking to get out of the Big Break?
I’m looking to win. I honestly think that I can come in here and win. I know there are 12 really good players out here, but I feel very confident in my mental game. I feel that my short game is as good as it’s ever been, and I’m really looking forward to going out here and competing. I feel very confident, and I think it’s going to be a fun time.
Blake Moore
Monrovia, Calif.
Hometown: Monrovia, Calif.
Home Golf Course: Angeles National Golf Course, Sunland, Calif.
Birthday: 2/17/84
College: University of Colorado
Interests: Mountains, Movies, Eating and Bars
Family: Single
Blake Moore is a feisty competitor with a temper that flairs in angry outbursts when his game goes awry. A bad shot, an errant putt or a poor swing can result in any number of volcanic eruptions from the California native. After playing golf at the University of Colorado, where he was suspended for a year after a disagreement with his coach, Moore worked for six months in a sales firm’s intense training program to prepare him for a full-time career. Against both his family’s wishes and his better judgment, Moore finished the program and was hired. He had a nice salary, a good job and was set to begin life as a professional. However, with a sense that the job was a huge mistake, he quit before signing a contract. That was two and a half years ago, and after turning professional in 2008, he says that he couldn’t be happier playing on the Hooters and Tarheel Tours--except, of course, playing on the PGA TOUR.
Q: What would you like viewers of Big Break Disney Golf to remember about you?
I hope they feel my passion, even though sometimes it’s portrayed a little differently. I do have a bit of a temper, but I am myself, and I’m sure that anyone that plays with me can attest that I get pretty heated. But I am being myself, and I do show passion.
Q: When you say “get pretty heated,” is that just your way of releasing a bad shot?
It’s never towards another player. If I pop a little temper tantrum, I’ll be like, “ah bleep bleep bleep.” And then, “oh hey, nice shot man.” It’s always towards me. As far as it being a release, I wish it was more of one. I don’t think it really affects me too much hole by hole, but it might affect the next shot. I’m just an emotional player who rides the highs and lows. Unfortunately, it’s not great, but it’s just me.
Q: You have a passion for the game. Is that what drives you?
I don’t think it’s necessarily a passion for the game, it’s more of a passion for winning and pushing yourself hard enough to where you’re performing the best you possibly can, regardless of the profession. I tried the real world thing, and I didn’t have too much energy about it, so my commitment level and work ethic wasn’t as good as it should have been. Starting the golf thing, I made a promise to myself that if it doesn’t work out, I want to be able to look back and say I did everything that I possibly could to give myself a chance. And if it just wasn’t good enough, so be it.
Q: What company did you work with, and can you give us the story about your return to golf?
I worked with Countrywide Financial Mortgage firm. Right out of school, I had a choice to either pursue golf or take a pretty good job that provided me some financial freedom, and I chose to take the position at Countrywide. It was a training program with 40 other kids my age living in the same apartment complex and basically going to school for six months while getting paid. The day I was told that I got my position, which was sales, I left to pursue golf, just because my heart wasn’t in it, and I was miserable doing it. I was really unhappy. No knock on them, it was a great experience. To this day, I recommend to anyone who wants to pursue golf that they get a taste of the real world for a little while, just to see how lucky we are to actually be playing golf, even on mini tours.
Q: Have you ever been playing in a tournament and perhaps were shooting just over par, but felt lucky that you weren’t in an office?
I do say that. Unfortunately, people may not believe that I say it. Sometimes I don’t look like I’m having that much fun, and sometimes I’m not. But at the end of the day, no matter if I shoot 65 or 85, I really enjoy being out there on tour, whatever tour it may be.
Ed Moses
Hollywood, Calif.
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
Home Golf Course: Bay Hill Lodge and Club, Orlando, Fla.
Birthday: 6/7/80
College: University of Virginia
Interests: Sports and Winning
Family: Single
Ed Moses reached the pinnacle in one sport and has turned his sights to another challenge. As a swimmer, he was a gold (4 x 100 medley relay team) and silver (100 meter breaststroke) medalist in the 2000 Summer Olympics. As a golfer, he is still in the shallow end of the pool, learning the skills needed to become a PGA TOUR caliber player.
Upon retiring from swimming in 2005, he moved to Orlando, Fla. and joined Bay Hill Lodge and Club after writing a letter to Arnold Palmer. At that point, he picked up the clubs and started taking lessons with Kevin Smeltz at the David Ledbetter Golf Academy. A career highlight was shooting 64 from the member’s tees at Bay Hill and being congratulated by Palmer. After practicing for almost a year, he played in a celebrity charity event, on the Hooters Tour and on the US Pro Golf Tour.
In addition to pursuing golf, he operates a production company that prevents him from playing in as many tournaments as he needs to keep his game sharp.
Q: Explain why Big Break Disney Golf is important to you?
Big Break Disney Golf is important to me because it feeds the beast that I have inside. There’s no challenge and nothing that I can’t do, and I honestly believe that. When I wake up every day, I want something in front of me that either most people think is impossible or that I want to sacrifice and put a lot of energy towards. Obviously, golf is one of those things, and Big Break parallels those challenges in golf. I felt like it would be a huge opportunity for me to understand what it’s like to compete with the best, to be around the people that are the best and to feel that energy and that anxiousness. I saw all the pros that had competed on Big Break, so I had to take the opportunity.
Q: Compared to swimming in the Olympics, do golf and your business ventures serve as outlets to fill a void or are they merely a progression from your prior success?
That’s a tough question. I want to say that both are the answer. Ever since I was young, I’ve played sports and I’ve been good at sports--I’ve been great at sports. I went to the top public university and made great grades, so I think competing and meeting challenges is who I am. When you say fill a void, I wouldn’t call it a void. It’s something that exists in my life at all times, and that’s something that—I don’t know where I got it from, whether it’s my parents or I developed it at a young age— is probably all of the above. It’s my environment, and it is how I’m built, so if that’s what we’re going to call filling a void, then yes, I have to have it. I have to have that situation, those competitive environments where I have something to lose, or I believe I have something to lose.
Q: How do you follow up on a gold medal, regardless of the career path you take?
The toughest question to answer in sports is what’s next? I’ve won a gold medal, and I’ve broken a world record, so you have to dig deep, really deep, to find out why you do what you do, why you do what you love. To be honest with you, I don’t think it was swimming that I loved. I didn’t grow up from the time that I was five years old saying I’m going to be the next Olympic gold medalist.
I just picked up the game of golf three years ago. And I just started a new entertainment company six months ago. So I can’t say that I have a passion for a specific field. I think I have a passion for competing, for doing something, and I always have to be in the mix. I really think that they’re just the vehicle for my operation, because once I prove to myself that I can do something, that’s what I want to do. I feel like I have to achieve it.
Obviously, I dabbled in swimming a couple of years after the medals, but it wasn’t the same. It just was not the same. David Duval probably had a very similar question—he proved to himself that he could get there, why go on? What else is there? That’s a life long question for sports—are you doing it because you just love that passion to win or because you really love your sport, love your craft? For me, I think my craft is winning and competing.
Q: The further you get from Olympic glory, does it become more important to you?
Absolutely. From the day I put that gold medal around my neck, to where I am now, it’s exponentially more important to me, and how I questioned myself that I actually did it. People ask me, “What did it feel like when you won a gold medal? What did it feel like when you won a silver medal? What does it feel like when you break a world record?” When you’re dong it, you become so engulfed in it that it’s just who you are. I dreamt of those moments, of breaking world records, winning medals, so when they happened, I already felt like I had experienced it and that I had already been that for years. When I first tell people it’s nothing, they’re a little caught off guard, but when I explain it to them, they see my point that you become 100% what you do. What I won and achieved in swimming, it was nothing. But the further away that I move from it, the more I look back on it.
Gipper Finau
Lehi, Utah
Hometown: Rose Park, Utah
Home Golf Course: Thanksgiving Point Golf Club, Lehi, Utah
Birthday: 8/19/90
Interests: Basketball and Tennis
Family: Single
“I hit the golf ball farther than my older brother Tony.” You’ll never be able to convince Gipper Finau otherwise, and he may be correct, once driving a par 5 that measured over 500 yards. The younger of the two brothers, he was the first to excel in golf. At the age of six, he won his second event playing against 10, 11 and 12-year-olds. Eventually, the two brothers were among the top ranked amateurs in the country in their age divisions.
In 2006, at 16, he became the youngest player to make the cut in a Nationwide Tour event. After the tournament he said, “hopefully I’ll get my driver’s license soon.” The following year, while still 16, he turned professional to compete in The Ultimate Game at Wynn Las Vegas.
The brothers are very close and spend much of their time at David Leadbetter’s Academy, due to their mutual sponsorship through Callaway Golf. Leadbetter’s range looks like a who’s who of the LPGA Tour, PGA TOUR and Champions Tour, and both Tony and Gipper have played many rounds of golf with Greg Norman, Nick Price, Charles Howell and Andy Bean, who the boys call their favorite.
Q: Did you ever consider playing college golf or was your mind set to turn pro?
Growing up, I only had my eye on going pro. I wasn’t looking forward to doing your “average Joe” stuff where you go to college and play for a couple of years before turning pro. I felt like this is what I wanted to do. The time felt right, so my brother and I turned pro early because we just wanted to get out there and do what we want to do.
Q: How rewarding is it to be making this journey with your brother?
It is, especially playing in Big Break. I wouldn’t be as far as I am without him and hopefully it is the same for him. Everyday we push each other and I think we make each other better. That is why we have gotten better, faster. One day I’m down and he’s up. We are always keeping each other on a steady mark and moving.
Q: Will you be more worried about yourself or your brother in the series?
There are 12 guys, but our chances are double since there are two of us. It is going to be nerve-wracking. They tell you to avoid going through the elimination round and try to keep yourself in the game. We have seen previous series, and it seems like simple shots, but there has to be something to it. Maybe it is the pressure or maybe the pressure of going home scares you. So Tony and I had a chat, and we decided to make it one shot at a time and let’s just see what happens.
Q: Sparing the technical aspect of your swing, where does your power come from?
Growing up, my dad didn’t know anything about golf, so when I wanted to get into it, he looked into it. It was better because my dad didn’t know much about golf and that created a “sky’s the limit” attitude. Tony and I went out and didn’t have any expectations; we were thinking every day that we could play anyone and nothing was impossible on the golf course.
So growing up, my dad let us chip for two years to get the feeling of the wrists. When he gave us a driver, we had held off for two years so we just started ripping it. I would go out with my dad’s buddies. They would hit it really far, and I would try to hit it farther than them. So it was out of control until we got used to it, and then we started to control our swing. By the age of 12, we found that we had the downswing to this game, but now we needed to control our feet, because our feet were out of control.
Now our swings still have the speed but definitely have control. I think that’s what helped us because while growing up, it was kind of an ego thing. Tony pushed me to be longer. He would hit a drive and tell me he was longer, and I would say, “No, I’m longer.” We would try to be longer than each other each year. When we were at our max, we averaged 350 yards, which is scary.
Q: What is the story behind driving a par 5?
It was a links-type course with no trees, kind of like St. Andrews where the ball just rolls. The hole was about 565 yards, and we were sitting on the tee talking about if we could hit it that far. So I looked at my brother, and I was like, “let’s have a long drive contest.” I teed off first and took the biggest swing that I could and just ripped it. I felt like I was eight again. I told my brother that if you drive it longer than me, I will admit to anyone that you are the longest one in the world. Then he rips one, and when we get to the green there was a guy waiting for us. I had hit the guy on the leg. He was laughing and said he wanted to wait to see who hit it that far. I felt sorry for hitting him, but he said he was sorry, because he stopped it from going a little farther. Tony was about 20 yards behind me. I won the contest, and it was a pretty rare opportunity to putt for double eagle.
J.R. Reyes
Omaha, Neb.
Hometown: San Diego, Calif.
Home Golf Course: Brookside Golf Club, Pasadena, Calif.
Birthday: 7/10/81
College: University of Nebraska / University of Southern California/ California State University at San Bernardino
Interests: Football, Fitness, Movies and Music
Family: Single
J.R. Reyes is a professional golfer who waits tables at an Omaha diner, has over fifty tattoos and aspires to play professional golf on the PGA TOUR. But there is more to him than the labels of his occupation or looks.
Reyes’ father was born in the Philippines and knew the only way to get his family out of the islands was to join the American Armed Services. Born in San Diego, J.R. was in a military family that moved often living in Okinawa, Japan; Dallas, Texas; and back to San Diego for his senior year in high school. His travels continued when he attended Midland College in Midland, Texas before transferring to play college golf for three years at Cal State San Bernardino. After a stint of playing the mini-tours, he entered graduate school at the University of Southern California before finances forced him to transfer to the University of Nebraska, where he could live with his sister.
His tattoos and education, though, do not tell the full story. Thoughtful when he speaks, Reyes has a desire to play professionally, a desire he almost lost. After turning professional in 2005, he burned out on the game and decided to go back to school, but has recently renewed his passion to play. Proving his dedication to golf, he drove 20 hours each way just for the opportunity to audition for Big Break Disney Golf.
Reyes works three to four days a week at one of the most popular family owned diners in Omaha. When not working, he plays golf and hopes to save enough money to enter the PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament.
Q: What made you drive 20 hours to audition for Big Break Disney Golf?
I was happy to have the chance to audition. The sites were so far away from Omaha that I had to drive 20 hours for two nights just to hit some balls for 15 minutes and speak in front of a camera. It sounded crazy, but it was an experience. But here I am in Big Break. Winning could take me to the next level, because it would help me financially and let people know who I am. It also would help my confidence because it is tough out there.
Q: The tattoos can mislead people to believe you are not serious about golf. Have you experienced a negative perception due to your appearance?
The tattoos do not make me who I am. I have them because I like them, but the portrayed character is not me. There are times when I play at a local golf course and people will want to play through or not want to play with me. They judge a book by its cover. I am down to earth and have been taught to be respectful to others and that everyone has a story. I just want to be myself, and it doesn’t bother me.
Q: How do you think Big Break Disney Golf viewers will react to you?
When people see me, they probably will think that I don’t have the ability to be a professional golfer. I will take viewers by surprise. They will see that while I don’t personify the typical golfer, I love the game. Viewers will see me as a person that has the drive and heart to play a game that doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t matter where you are from, what religion you are or what race or sex you are, just be yourself and you can still love the game. There is no actual picture.
Q: Why did you give up golf in 2005?
I turned professional and went to a Hooters tour event. I played two rounds with Camilo Villegas, and after that, I thought that it was not for me. I saw how his game was, and I got depressed and decided to quit. While I still played golf, I quit playing competitively for over a year. I finally went to Kevin Smeltz and the David Leadbetter Golf Academy and got lessons for the first time in my life.
Q: If finances are tight, and you cannot play consistently on a tour, what keeps you chasing the dream?
Actually, not knowing keeps me going. I don’t know where my future is taking me, but I know that I love this game. So I just keep going with it until one day I reach a point when I want a family. It is tough. You go day-to-day and just grind.
Kevan Maxwell
Charleston, S.C.
Hometown: Killbuck, Ohio
Home Golf Course: The Ocean Course, Kiawah Island, S.C.
Birthday: 8/10/80
College: Tiffin University
Interests: Movies, Dining, Video Games and College Football
Family: Single
The golf landscape is populated by players like Kevan Maxwell who possess the talent but not the means to pursue a professional career. Working at Kiawah Island Golf Resort by day and delivering pizza at night leaves Maxwell neither the time nor money to compete and develop his game. A typical day begins with a 4:30-6 am wake up call to take care of his dog. After that, he’ll go to the golf course to practice for a few hours, and depending on his tee time, he will spend a few hours at the range. After that, Kevan will head over to Kiawah’s caddy shack, pick up his loop and head out. Nearly six hours later, he will either go practice more or go home to eat dinner and hang out with his dog.
Despite Maxwell’s relative lack of experience and playing time, he has an outrageous amount of confidence--his greatest asset. After playing at Tiffin University, he turned professional in 2006 and currently plays on the Carolina Mountain Golf Tour. He looks to Big Break for the means to chase his dream.
Q: Financial hardship limits the time you are able to spend on the course playing golf. How much has this hampered the growth of your game?
It is something that I have adapted to since college. The last two or three years have been tough, because the economy has been bad, and it has affected the resort world. I had to pick up delivering pizzas to cover an unexpected expense when my roommate moved out. I just haven’t had as much time as I need to put into golf. In 2006, I was able to put more time into my game, and my numbers showed it. This year, I started over and have tried to get back to the fundamentals, but I am only able to put in about half the time I want to put into it. But I have to do it.
Q: Considering these limitations and challenges, why do you continue to chase the dream of playing on the PGA TOUR?
Because I love it; it’s my passion. It’s something that I have wanted to do since I was 14, and I won’t quit until I get my opportunity. The Big Break is only one opportunity. I am looking for the break to where I can play full time.
Q: Passion is a word that you use frequently, but does it have an expiration date?
Anybody who knows me knows golf is what I want to do, and it is my heart’s desire. I love to practice as much as I love to play. I know I could make it if I had more time to put into the game. When my time comes, I will be able to do it.
Q: You wear your passion on your sleeve--and pants. If you had to choose a combination from the bright colors you wear on the golf course, what would be your favorite?
Lime green and purple. It is my 'go-to' outfit. It is what I wore in my first professional event, and it made everyone turn their heads a few times. It was kind of funny. But my game is not as flamboyant as my attire. I just like to dress brightly, because it makes people turn their head. I have the confidence in myself to pull it off, so it adds a little touch to my own personality.
Q: What do you want the viewers of Big Break Disney Golf to remember about your time on the series?
Hopefully, they will see both my style and passion for the game. What you see on TV is how I am in real life. I am a pretty calm person who is positive. Also, I am not intimidated by anything. It will just be a matter of executing.
Kevin Erdman
Arcadia, Calif.
Hometown: Arcadia, Calif.
Home Golf Course: Altadena Golf Course, Altadena, Calif.
Birthday: 8/2/79
College: California State University - Northridge
Interests: Anaheim Ducks hockey and Movies
Family: Married
An aspiring PGA TOUR player, Kevin Erdman ultimately gave up his professional aspirations to support his wife, Courtney’s (a contestant in Big Break Ka'anapali) pursuit of playing on the LPGA Tour.
The couple traveled the Duramed FUTURES Tour circuit in a van, dubbed the “Love Shack” by other players, to save money where they could. They met at the Altadena Golf Course when she was 16, played miniature golf on their first date and have been together ever since. After saving for five years to buy a house, they instead decided to use the money to fund playing and traveling on the Duramed FUTURES Tour.
Erdman currently caddies for Courtney on the Canadian Tour and works as an instructor at Altadena Golf Course.
Q: What insight did Courtney give you about competing in Big Break?
She told me everything to expect. The biggest thing was that the pressure of being on the show has helped her confidence and golf game. I don’t know if anyone could prepare themselves for this, because in golf, you play and keep rolling. In Big Break, it is hard to get into a rhythm with all the waiting you do. My attitude will be to have fun and not put too much pressure on myself by placing expectations on my game.
Q: Not that you were in Courtney’s shadow – you decided as a family that you would caddie for her – but, is Big Break Disney Golf an opportunity for your game to shine?
I enjoyed every bit of being behind Courtney and helping her career, but we are both stoked that I have the opportunity to do something for myself. We will see what happens. I still work at the golf course, and golf has been more of a fun thing for me, but you never know if this could be the kick start to playing full time. I play with Courtney and with other pros in the area, but the touring life has been out of reach.
Q: What would winning Big Break Disney Golf mean to you?
I would seriously think about quitting everything that I am doing and play golf full time. I would get so much recognition for winning this that hopefully, I would get some backing. That is the biggest reason that I have not been playing. I have afforded Courtney doing what she is doing by working my butt off to help pay for her to play. There is no way we could both do it, so we would be able to switch positions.
Q: Are you and Courtney still cruising around in the “Love Shack”?
We still have it, but are thinking about selling it to a couple who wants to start traveling on the Duramed FUTURES Tour. We have so many memories; I’m getting chills right now just talking about it. We don’t want to get rid of it, but for financial reasons, we might have to. We are holding on to it for as long as we can, because if we were to get sponsor money, we would take the “Shack” out and go. That van is the best.
Q: How do you want the fans to see you in the series?
I am very outgoing and humorous at times. But, when I am working, I work very hard and am serious about what I am doing. I see myself somewhat as an underdog because of my background of being a caddie instead of being a player. The other part is I hope to give people a laugh here and there to loosen people up.
Q: What did you learn while caddying for Courtney?
Everything. It was a huge learning experience. You learn not to put so much pressure on yourself, because it can ruin you. One or two bad rounds or a couple of bad weeks, if you keep thinking that everything is just down, you may never get out of that hole. Golf is an up and down sport, and you have to roll with it. You have to let things go.
Mike Perez
Scottsdale, Ariz.
Hometown: Del Mar, Calif.
Home Golf Course: Torrey Pines Golf Course, La Jolla, Calif.
Birthday: 9/26/79
Interests: Golf and Music
Family: Single
To know Pat and Mike Perez is to experience two brothers who are extremely tight. Pat, a PGA TOUR winner, is three years older than Mike and began playing golf at the age of five. By the time Pat was seven, he was winning tournaments all over southern California and beating the likes of Tiger Woods. In fact, for many years, Pat was ranked higher than Tiger in junior golf. When Mike finally began playing golf, he knew he had big shoes to fill.
The Scottsdale, Arizona resident turned professional in 2001 and since then, has done stints on the Nationwide Tour ('02,'04,'06). In 2005, it appeared he had a shot at making the PGA TOUR but suffered a neck injury days before the final stage of the PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament.
In the last two years, Mike sold cars and played sparingly on a mini tour. The time off, combined with Pat’s victory earlier this year at the Bob Hope Classic, rekindled the fire to make it big in professional golf. A streaky player, he knows on his best day he can compete with the best players in the world. His mentors include Steve Elkington, Tommy Armour III, John Daly and Jason Gore. They all believe in Mike, and with the support of Pat, he feels that he can make it on TOUR.
Q: Like your brother, Pat, you aren’t afraid to let out a little anger after a wayward shot.
Maybe I’ll slam the club, but not every time. If I hit a bad shot, I’m either going to walk it off or do something to forget about it in order to move on to the next shot. That’s something that I have worked on for years. I’ve learned to let it go before it affects me so much that it ruins my whole day. As you get older, you learn what not to do.
Q: What would it mean to you to play on the PGA TOUR with your brother?
Playing on TOUR with Pat would be awesome. Words cannot describe it. It’s a dream that I have, and it is also something that he wants. I think I would feel comfortable and would know some things that other rookies wouldn’t know. We both want to get on TOUR and be there for a long time. Hopefully, one day we will have a head-to-head match and come down the stretch just him and me. It would make great TV.
Q: You and Pat were fortunate to grow up in San Diego and learned the game playing at Torrey Pines.
Growing up playing Torrey Pines Golf Course was great. Our coach, Mike Owen and a couple of other guys who worked there would pick me up at six in the morning, and we would go play golf in the morning. We would stay there all day and hit balls. If I got suspended from school, I’d be at the golf course. I think that helped our game tremendously just by playing Torrey Pines every day.
Q: If you weren’t a golfer would you be a musician?
Oh yeah, a musician for sure. I play guitar. My buddy, Chris Bellow, got me into guitar years ago. When I was just getting started, I would sit and watch him, and he would teach me a couple things here and there. Just by watching him and listening to music, I could figure it out. I kept getting better and better, and then I started buying guitars. Now I have thirteen of them, and I just love music.
Sean Kalin
Delray Beach, Fla.
Hometown: Valley Stream, N.Y.
Home Golf Course: Deer Creek Country Club, Delray Beach, Fla.
Birthday: 8/19/77
Occupation: Professional Golfer/Mortgage Banker
Interests: Golf and Family
Family: Married
A talented junior golfer, Sean Kalin’s future took a drastic turn when at the age of 10, he was abducted by his mom and stepfather.
The incident ruined his desire to play golf, and he found trouble as a teenager growing up in Brooklyn. By the time he was 18, he’d been arrested numerous times for fighting and was well on his way to living what he said was a “worthless” life. His ways changed a year later when he became a father. In the delivery room, with his son minutes old sitting in his arms, Kalin said that he had all the motivation he needed to live a straight life. A few years later, his daughter was born, and the Kalins expect a third child later this year.
According to Kalin, his every waking moment is spent with his kids in mind. For the last nine years, he has worked in real estate, splitting time in Delray Beach, Florida and New York. He opens branches and real estate firms all over the eastern seaboard and makes pretty decent money.
During that time, golf was never a consideration. After the kidnapping, he didn’t touch a golf club for more than 10 years, and when he did, in his early 20’s, he only played a few times. On Aug. 19, 2008, his birthday, he played again and shortly after decided to play professionally. Kalin started working with an instructor and made playing in the 2010 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament his goal.
Q: What was the reason that you stopped playing golf after you were abducted?
I lost the passion to play due to the kidnapping. After it happened, I decided to stop playing, because in my mind, I believed that I was kidnapped because of the game of golf. My mother had paid a few people to kidnap me from my elementary school. Whatever the real reason, I believed it had to do with my golf, and in my world, I decided just to stop and never touch a club again.
Q: What made you want to play again?
As you get older, you know a little more and mature. You decide that instead of doing something because it will get back at someone else, you might as well do it for yourself. When I realized that, it was at that point that I decided to start playing again. Also, I had two friends that pushed me really hard to play again. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be competing in Big Break.
Q: You played for a short period nearly seven years ago. Why didn’t you concentrate on the game then?
I bought a set of golf clubs and played a few times and then just stopped. With the kids being so young, leaving for fours hours was an impossibility on the weekends, especially when you are working Monday through Friday. My kids are more important, and at that time, they were needy. Now they have friends and don’t care where I am. Before those few times, I never touched a golf ball and didn’t again until last year.
Q: What are your current goals in golf?
Getting back to golf is the best decision that I could have made. Playing golf is the game of life. Just getting back to playing and competing is fun. My goal when I first started was to give myself three years to get to the Nationwide or PGA TOUR. I am almost at the one year point and have accomplished more than I thought I could. I don’t have a backup plan, because you can’t plan on failure. You can just plan on succeeding.
Q: What are your expectations of competing in Big Break Disney Golf?
It will be like Rocky versus Apollo Creed. These other guys have played from six years old through college. I hear stories of these guys playing on the Nationwide Tour and the PGA TOUR. I’ve done none of these. I’ve played in a few small professional events in the last 10 months. There is nothing like watching a fight and seeing the guy that isn’t supposed to win knock out the big guy. Everyone needs an underdog.
Vincent Johnson
Portland, Ore
Hometown: Portland, Ore.
Home Golf Course: Glendoveer Golf Course, Portland, Ore.
Birthday: 4/19/86
College: Oregon State
Interests: Playing the Piano and Exercising
Family: Single
Vincent Johnson received national attention in 2009 when he became the first recipient of the Charlie Sifford Exemption, an honor that enabled him to play in the PGA TOUR’s Northern Trust Open. Although he missed the cut by three shots, the experience convinced him that he has the talent to compete on TOUR.
He began playing golf at age six, and by 14, Johnson had set a course record score of 62 at his home course, Glendoveer Golf Club. He earned 68 titles throughout his junior golf career, having served on the Junior America's Cup and Hogan Cup teams and played for Team Tiger at the Junior World Championships. He played in the 2004 and 2007 U.S. Amateur Championships and the 2005, 2007 and 2008 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championships.
Johnson graduated from Oregon State University in three years with a degree in finance and a minor in music and enrolled in the university's MBA program. Johnson was named Oregon State's captain and MVP in the '06 season and a co-captain in '08. He overcame Graves’ disease in the middle of 2007 to win the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship by 12 strokes in May 2007, marking the last of his two collegiate victories.
Q: Describe both the honor and experience of receiving the Charlie Sifford Exemption that qualified you to play in a PGA TOUR event?
When I first found out that it was for an exemption, I had no idea what tournament I would play in. I found out it was for the Northern Trust Open, and I knew it was big time. Then I realized that it was honoring Mr. Charlie Sifford, and I was really excited to actually receive it. I knew two weeks before the first round that I was going to play in the tournament, and I think I slept no more than four consecutive hours for those two weeks. I’d wake up and think about the whole experience, especially all of the interviews, and I wasn’t a nervous wreck, but I had some anxiety going.
I played pretty well; starting off with a birdie on my first hole (No. 10) calmed me down a little bit. All in all, I competed well. I didn’t really hit my irons that great, but I drove the ball well and chipped and putted well, and for me, that was big. I realized that I was putting such high expectations on myself and most people don’t even know what it takes just to go out there and perform decently.
Q: What did you take away from playing in the event?
I ended up missing the cut, so as a competitor, I now don’t want to have all of these congratulations if I were to miss the cut again. And until a minor rules infraction happened, I was a few under par. If I had made a couple more birdies, I was actually on the edge of being in contention, which was actually pretty wild.
Q: How did Graves’ disease affect your career?
All of the symptoms of Graves’ disease are just about as bad as you can get for an athlete – increased heart rate that makes exercising pretty much impossible, your attention span makes it hard to focus, and golf is the ultimate focus game, and muscle weakness—so I lost 20-30 yards off of my drives. To have parts of my game taken away was almost as big of a mental leap as it was physical because you’re losing your ability. You know what you used to be able to do, and now you can’t. It was tough because I was working harder than ever, and I was not competing. I played in every tournament my first two years, and that fall, I couldn’t make the traveling squad. It was very difficult.
Q: How do you feel about the push for more minorities in the game and is that something that you feel deeply about?
I think that you want to have anybody who just doesn’t have the means be given the opportunity to make it. You don’t want to give any handouts, but if people have the talent and the capability to go out there and perform, you would hate to see them not get a shot to do it. But minorities most often are the people who don’t have the means. It goes hand in hand.
Q: What are your expectations of playing in Big Break Disney Golf?
There have been so many questions, and there are so many things we don’t know. Every guy here is asking everyone else what they think and what they know. I want to win this thing, but it would be an accomplishment to play for a while and just to see all of the crazy challenges that we’re going to do.
Tony Finau
Lehi, Utah
Hometown: Rose Park, Utah
Home Golf Course: Thanksgiving Point Golf Club, Lehi, Utah
Birthday: 9/14/89
Interests: Basketball, Guitar and Movies
Family: Single
With little effort, Tony Finau hits his driver in excess of 330 yards, but he knows that to play well in tournaments, hitting the long ball can’t always be the answer. Soft-spoken Finau’s game speaks loudly enough. Despite receiving full scholarship offers to BYU, UNLV, Florida and Oklahoma, at 17, he elected to turn pro in 2000. Later that year, he made the cut in the PGA TOUR’s U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee.
Tony started playing golf less than a year after his brother, Gipper, and it took him almost four years to finally beat him. The two ranked among the top amateurs in the country in their age divisions. Coming from a family of 11, the two are extremely close and consider each other their best friend. Among their childhood memories, the brothers remember performing at the frequent luaus their mother hosted after opening the Polynesian Cultural Center in Utah. Both can do their native version of a fire dance and a few other Polynesian dances that, in part, define their culture.
Q: Most Big Break competitors are only concerned about how they fare in challenges. How is that going to play out with your brother in the competition as well?
This is an individual sport. It’s not like we’re both on the same team or anything. We’re definitely going to chant or cheer for each other, but when it comes down to it, I have to worry about myself and do what I have to do to keep going. I have to try to get as far as I can in this Big Break. And as far as Gipper, I’m sure he’s thinking the same; he has to worry about himself and not worry about me. We’re both going to be cheering for each other, but that’s all we can do.
Q: Have you considered what it will be like for the two of you to square off in an elimination challenge?
We have played each other in Junior State Amateur Finals and other big tournaments back in Utah, like Amateur State Finals. We’re real competitive, so although we’d both love to win, only one person can win this Big Break. If it comes down to us in an elimination challenge, we’re going to play our hearts out and just hope for the best for the other.
Q: Both you and Gipper turned pro at the same time. Is it reassuring that the two of you strive towards the same goal of playing on the PGA TOUR?
It’s awesome. We weren’t sure we were going to do it at the same time, but after thinking it over for a few weeks, we figured we’re in this together and might as well fight it out to the end doing the same deal.
Q: You’re very competitive, but also very soft spoken. What is your mindset during competition?
We were taught by our parents to always be humble, and that’s pretty much all I can say. I just go out there and compete, and when the clubs are not being swung anymore, when we leave the golf course, nothing else is to be said.
Q: Can you imagine what it would mean for you and your brother to play on the PGA TOUR one day?
I couldn’t put into words how big that would be for my family. We’ve worked so hard, and this is just a big opportunity for us to go out and perform and show our skills at the professional level.
Q: How was it growing up in a big family?
It was great for us. My dad spent a lot of time with the two of us, so he didn’t have as much time with the rest of my brothers and sisters. It is part of the Polynesian culture to have a good family, so we were born into that culture and enjoy every second of it. Gipper and I stand right in the middle of our family, so it’s a blessing, and I love it.
