FORT BENNING, Ga. - Former PGA Tour star and current CBS Sports golf analyst Bobby Clampett came to Fort Benning last week to see an old friend and participate in a series of events around post.
Clampett conducted an hourlong exhibition at the Follow Me Golf Course and signed copies of his book, The Impact Zone. He also observed Airborne training and engaged in a 6 a.m. physical training session with 192nd Infantry Brigade Soldiers at Sand Hill and MG Michael Ferriter, the Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Benning commanding general. The two attended high school together in California.
A private pilot, Clampett flew his personal airplane into Lawson Army Airfield for the three-day visit, which kicked off Oct. 28.
"It's a short trip, but a wonderful one," he said. "I got a chance to see some training here. It's so awe-inspiring to watch the commitment, discipline and focus these Soldiers have to protect our country."
Clampett earned more than $1.4 million in 15 seasons on the tour. His lone victory came in the 1982 Southern Open, played at Green Island Country Club in Columbus. He worked the 1991 PGA Championship for CBS as an on-course commentator and joined the network full time four years later. In recent years, he's gotten involved in golf course design.
During the Oct. 29 exhibition, Clampett offered playing tips and performed a few trick shots at the range before a small crowd of Soldiers, retirees and onlookers.
"I'm proud to be an American, and I'm proud of you," he told the group. "Thank you for what you do."
Illustrating a point about the golf swing, Clampett did impersonations of Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Lee Trevino - a legendary trio who's won a combined 33 major championships.
"Three of the best players of all time," he said, "with three of the most unusual swings ever ... But it's not so much about swing style; it's about what you can create at impact."
Clampett recounted an early interview he did with Tiger Woods after the 1997 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, where the world's future No. 1 player had just fired rounds of 63 and 64 over the weekend, only to finish a shot behind champion Mark O'Meara. Asked about the result, Woods turned to the camera and said, "Finishing second sucks."
"He's probably the greatest this game has ever seen. It's amazing what he can do on a golf course," Clampett said. "Not only does he have the physical tools, he has a great creative mind. And nobody has a stronger or harder work ethic, I promise you."
CSM(R) Danny Pasion, 69, who retired at Fort Benning in 1985, has played the sport for more than four decades and said golf is the "game of a lifetime." He was among those who picked up an autographed book after the demonstration.
"That was enjoyable. I thought he was great," Pasion said. "I watched him at a young age play the game, when he entered the tour. I watch a lot of golf. It's nice to see him out here."
Following the exhibition, Clampett played with Ferriter in the same foursome during the CG's Golf Scramble. He attended the commander's quarterly excellence breakfast Friday.
Clampett is one of three multiple winners of the Haskins Award, presented annually to the nation's top collegiate golfer. The three-time All-American captured the honor - the equivalent of football's Heisman Trophy - in 1979 and 1980 while playing at BYU. Ben Crenshaw and Phil Mickelson each won it three times.
He still plays in a few pro events each year and has appeared on the Nationwide Tour.
Clampett, who turns 50 in April, said he plans to join the Champions Tour in 2010 and will attend qualifying school in Arizona later this month to compete for one of five open spots.
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