A Bewildered Boo Weekley
Boo Weekley is a media star. He's got the polite manners. He answers questions with "Yes-sir" and "No ma'am" and looks you in the eye. He comes off as a backwoods rube, but he's smart enough to play the role and feed the media what they want.
Last month, he acted surprised when he heard that the Masters was coming up in a few weeks. I didn't buy that but I do enjoy hearing the man talk.
I was standing behind the 18th green at the end of Saturday's round when CBS commentator Jim Nantz climbed down from the telecast tower and ambled toward the players' scoring trailer. I talked to him for a minute but he was interested in getting some face time, he said, with Boo. They had never met, Nantz said.
When Boo signed his card and came out, Nantz was there to introduce himself and have a short, smiling conversation.
Later, after Boo finished another rollicking interview session in the press tent, I asked him about meeting Nantz. "Wail (that's southern for "Well"), he said he just wanted to put a face with a name," Boo said. "He was real nice."
"What was the conversation about?" I asked, "Did he ask any deep questions?"
Boo shook his head. "I don't even know what he does," he said.
"He's a golf commentator," I said. "I'm sure you've heard him on college basketball or football."
"Wail, either I don't watch much of that or I just don't listen," he said, non-plussed.
My favorite Boo line came from last summer after he'd returned from his first British Open. A writer said, "Boo, I heard you just spent ten days in the U.K."
"No sir," Boo answered, "I was in Scotland."
He's too good to be true.
(Photo: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Posted by: Johnson | Apr 29, 2008 11:10:58 PM
I just read an article that quotes his mother saying Boo has read alot of books regarding the Masters over they years. She said he was actually fascinated by it all so he read up on it. I want to change my original thoughts on this guy. he can play but he is full of it.
Posted by: Allen | Apr 24, 2008 5:06:48 PM
Boo, is one of the most genuine people you will ever meet. I know this becuase I grew up with him. It's not an act he just says it like it is. Who cares what people in Europe say about us, or if Scotland is in the U.K., or when the Masters is. he is still a fine human being and great golfer by anyone's standards and that is all that matters. Boo keep hitting them long, straight and not to many putts, I wish you much success and happiness in all that you do...
Posted by: Allen | Apr 24, 2008 5:05:38 PM
Boo, is one of the most genuine people you will ever meet. I know this becuase I grew up with him. It's not an act he just says it like it is. Who cares what people in Europe say about us, or if Scotland is in the U.K., or when the Masters is. he is still a fine human being and great golfer by anyone's standards and that is all that matters. Boo keep hitting them long, straight and not to many putts, I wish you much success and happiness in all that you do...
Posted by: Andy Brown | Apr 24, 2008 12:05:34 AM
Boo Weekley is honestly a breath of fresh air in the world of golf. On the one hand where people bend over backwards to try and be politically correct Boo Weekley just says what he thinks without the slightest hint of pretension. If he were to pick a fight with a playing partner you can be rest assured that you will get all the dirt instead of the usual, “oh we just had a little disagreement”. Unfortunately he just seems too nice a guy to get into an argument with someone.
During the Verizon Heritage I was watching his interview with David Faherty where Faherty was trying to get Boo Weekley to express his views on the Moment of Inertia laws in the game of golf and to that Boo said “If it aint on the can then I don’t know about it”.
But for all his wonderful lines it is equally important to remember that he is one good golfer. Not many players go out on tour and successfully defend their title, not many go to the Masters for the first time and put in a pretty decent showing and one thing is for sure not many people go to St Andrews and still believe the home of golf is where they grew up playing and not St Andrews. Go BoO!
http://www.golfswingsecretsrevealed.com/blog/2008/03/13/lets-talk-about-golf/
Posted by: James | Apr 23, 2008 9:36:05 AM
Boo is the new John Daly without the off course issues. Here in the South the common golfer has been saying, "That guy plays in my foursome!". The media needs to lose the double standard. When a foreigner says the things Boo has said, he has a "dry, quick wit". When the pedigreed players say it, they are "confident and cocky". When the Southerner says it, he's "ignorant"?? Get over it. I'm glad Thomas Brent Weekley doesn't try to force a fit into the Windmere-Lake Nona Boys Club. That set like him for being geniune, why can't we?
Posted by: Doug | Apr 22, 2008 5:47:29 PM
This is what I think... I think there are a lot of "prim & propper" Lexus type fellas that can't handle his so called "Dumb Southern Act". The guy can flat out play and they can't figure him out because his priorities and goals don't match thiers.
He is a marketing goldmine because the common person can relate on some level to him.
I wish much sucsess.
Posted by: jterp | Apr 22, 2008 12:25:05 PM
He isn't stupid. And there is a fine line between being a genuine person, and purposefully playing dumb. People will begin to pick up on it and be insulted by it eventually.
Posted by: jterp | Apr 22, 2008 12:23:10 PM
He isn't stupid. And there is a fine line between being a genuine person, and purposefully playing dumb. People will begin to pick up on it and be insulted by it eventually.
Posted by: jterp | Apr 22, 2008 12:21:06 PM
He is a good guy, but he should watch out for playing the "just a dumb guy with a set of sticks" role. Eventually it will become stale. He shouldn't be afraid to appear to know something or have educated himself on certain topics that matter to him.. He is still a "professional," and being so means taking some time to learn the types of things a good pro should know.
Posted by: jw | Apr 21, 2008 7:20:01 PM
Boo will be fine if the Yankees don't decide he isn't genuine! Then, he won't be, regardless! Leave him be. He just answers stupid questions accordingly!
Posted by: Jack Rhodum | Apr 21, 2008 4:11:26 PM
That's exactly what we need on the tour, more unique characters like Boo. Is it real or on act, who cares? As long as it's fun, we want more of it.
Posted by: Jamie Fogart | Apr 21, 2008 4:05:39 PM
This guy seems to be putting up an act. nobody (in his role)can be dumb enough to not know Masters schedule. I think he is putting up a "Good 'ol country boy" act to carve out a personality niche on the tour and looks like it's working. People find it amusing, he gets media attention, with that will come endorsement deals...you get the picture.
Posted by: Chris | Apr 21, 2008 3:32:36 PM
whatever you ask him "i dont know nuttin about that sir" and everyone goes to praise him about how humble he is..... not knowing about the history of the masters or that the masters is a few weeks away,, please..
Posted by: jc | Apr 21, 2008 3:01:51 PM
every sixth grader in america knows scotland is part of the u.k. i bet 90% of 12th graders in america dont know that!!!!
Posted by: Two-Times | Apr 21, 2008 2:36:43 PM
His responses are full-proof from any media bias or spin. Awesome!
Posted by: Johnson | Apr 21, 2008 1:54:35 PM
I originally liked this guy but the more I hear him, the more I think he is playing us. I believe he is a good, honest person but the way he is always playing "gee shucks I didnt know the masters was next week" type of answers leads me to think he is playing up the country boy act a bit much. I find it very hard to believe he didnt know Nantz was a commentator because I am sure Nantz would have said what he did in his introduction to Boo.
I wish him all the best and he is a hell of a talent but he can drop the act. Just let his golf do the talking.
Posted by: Gordon Haight | Apr 21, 2008 1:12:57 PM
A lot of people in Scotland don't believe they live in the U.K. either.
Posted by: Frank | Apr 21, 2008 11:08:10 AM
Boo comes off as a regular, humble guy, with a gifted golf skill. No attitude, just likes to go out, play ball, make some friends, and take care of his family the best way he knows how.
We should all be so fortunate in life.
Posted by: Steve | Apr 21, 2008 9:30:27 AM
Wait a minute here...you think this guy is great because he's a country boy and doesn't know that Scotland is part of the United Kingdom? Something every sixth grader in America learns? Why are you applauding someone who is supposed to be an ambassador of the game and our country for being ignorant? No wonder Europeans call us dumb Americans.
Posted by: Chris | Apr 21, 2008 8:44:47 AM
He's country boy talk and attitude are all well and good until he says something offensive. Then, people will turn on him.
Lucky for him, maybe, he's not in the spotlight that much. But that will change if he keeps winning.
I think we'll see some forced-refinement.
http://yugflog.com/blog
Posted by: Ritchie | Apr 21, 2008 8:30:10 AM
He's real, no media coaching. It's what the tour needs. No padded answers.