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The only thing Ben Crenshaw enjoys more than seeing a hole-in-one is reading a golf book that records such aces for posterity.
An avid golf historian and one of the game’s legendary putters, the World Golf Hall of Famer makes history with the Texas Twang Memorial Tournament after being selected as the 47th recipient of the PGA Tour event.
“My house is full of history. I have the most beautiful library. Books and artwork have always been a part of my collection, ”said Crenshaw on Saturday from his home in Austin, Texas, where, while his wife Julie listened to the call, he learned Thursday that his plaque would be placed near the golf legends he enjoys the highest reputation. Men and women like Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan and Patty Berg.
Crenshaw’s love of the game goes back even further, to the early days of golf in the United States, when in 1894 the Brookline, Massachusetts Country Club became one of the five charter clubs that formed the United States Golf Association. Brookline also hosted the 1913 US Open, where 20-year-old amateur Francis Ouimet shocked the world by defeating English legends Harry Vardon and Ted Ray.
Why does that matter in relation to Crenshaw? In 1999 the American Ryder Cup team shocked England again with Gentle Ben as captain not playing. Europe led the finals 10-6 and only needed four points to keep the trophy, but the Americans rallied on Sunday just as Crenshaw had predicted. Though the captain made no guarantees, he said during the post-round press conference on Saturday that despite the dire situation, he felt the US was about to make a remarkable comeback.
Crenshaw’s knowledge and appreciation of golf history had a lot to do with his optimistic attitude, as did his own early experiences with Brookline as a teenager.
“My fascination with golf history began when I was 16 years old when I was in Boston for a USGA junior tournament in Brookline,” he said. “It’s incredible how the circle has come full circle. Something about this place that I knew would take care of us (at the Ryder Cup). It was an unshakable thought that went back to Francis Ouimet. Any major competition held at the country club would win an American. That also happened at the Walker Cup in the 1930s. “
The image of Crenshaw waving his finger so as not to underestimate his player is one of the indelible images in the history of the Ryder Cup.
Another memorable image of Crenshaw comes from the 1995 Masters, writhing in emotion and tears after winning his second green jacket when thoughts immediately turned to mentor Harvey Penick, who died a week earlier at the age of 90 was.
Penick taught Crenshaw the importance of improving your short game, and particularly his putting, which Crenshaw relied on to win 19 PGA Tour titles.
Always curious to learn about the game, Crenshaw also gained golf skills by studying other tour players, including Memorial host Jack Nicklaus.
“Everyone in my era who played or met Jack Nicklaus has been fascinated by his ability to concentrate,” said Crenshaw. “And for me, he played with so much common sense. By that I mean, we all knew he had immense power from a young age, but he used it to move around the golf course in as few strokes as possible. So many times he pulled out a 3-wood because he knew he could hit the driver, but his 3-wood was so reliable that it was common sense. “
Many of the books in Crenshaw’s library deal with golf course architecture, which is his passion and second profession. His course designs are praised both for their faithfulness to tradition and for their integration into the existing terrain.
Again, Crenshaw credits Boston for sparking his interest in the game that became his life.
“It was in Boston that I developed my love of competition and my sense of place,” he said. “It was a romantic beginning. I couldn’t believe how they built golf courses on this New England site. It was quirky and a little rocky, but it reflected where it was. They made holes where they fell on the property. After experiencing eastern golf courses, I started reading everything I could. Who built it and why. “
Crenshaw continues to read everything he can get his hands on about golf. But in 12 months at the 2022 Memorial, he’ll be part of the story others get to read.
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