Golf can be stressful, even when youβre a Hall of Fame athlete. Just ask former NFL running back and Los Angeles Rams legend Eric Dickerson.
Dickerson played alongside former Arizona Wildcat and LPGA Tour icon Annika Sorenstam, ex-Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and country artist Jake Owen for the nine-hole Cologuard Classic Celebrity Challenge. Before teeing off the 10th hole at Omni Tucson National, Dickerson recalled first time he golfed in front of spectators.
It was the Jimmy V Celebrity Golf Classic. Told by the tournament director that there would be roughly 20,000 fans in attendance, Dickerson interrupted.
βHold it, hold it,β he said. βI donβt play golf like that.β
βIβll never forget getting out in front of the crowd: My heart was beating so fast and I hit it right down the middle, but the next couple I was in the woods,β he added. βItβs different playing football. Itβs something Iβve been doing my whole life.
βGolf, I didnβt pick up until I was 32 years old. I have a real respect for the sport now. I thought it was a game like, βAnyone can play that crap.β Let me tell you, itβs not like that. My game has gotten a whole lot better.β
Saturdayβs Cologuard Classic drew thousands of fans, many of whom followed the celebrity foursome. Phoenix Suns owner (and Sabino High School grad) Robert Sarver caddied for Fitzgerald, carrying his Pitt golf bag.
βFitzβ admitted golf brings a different kind of pressure.
βWhen youβre in a team setting, itβs a lot different. Thereβs nobody to blame when you hit poor shots or pull the wrong club or make mistakes. Itβs all on you,β he said.
Fitzgerald and Sorenstam won Saturdayβs challenge, joining a select list. Former boxer Oscar de la Hoya and former UA standout Chuck Cecil were the first duo to win the challenge in 2019. Ex-big leaguer Roger Clemens and former NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace won in 2020, and longtime NFL running back Marcus Allen was an individual winner last year.
Fitzgerald competed in last yearβs challenge; he said coming back to Tucson was a βno-brainer.β
βI had a wonderful time, so I had to come back again. Itβs for a wonderful cause,β Fitzgerald said.
The Cologuard Classic helps raise awareness of colorectal cancer. The title sponsorβs product helps detect the disease through home tests.
Fitzgerald said the cause is βs near and dear to my heart.β
Fitzgeraldβs mother, Carol, died in 2003 from breast cancer. Dickersonβs mother-in-law survived colon cancer.
βCancer is a terrible disease and weβre trying to do something to prevent it,β Dickerson said.
Sorenstam said, βWeβre lucky to create awareness and engage people and talk about whatβs really important.β
Sorenstam will compete in the U.S. Womenβs Open in June at North Carolinaβs Pine Needles Golf Club in June.
βI gotta hit the gym, I gotta hit the (driving) range, I gotta hit the putting green, I gotta hit everything to be ready. As you know, the best players in the world are just at a high level. I play for a different priority nowadays,β Sorenstam said. βIβm gonna go out there and play my best. Hopefully, I can rely on my experience.β
While some view the celebrity challenge as training and preparation for the U.S. Womenβs Open, Sorenstam was content being able to swing a club and enjoy the sport with fellow celebrities.
βCompeting is not my No. 1 priority,β said Sorenstam. βNowadays, itβs my family. β¦ Itβs just nice to play golf and keep swinging, which is what I need to be doing.
βI will get in serious mode and find that extra gear that Iβm going to need when I go to Pine Needles in June.β