January 17, 2025 • 35 mins
We tee off with U.S. Open winner Scott Simpson as he dives into his formative years before turning pro. This episode, the first of a captivating four-part series, unveils the journey that shaped one of the prominent names in golf.
Listeners are taken on a vivid ride through Simpson's early golfing days, unearthing both the highs and lows of his amateur career. Scott opens up about his dreams of playing college golf and then turning professional, never taking anything for granted and being fueled by an unrelenting passion for the sport. The episode offers a fascinating look at his time playing the Asian Tour, missing cuts, and struggling with his swing.
Scott's revelations about the significant changes he made to his swing after a critical analysis from a friend are intriguing. Embracing the fundamentals outlined in Ben Hogan's book, he shifted his technique, creating a more connected swing, and setting the stage for his later success. The honest, heartfelt narrative paints a vivid picture of resilience and determination, showcasing Simpson's ability to learn, grow, and persevere.
Sprinkled with laughter and introspection, Simpson's recounting of his experiences will resonate with avid golf fans and those interested in the personal growth aspect of the sport. His tales of playing at some iconic courses and insights into overcoming challenges provide a unique perspective on the journey that awaits aspiring golfers.
Don't miss this opportunity to get an inside look into Scott Simpson's evolution from a young dreamer to a seasoned professional. Whether you're a golf enthusiast or just love an inspiring story, this episode will engage and entertain, capturing the essence of the game and the pursuit of greatness.
Scott Simpson begins his life story, "FORE the Good of the Game."
Give Bruce & Mike some feedback via Text.
Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on:
Our Website https://www.forethegoodofthegame.com/reviews/new/
Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fore-the-good-of-the-game/id1562581853
Spotify Podcasts https://open.spotify.com/show/0XSuVGjwQg6bm78COkIhZO?si=b4c9d47ea8b24b2d
About
"FORE the Good of the Game” is a golf podcast featuring interviews with World Golf Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around the game of golf. Highlighting the positive aspects of the game, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by PGA Tour star Bruce Devlin, our podcast focuses on telling their life stories, in their voices. Join Bruce and Mike Gonzalez “FORE the Good of the Game.”
Thanks so much for listening!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Mike Gonzalez (00:15):
Welcome to another edition of FORE the Good
of the Game and Bruce Devlin,can you believe it's interview
number 76?
Devlin, Bruce (00:22):
I know and what an interview we have today, too.
Mike Gonzalez (00:25):
Yeah, I mean, we had to go. We had to go a long
way to find this fella and trackhim down.
Devlin, Bruce (00:29):
I know I know
Mike Gonzalez (00:31):
The other cool part about having done this many
interviews is we're starting toget some of our guests that
actually know what the podcastis. And have listened to some
episodes. That's pretty cool.
Devlin, Bruce (00:40):
And this particular one does he he
listens to our podcast when hewalks his dogs. And he's a
16-time winner. Seven of them onthe PGA Tour. He was traveled a
lot to Japan and back. And thenin 1987, a lot of people will
remember when he won the U.S.
Open. And what a pleasure it isto have Scott Simpson with us
(01:03):
today. Beautiful. Thank you,sir, for joining us.
Simpson, Scott (01:09):
Well, it's gonna be great to be here. Thanks,
Bruce. Thanks, Mike. I do enjoylistening to your podcast quite
a bit. It's a lot of the peoplethat I grew up watching and then
playing with and man it's, it'sjust a it's a fun thing. Thanks
for doing it.
Devlin, Bruce (01:25):
Thank you. Yeah, well, we've had a lot of fun
with it. I thought Mr. Gonzalezwas was the one that come up
with the idea when he firstthrew it at me. I thought he was
stupid. But I ended up I endedup saying, Okay, let's take a
shot at it. And boy, it's been ait's been a great ride. And as
of today, we are with the USGAforever.
Simpson, Scott (01:51):
Well, I'm glad he talked you into it, Bruce.
Devlin, Bruce (01:53):
Yeah, we're, we're, and we look forward to
talking to you today. Scott, youknow, you got a lot of things to
talk about. You've had a greatcareer. And I know, you're the
head coach, coach of the boys atthe University of Hawaii. Used
to be used to be with the girlsearlier, but now with the boys
and they're lucky to have you.
That's all I can say.
Simpson, Scott (02:18):
Well, you'd have to ask them about that. I don't
know.
Mike Gonzalez (02:22):
We'll get to your we'll get to your coaching
career, I'm sure much deeperinto our interview. But as you
know, having listened to a fewof these, Scott, we like to go
back to the very beginning. Andit's so it's always fun and
enjoyable for Bruce and I toreally come to learn how you how
you grew up. You know what othersports you might have played how
you came to the game. So take usa little bit about growing up in
(02:45):
God's country, San Diego,California.
Simpson, Scott (02:48):
I know I feel lucky. My dad and my mom. My mom
was from Milwaukee, my dad'sfrom Chicago. And he got drafted
during the Korean War into theMarines and sent all the way out
to San Diego. He was upset. Howcan I have to be sent so far
away from home and well, he wentout here for a couple years and
never went back. He startedplaying golf and fell in love
(03:13):
with golf. And my dad actuallybecame a really good player
qualified for the U.S. AM. Iremember he came back from the
U.S. AM and said, Yeah, I'mhitting it out there between
these bunkers and this kid fromStanford, Tom Watson is flying
these bunkers. How am I gonnacompete with that? And, yeah,
(03:34):
he, he was just a really goodplayer. And he was a school
teacher, actually, elementaryschool teacher, he majored in
math, and I don't know how hegot into teaching, but I think
he loved having the summers off,I think was his favorite part of
the job. And he could play golf.
And so when I was 10, and mybrother was nine, we actually
asked our dad if we could startplaying golf and fortunately, in
(03:54):
San Diego, they had just afantastic junior golf program.
And I just fell in love with thegame. Just love playing the
tournaments, love playing golf,and we were really fortunate to
that. My dad joined a coursesemi public course called
Stardust and hit a bunch ofgamblers. Brusa know these guys,
(04:15):
a lot of the pros VictorRegalado, Cesar Cenudo, Lon
Hinkle, all the San Diego guyswould come down and try to make
a little cash and but it wasgreat because they had three
nines. So two of the nines werelike the course. And the other
nine was for like everyone elseto go play and usually the
(04:37):
juniors could get out and playand it was it was just great. So
just kind of just love playinggolf, love competing love
playing with friends and kind ofgot better and better as I went
on.
Devlin, Bruce (04:52):
Stardust was out in the valley, wasn't it?
Simpson, Scott (04:54):
Yeah, yeah. Do you remember? Oh, you might have
even played Uh oh, I
Devlin, Bruce (04:58):
played there too.
Simpson, Scott (04:59):
You know what?
had the San Diego Open beforethey moved to Torrey Pines was a
Stardust. I remember getting atee from Al Geiberger that had
Skippy peanut butter on it
Mike Gonzalez (05:16):
I know Skippy came up in our in our interview
with with Al whether the teescame up Bruce I don't remember
but
Devlin, Bruce (05:23):
yeah, he he always had teeth with the Skippy
peanut. Skippy, right? Yeah.
Mike Gonzalez (05:30):
That's great.
Yeah. Tell us about your firststicks. When did you get them?
What kind? Where are they?
Simpson, Scott (05:37):
Well, you know, my dad was a school teacher. So
he went all out and I got we gotour first clubs and I got the
even once and Dave got the oddones. I don't know probably like
four or five Wired's and I wouldputter and ready to go. I do
remember. So we joined. Westarted playing. My dad gave us
one lesson and my dad was a goodplayer. But as a teacher, he, he
(06:01):
believed you learn kind of onyour own, and learn by watching
and watch the great players. SoI was tall. I had a big upright
swing. My brother was short, andhe swung like Ben Hogan. And so
we were totally different. But Iremember his first lesson, he
gave us one lesson. Okay? Whenyou're going to play with me
play fast. I'm not waiting. I'mnot waiting around for a bunch
(06:25):
of kids dawdling around thathere. So loving play, Matt.
Devlin, Bruce (06:30):
Good for him.
Simpson, Scott (06:30):
Yeah, we just played in my first tournament
Junior Golf. I was 10. And Itied my brother for fifth place.
And we had a playoff and I endedup beating. Not that did he ever
Devlin, Bruce (06:43):
beat you?
Simpson, Scott (06:44):
Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, he did. He made it. Yeah,
he ended up he was in became areally good Junior he shot 16
under in our city Junior and oneby like eight shots. And yeah,
he'll he'll, he'll remind me ofthat now and then. And then.
Mike Gonzalez (07:01):
Well, I mentioned to you before, Scott, that you
and I are pretty much the samevintage. I think I'm six weeks
older than you actually. And sowe've had a lot of the same life
experiences and would havewatched the same kind of golf
and seeing the same kind of golfmagazine. So your influences
must have been my influences interms of what we were able to
see and learn from his kids.
Simpson, Scott (07:22):
Yep. My heroes were probably especially when I
was a kid, because I was tall,you know, six feet six one and
skinny and so I loved Well, Iwas I was a Nicklaus guy. You
know, you're back then you werea Nicklaus or Palmer.
Mike Gonzalez (07:37):
I was a Palmer guy.
Simpson, Scott (07:39):
Yeah, I was Nicklaus. And I love this
upgrade swaying left out webombed it. And then I like
Johnny Miller and then Weiskopf.
Devlin, Bruce (07:48):
And unfortunate part about all those names is I
had to play against the wholedamn lot of them. No. No, throw
Trevino in there are too andWatson. I know. To me, that was
so good. What a group of guyshuh?
Simpson, Scott (08:05):
I know. It's amazing. They're a great group
of guys. And how many greatplayers have been in Yeah, so
that I get to watch them growingup. I used to have pictures in
my back we didn't have videoback then. I didn't have you to
watch so I had pictures up on mywall that Golf Digest, you know,
the stop action stuff. And I'dcopy that I'd learned swinging
(08:30):
into a mirror, you know, in theoutside and then I had a net in
my backyard. I'd hit balls andjust always just loved it. Just
trying to get better and lovecompeting. And it was fun. Just
let it was fun.
Mike Gonzalez (08:44):
You're old enough to have had your own shag bag?
Simpson, Scott (08:47):
Oh, yeah. Yeah, well, unfortunately, well,
probably fortunately, it startedas it had been the worst driving
range I'd probably ever been onI mean mass where you can break
your wrist and golf balls. Itflew every which direction and
it was horrible. And so and wedidn't have any money, so I
never hit balls on the range. Imean, never. And so we had a
(09:07):
little nine hole place a littlenine hole par three, so we could
go out in the par three. Usuallyno one was there and just hit
irons and I got really good athitting. You're only allowed to
hit two balls. Well, I couldn'timagine that so I'm hitting 567
balls and then have I really getit looking over my shoulder and
(09:28):
spotting the marshal coming out.
And yeah, sometimes I hit sevenor eight balls down this way and
then I'd say oh shoot and thenI'd hit a couple of the other
way and and walk the other way.
Go pick those up later and itwas I got kicked off a couple
times for too much practicing.
And then they went I went to USCbut I got to go back and see see
(09:49):
it's not bad to let those kidspractice Yeah, but it was good
fun. It was Gosh a great placeto grow up and I hit balls. And
I love practicing on the coursetoo, because you hit so many
different kinds of shots, wewould have a wind come in
usually every afternoon off theocean few miles away. And so
yeah, you get used to hitting indifferent winds and different
(10:13):
shots and better than juststanding on a range, I think.
Mike Gonzalez (10:19):
So in addition to being a Nicklaus guy, understand
Byron Nelson was prettyimportant guy to you, as well.
Simpson, Scott (10:26):
Well, the more I started learning, studying about
golf, and I read, I wasbasically a self taught player,
my dad would give us hints oncein a while, being a good player,
the little tips, but really,nothing major, you know, not
like, you know, get the club inthis position. And, you know,
(10:48):
make sure your, your deltoidsfiring, and then you start down
and you're internally rotating,we didn't have all that stuff.
So, you know, I just tried toswing the club and then tried to
watch the best players and but Iread a lot of books. And so
Byron being, you know, about thesame height and size I was, I
(11:09):
thought, oh, geez, like, Ishould copy him, copy him. So
and I love the way he used hislegs, you know, the leg drive,
and I love the way you know,that left hand would leave
through the shot and read hisbooks. And so Byron was kind of
like a hero. Growing up also, asfar as this is swaying and
(11:29):
everything. Then Then, ofcourse, later on, actually got
to meet him and know him, andthen he became even more of a
hero.
Devlin, Bruce (11:37):
Yeah, yeah.
Mike Gonzalez (11:39):
So did you play other sports as a kid?
Simpson, Scott (11:41):
You know, just for fun? In some ways, I wish my
dad would sign me up for youknow, I haven't ever baseball or
Pop Warner or something. Butthey never did. And I never
really probably asked, but Imean, just for fun. I mean, I
shoot baskets and played a lotof handball actually at school
and things like that, butnothing organized. Just golf.
(12:04):
And, and that was fine. I mean,I love golf.
Devlin, Bruce (12:09):
Golf in high school. Oh, yeah, I
Simpson, Scott (12:11):
played golf in high school. And yeah, we ended
up winning our division and allthat stuff. And interesting
enough. Yeah, our school wasgood. And then about 18 years
later, Chris Riley came alongand played at the same school.
And, and now he's coaching tothese coaches at the University
of San Diego. So it's fun tojust get to hang out with a lot
(12:34):
of the same guys. Yeah, he's acool, cool dude, too.
Mike Gonzalez (12:39):
So, tell us a little bit of how your game
developed. And I mean, when didyou what point is you were a
kid, did you say, um, I may, Imay try to play this in college.
I may try to do something withthis. Well, my
Simpson, Scott (12:51):
dream was to go to college and, and I really was
hoping to do that. And then Iended up winning. I think I was
15 when the state junior, andthen, you know, when I was 15, I
qualified for the U.S. Junior.
And one of the favorite storiesI love telling my kids is I made
the match play. And I'm walkingout there with my friend Joe
(13:11):
Flood from San Diego and wewalked down to the range and I
see this one guy at the end ofthe range with a goofiest
looking swing I've ever seen. Isaid to Joe, Look at that swing.
guess somebody's gonna get toplay that guy. Well, it was me
after my five and three beatdown. I never made fun of anyone
(13:31):
swing again. That's for sure.
Jim, you're
Devlin, Bruce (13:37):
gonna tell us who it was. No, I
Simpson, Scott (13:39):
can't remember who it was. But I just remember
thinking oh good I get to playthat guy and he just tested me
so there's more than one way toplay good at this game. That's
Devlin, Bruce (13:51):
isn't that the truth? Yeah,
Mike Gonzalez (13:52):
we heard the same thing from Justin Leonard at the
U.S. Amateur earlier this weekhe talked about and you might
remember the name Bruce becauseit was a more well known name
was a fine older amateur playerrelative to Justin same thing
and never want to copy thatswing but boy he was pretty good
with it.
Simpson, Scott (14:09):
There's a lot of guys like that then But then I
ended up coming second in theU.S. Junior when I was 16 and
semi final the 17 and end upgetting back then the recruiting
was so different there wasn'treally much recruiting. I mean I
could have gone to Houston,probably San Diego State but
then I I was really hoping Iwrote a letter and then got back
(14:32):
from USC, Stan Wood and CraigStadler was already there Yeah,
he's a big star and won the U.S.
Amateur second year in collegeand and I played with Craig
actually in high school he istwo years older and yeah, I just
I thought USC also would be thebest school if I was gonna live
(14:52):
in Southern California to be geta degree from because I hate you
know, I was thinking I alwaysthat, you know, my dream was to
maybe be a pro one day, but mostguys don't make it. And I better
have I better have a degree, Ibetter get a job to fall back.
Because, you know, the odds ofme making it are not good. And
so I thought SC would be great.
(15:17):
And then fortunately, I got ascholarship because I couldn't
afford it and ended up going toUSC and, and rooming with the
walrus of all things. That waspretty funny. I went up there as
a freshman, and I was so shy.
And and coach would goes, he gotus for a football game and I
haven't even been to USC yet.
(15:38):
And Craig's there and so Coachgoes to Craig, the dorms are
full. So Craig, Scott's gonna beliving with you. Craig's like,
what is? No, I don't wantfreshmen with me. Is that what
do you want some freshmen?
Devlin, Bruce (15:55):
Oh, geez.
Simpson, Scott (15:56):
But the coach document knew it. So Craig was
stuck with a freshman.
Mike Gonzalez (16:03):
Well, what a great, what a great golf
tradition there. Of course, StanWoods come up on our podcast
before. And I'm thinking, I'msure you remember. You remember
the story of how Craig got hisnickname? I'm guessing it would
have been the Walker Cup in 75.
With Jerry Pate. I want to saythey were in Scotland, maybe at
(16:27):
the Old Course. soaking rain. Hecomes in all soaking wet and
Jerry Pate. Hangs that "Walrus"label on him.
Simpson, Scott (16:39):
You know what? I don't think I ever asked him how
he got his nickname. That soundslike Jerry Pate though.
Devlin, Bruce (16:48):
Yeah, doesn't it?
Mike Gonzalez (16:49):
And so I think we heard it from Jerry first. And
then of course, we had to talkto Craig about and he validated
it. That's exactly how ithappened. He is actually a
Simpson, Scott (16:58):
it's a perfect nickname. And he ended up
making. I mean, he's done wellwith it, actually. I mean, I
think he kind of embraced itafter a while because the walrus
close relative? Everything.
Yeah, it's been fun. He's a funguy, guys.
Mike Gonzalez (17:13):
We're following in the footsteps of John Jacobs
and Al Geiberger, Dave Stockton.
So tell us a little bit aboutyour college career playing with
Stadler and some of the otherfellas.
Simpson, Scott (17:26):
It was great.
Yeah, we never won the NCAA. Butwe were always right up there.
One of the top teams and we hadMark Pfiel for a year. And good
play. Yeah, we had a lot ofother good players that never
ended up making it on tour. Butyeah, good teams then. It was
just it was fun. And yeah, Iplayed actually I remember a
freshman I played really good.
(17:49):
Right off the bat. I was numberone of the team. And by the end
of the year, I was in a playoffto make it for the last man to
the NCAA. So my game kind ofwent down the toilet. Probably
because I was playing too much.
Pinball with Stadler just toomuch goofing around. He, I mean,
I ended up getting my degree.
(18:12):
And Craig, I think it was histhird or fourth year it got
Scott, I finally figured outwhat I like he was he would do
enough to stay eligible. I'llgive him that much. And we were
so different. He always knew hewas gonna be a pro golfer. So it
wasn't, there wasn't a doubt.
And so he said he stayedeligible. He says, Thanks for
you that what I like I likegeography. So well then. Can you
(18:32):
major it? No, they don't haveany for a major but I'll just
take every elective I guess.
Geography and they
Devlin, Bruce (18:44):
already good in those NCR, you did pretty good
in those NCAA. So you weremedalists there in 76. In
championship of course. NewMexico University in New Mexico
and then again in 77. You weremedalist again at Seven Oaks
Golf Club New York. So I know asa teammate, neither one was You
(19:04):
sure played pretty good. And I
Simpson, Scott (19:05):
did play pretty good. The first one especially I
are good. And they they aren'tgood. 76 was was certainly a
remember going to New Mexico andwe hit they had the East-West
matches there. And I mean, I wasplaying pretty good. But I
remember just going there and Idon't know what clicked it
actually, I got a putting lessonfrom Stan Wood. He told me
Scott, you've got to make sureyou keep accelerating through
(19:29):
the putt. And so I kept goingthrough the puck and like Dave
Stockton talks about left handgoing into the hole and I must
have been quitting on orsomething but we had these east
west matches and so I had to Igot to play Curtis Strange and
Curtis was the NCAA champ as afreshman he's first team
All-American Curtis was so goodin college and he hit it long,
(19:53):
too long and he ended upchanging his swing getting
really consistent and straightas a pro. But in college he had
a long man he was good then I'dbeen on like five and for
something and just played sogood. Like I was just shocking
myself on how good in a way. Andthen because our team was one of
the top teams we played in theafternoon everyone in the other
(20:17):
bottom teams played in themorning. Well, every afternoon
the wind came up blowing like 20miles an hour. And I was in the
afternoon I was the only guy inthe afternoon probably in the
top 10. And wow, I just playedso good. I was just playing so
good. And then I was stillright, kind of near the lead and
(20:37):
I remember I shot for under theback nine and made like a 20
footer on the last hole to win.
And I beat a guy named BartonGoodwin and because these guys
these guys were the guys thathad not really played that great
but they're on the other side ofthe draw. And Barton, Barton you
know, obviously played reallygood but Jeff Sanders with third
(20:58):
all the big names kind ofdropped off, but it was just
like, I played so good. And thenthe following year. It was just
really hard. It was cold, tough,and I think I won it either even
or won under and just kind ofplayed steady the whole way.
Man. Yeah, big thrill to winthat thing twice. It was the I
(21:19):
look back on it. I so now I'm acollege coach. And I look, I
watch these guys play. So how inthe world I ever win that thing.
These casesgreat year for you on the Porter
Cup of Niagara Falls. You werethe number one ranked amateur in
(21:39):
the United States. I mean,that's, that's pretty strong.
I don't know if they had the Iguess I was but I don't remember
that stuff. I don't remember therankings as big a deal back
then. But yeah, I never thoughtit was that good. But I guess I
was pretty good. Ben. Yeah,
Mike Gonzalez (22:00):
you Bruce. You think about the guys that would
have been on that same list backin that era. That's that's a
strong plan. Yeah.
Devlin, Bruce (22:08):
Yeah. Then in in in 77. You make the Walker Cup
team right at Shinnecock Hillsused throughout a pretty good
team there. Yeah, we Simpson,Hallberg, Ridley Sigel, Heafner.
Pretty good, strong team.
Simpson, Scott (22:25):
Yeah, I think we went pretty good too. And the
great thing about the WalkerCup, though, was that I had just
gotten married. So I had justgotten married right out of
college. The, the girl Imarried, who I'm still married
to Cheryl met her in highschool. And funny story there is
(22:46):
I saw her at the junior world.
And I met and she was actuallymeeting a group from Hawaii. Her
boyfriend was a golfer fromHawaii and her dad had just
retired from the Navy. And theyhad retired in San Diego and
most of her most of herupbringing been in Hawaii. So
she was in San Diego meeting,you know, her friends and I'm
looking over there going, Wow,that's a cute girl over there.
(23:08):
She's looking over and, and thenI see her again. It was at the
zoo for a little Junior Worldthing. And then sure enough, she
said my high school. But I toldyou I'm too too shy. I'm not
gonna go talk to a girl. And sobut she, she talks to her
friends and goes, Hey, who'sthat guy over there? And they
go, Oh, Scott Simpson. He's agolfer. You don't you don't need
(23:30):
to talk to him. He doesn't talkto anybody. So she eventually
the action fortunately asked meafter the Sadie Hawkins dance
then one thing led to anotherand been together ever since.
And so we got married and like Isaid, I didn't have any money.
I'm just out of college. But thewe timed it so that the walker
(23:50):
cup was our honeymoon rightthere in New York. And thank you
USGA for paying for myhoneymoon. Never forget, hey,
Mike Gonzalez (24:01):
Cheryl had Cheryl had a pretty good eye. So Bruce,
look at this Walker Cup recordcourse. On the on the GB&I side.
Back in 1977, you had a youngman named Sandy Lyle on that
opposing team among others. Andso let's come out of the box on
Friday morning. You've gotSimpson/Miller against
(24:23):
Davies/Kelly. Quick little fiveand four from the Simpson side.
You go to the afternoon playsome singles and I'll tell you
what the Scots call this. Scott.
Scott Simpson over Gordon Murrayseven and six. You know what
they call it in Scotland? knowthey call that a dog license.
You put a dog license on him.
(24:46):
That's how much a dog licensecosts seven pounds six P or
something. You know, they callthat a dog license.
Simpson, Scott (24:57):
I'm glad I didn't know that. Yeah,
Mike Gonzalez (25:01):
And then the second day we come out in the
morning was a little foursomesmatch the old Miller/Simpson
team begin to up onMcAvoy/Davies. And so here are
3-0 why in the world did theysit you down in the afternoon?
Simpson, Scott (25:17):
I don't know this right? Maybe they do. Maybe
they do as my honey man. Yougotta be tired here eventually.
Mike Gonzalez (25:26):
Some slack so how was that experience? So what do
you remember about that week ofbeing on your honeymoon?
Simpson, Scott (25:32):
It was just great. I mean everything about
it just be me kind of like theRyder Cup being able to
represent your country is just aspecial thrill and yeah, Lindy
Miller, great, great player.
Man. He was out of Texas. He wasprobably one of the best players
definitely in college and hit alittle little hook out there
with every shot and up and downit from everywhere so
Devlin, Bruce (25:55):
He can still hit it too by the way
Simpson, Scott (25:57):
does he?
I know what a great guy
Devlin, Bruce (25:58):
Oh yeah, he's he's still a good player.
Simpson, Scott (26:01):
Yeah, always was and then always surprised me he
didn't make an on tour I thinkhe's putting there was so good
in college just kind of wasn'tas good when he turned pro or
something. But yeah, great guyhead now. It was just fun. It's
just fun. Just love playing andand Shinnecock to is definitely
(26:24):
one of my favorite courses I'veever played. Just love
Shinnecock and being able toplay out there, too.
Mike Gonzalez (26:32):
So as you headed out there, you already knew what
you were going to do. Right? Imean, you weren't going to be a
geography teacher like Stadler?
I mean, you probably had yourmind set, right? Just waiting
for the Walker Cup to getthrough. And then you were going
to do what you were going to doprofessionally?
Simpson, Scott (26:50):
Yes. Yeah, I was gonna Well, actually, I was
gonna go back, I took back thenGolf was only in the spring. So
I would take one less class inthe spring and take try to take
most of the hard classes in thefall. So I was one, one semester
short. And so I went back to USCand got my degree. And yeah, but
(27:11):
I was gonna I was gonna turn proand definitely give it a shot.
Stan would help me get sponsors.
I think I heard Geiberger thatStan helped Geiberger get
sponsors. Then another greatthing about Stan Wood. And
because I didn't have any moneyto start with. So to get a group
of guys to sponsor me for threeyears, and in my mind, I was
(27:31):
gonna give it my best for threeyears. And if I didn't make it
Fine, I'll go back, get a joband, and play for fun. And if I
did make it great, you know, mydream was to, I just love
playing golf so much that Ithought what could be better
than to play golf every day. Soyeah, gave it a shot. And I did
(27:52):
get my degree, tried the tourschool. The first time it made
it to the finals, but then endedup making a 12 on a hole. I got
really lucky. I hooked it downnear water and I'm standing side
hill is Pinehurst for around abig water thing. So I'm trying
to hit it out to the right, butI kept hooking it into the
(28:15):
water. Drop it again, hook inthe water. Jeez. So I ended up
missing school. And then thesecond time though, we had few
schools twice a year then to tryto get on tour. Second time was
in New Mexico, where I'd won theNCAA and played as good as that
probably never played. And Ithought, well, if I'm ever going
(28:37):
to make it, it's going to behere. So I went there, playing
pretty good. And, you know,finals, made it all the way
through. And I'm kind of righton the edge go into the last day
and I shoot at the last day. AndI remember sitting under a tree
with Cheryl basically crying.
Take it I'll never make it as apro. I'll never make it and
(29:02):
because you just blew it, I blewit. And so, you know, those are
the things were either quit oryou dust yourself off and try it
again. You know and think aboutHogan going broke all those
times. Yeah, you know, you justkeep trying then. So
fortunately, the third time downand really hard course in
(29:22):
Huntsville. I made it and andthen the rest is history. I get
to get to play on the PGA Tour.
What a thrill. Yeah, what
Mike Gonzalez (29:32):
a thrill. Even for a guy like Jack Nicklaus
with his record, didn't he saythat 90% of golf is losing.
Devlin, Bruce (29:40):
And that's the truth, isn't it? Yep. Yeah.
Mike Gonzalez (29:43):
So you remember the moment? I mean, the exact
moment when you said Alright,I'm going to try this
professionally.
Simpson, Scott (29:51):
No, no, I don't remember the moment because it
was always a dream. I think.
First the dream was to be ableto play college golf and then
The dream was always to be apro. And that was one of the
things about winning the NCAA isI got the trophy, and I'm
looking down all the names onthat trophy thinking, wow,
almost every one of these guysmade it to the tour. I think I
(30:13):
got a shot. I think maybe maybethis is me, I really can't make
it out there. And yeah, so itwas a dream. i Yeah. And I never
took it for granted, I guess Iwas always a little different
than Craig. Well, I was a betterstudent. My mom and dad were
teachers. I had, I had to dopretty good in the classroom.
(30:39):
And I don't know, I never tookit for granted that never had
never thought, you know, oh,I'll make it as a pro even
winning them to the land, nevertake it for granted that I would
be out there. So in some ways,that probably helped me because
it just made me work harder. Youknow, because I never, never
really thought I was as good assome of these guys. I'm playing
(31:03):
against in some ways.
Mike Gonzalez (31:07):
Well, you know, you look at that record that you
you built over the course ofthose two years, 76, 77 it was
just a, I'm sure a series of ofconfidence boosting steps that
sort of laid a pretty solidfoundation for eventually
saying, Okay, let's, let's givethis a go.
Simpson, Scott (31:22):
Well, you would think so. But then there was
also times, there are weeks or Iplayed terrible. Yeah, I'd have
these great weeks. And thenweeks where cow Lee, I'm gonna
play so bad for. And yeah, andso looking back, I mean, I hit
it real upright swaying, it'skind of like Geiberger a little
bit. And I don't know, maybe alittle more timing involved,
(31:47):
because I went to the Asiantour, when I did turn pro and I
played terrible over there. AndI thought, and that was after
missing the first door schooland I thought, gee whiz, this is
I don't know, I gotta make itthis. And yeah, so I went to the
Asian tour, and I had this bigupgrade swing, and I just, I
(32:10):
miss about over half the cuts.
And it was it was a realstruggle. And fortunately,
Cheryl was with me. And it wasit was fun in a way but men up
with a friend of mine, BobBymun, who had actually beat me
in the U.S. Junior bobbed, itended up making the tour. And
Bob Bob Bymun was a huge Hoganfanatic. And there's a lot of
Hogan fanatics who analyze notonly his swing the book and
(32:35):
everything. And so Bob said,told me So Scott, you're way too
upright, you gotta get, you get,you gotta get your swing more
connected, flatter, where yourarms are swinging more with your
body. And he said, Read thisHogan book. And I had never, I
had read all these books, but Ihad never read Hogan's five
fundamentals just because theguy's five foot eight. What
(32:57):
Yeah, I'm not gonna swing likeBen Hogan. So I read the book,
though. And I started trying tobasically keep my arms connected
with my body. And my swing gotso much more connected. And I
mean, I'm still that's what Iliked about Hogan's book. He
said, If you're tall, your planeis going to be upright. If
(33:20):
you're short, your playing isgoing to be flatter than
Correct. Yeah. I, I, that becamekind of like my golfing Bible.
And it is for so many players.
But I just thought it was itjust really helped me to have
some fundamentals where, youknow, because in golf, you're
gonna have those peaks andvalleys. But when I did have the
(33:42):
valleys, then I had something tokind of go back to and say,
okay, you know, am I am Iswinging in the right sequence,
and I love this idea of thesequence of the swing. And so
that really helped me a lot. Nottrying to swing like Hogan, but
using his fundamentals in theswing, to for my swing. And,
(34:06):
yeah, that really helped me getmuch more consistent. And I
think that's what helped.
Getting onto the tour, then, andthen helping to be a little more
consistent once I got on therein avoiding those, just the big
peaks and valleys that I had. Soyeah, my amateur career was
really great. But it alwaysseemed like I was just it almost
seemed like I was just not asconfident as I should be just
(34:32):
because it did go up and down somuch.
Mike Gonzalez (34:36):
Thank you for listening to another episode of
for the good of the game.
Please, wherever you listen toyour podcast on Apple and
Spotify. If you like what youhear, please subscribe. Spread
the word. Tell your friendsuntil we tee it up again. With
the good of the game. So long,everybody
Welcome to another edition of FORE the Good
of the Game and Bruce Devlin,can you believe it's interview
number 76?
Devlin, Bruce (00:22):
I know and what an interview we have today, too.
Mike Gonzalez (00:25):
Yeah, I mean, we had to go. We had to go a long
way to find this fella and trackhim down.
Devlin, Bruce (00:29):
I know I know
Mike Gonzalez (00:31):
The other cool part about having done this many
interviews is we're starting toget some of our guests that
actually know what the podcastis. And have listened to some
episodes. That's pretty cool.
Devlin, Bruce (00:40):
And this particular one does he he
listens to our podcast when hewalks his dogs. And he's a
16-time winner. Seven of them onthe PGA Tour. He was traveled a
lot to Japan and back. And thenin 1987, a lot of people will
remember when he won the U.S.
Open. And what a pleasure it isto have Scott Simpson with us
(01:03):
today. Beautiful. Thank you,sir, for joining us.
Simpson, Scott (01:09):
Well, it's gonna be great to be here. Thanks,
Bruce. Thanks, Mike. I do enjoylistening to your podcast quite
a bit. It's a lot of the peoplethat I grew up watching and then
playing with and man it's, it'sjust a it's a fun thing. Thanks
for doing it.
Devlin, Bruce (01:25):
Thank you. Yeah, well, we've had a lot of fun
with it. I thought Mr. Gonzalezwas was the one that come up
with the idea when he firstthrew it at me. I thought he was
stupid. But I ended up I endedup saying, Okay, let's take a
shot at it. And boy, it's been ait's been a great ride. And as
of today, we are with the USGAforever.
Simpson, Scott (01:51):
Well, I'm glad he talked you into it, Bruce.
Devlin, Bruce (01:53):
Yeah, we're, we're, and we look forward to
talking to you today. Scott, youknow, you got a lot of things to
talk about. You've had a greatcareer. And I know, you're the
head coach, coach of the boys atthe University of Hawaii. Used
to be used to be with the girlsearlier, but now with the boys
and they're lucky to have you.
That's all I can say.
Simpson, Scott (02:18):
Well, you'd have to ask them about that. I don't
know.
Mike Gonzalez (02:22):
We'll get to your we'll get to your coaching
career, I'm sure much deeperinto our interview. But as you
know, having listened to a fewof these, Scott, we like to go
back to the very beginning. Andit's so it's always fun and
enjoyable for Bruce and I toreally come to learn how you how
you grew up. You know what othersports you might have played how
you came to the game. So take usa little bit about growing up in
(02:45):
God's country, San Diego,California.
Simpson, Scott (02:48):
I know I feel lucky. My dad and my mom. My mom
was from Milwaukee, my dad'sfrom Chicago. And he got drafted
during the Korean War into theMarines and sent all the way out
to San Diego. He was upset. Howcan I have to be sent so far
away from home and well, he wentout here for a couple years and
never went back. He startedplaying golf and fell in love
(03:13):
with golf. And my dad actuallybecame a really good player
qualified for the U.S. AM. Iremember he came back from the
U.S. AM and said, Yeah, I'mhitting it out there between
these bunkers and this kid fromStanford, Tom Watson is flying
these bunkers. How am I gonnacompete with that? And, yeah,
(03:34):
he, he was just a really goodplayer. And he was a school
teacher, actually, elementaryschool teacher, he majored in
math, and I don't know how hegot into teaching, but I think
he loved having the summers off,I think was his favorite part of
the job. And he could play golf.
And so when I was 10, and mybrother was nine, we actually
asked our dad if we could startplaying golf and fortunately, in
(03:54):
San Diego, they had just afantastic junior golf program.
And I just fell in love with thegame. Just love playing the
tournaments, love playing golf,and we were really fortunate to
that. My dad joined a coursesemi public course called
Stardust and hit a bunch ofgamblers. Brusa know these guys,
(04:15):
a lot of the pros VictorRegalado, Cesar Cenudo, Lon
Hinkle, all the San Diego guyswould come down and try to make
a little cash and but it wasgreat because they had three
nines. So two of the nines werelike the course. And the other
nine was for like everyone elseto go play and usually the
(04:37):
juniors could get out and playand it was it was just great. So
just kind of just love playinggolf, love competing love
playing with friends and kind ofgot better and better as I went
on.
Devlin, Bruce (04:52):
Stardust was out in the valley, wasn't it?
Simpson, Scott (04:54):
Yeah, yeah. Do you remember? Oh, you might have
even played Uh oh, I
Devlin, Bruce (04:58):
played there too.
Simpson, Scott (04:59):
You know what?
had the San Diego Open beforethey moved to Torrey Pines was a
Stardust. I remember getting atee from Al Geiberger that had
Skippy peanut butter on it
Mike Gonzalez (05:16):
I know Skippy came up in our in our interview
with with Al whether the teescame up Bruce I don't remember
but
Devlin, Bruce (05:23):
yeah, he he always had teeth with the Skippy
peanut. Skippy, right? Yeah.
Mike Gonzalez (05:30):
That's great.
Yeah. Tell us about your firststicks. When did you get them?
What kind? Where are they?
Simpson, Scott (05:37):
Well, you know, my dad was a school teacher. So
he went all out and I got we gotour first clubs and I got the
even once and Dave got the oddones. I don't know probably like
four or five Wired's and I wouldputter and ready to go. I do
remember. So we joined. Westarted playing. My dad gave us
one lesson and my dad was a goodplayer. But as a teacher, he, he
(06:01):
believed you learn kind of onyour own, and learn by watching
and watch the great players. SoI was tall. I had a big upright
swing. My brother was short, andhe swung like Ben Hogan. And so
we were totally different. But Iremember his first lesson, he
gave us one lesson. Okay? Whenyou're going to play with me
play fast. I'm not waiting. I'mnot waiting around for a bunch
(06:25):
of kids dawdling around thathere. So loving play, Matt.
Devlin, Bruce (06:30):
Good for him.
Simpson, Scott (06:30):
Yeah, we just played in my first tournament
Junior Golf. I was 10. And Itied my brother for fifth place.
And we had a playoff and I endedup beating. Not that did he ever
Devlin, Bruce (06:43):
beat you?
Simpson, Scott (06:44):
Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, he did. He made it. Yeah,
he ended up he was in became areally good Junior he shot 16
under in our city Junior and oneby like eight shots. And yeah,
he'll he'll, he'll remind me ofthat now and then. And then.
Mike Gonzalez (07:01):
Well, I mentioned to you before, Scott, that you
and I are pretty much the samevintage. I think I'm six weeks
older than you actually. And sowe've had a lot of the same life
experiences and would havewatched the same kind of golf
and seeing the same kind of golfmagazine. So your influences
must have been my influences interms of what we were able to
see and learn from his kids.
Simpson, Scott (07:22):
Yep. My heroes were probably especially when I
was a kid, because I was tall,you know, six feet six one and
skinny and so I loved Well, Iwas I was a Nicklaus guy. You
know, you're back then you werea Nicklaus or Palmer.
Mike Gonzalez (07:37):
I was a Palmer guy.
Simpson, Scott (07:39):
Yeah, I was Nicklaus. And I love this
upgrade swaying left out webombed it. And then I like
Johnny Miller and then Weiskopf.
Devlin, Bruce (07:48):
And unfortunate part about all those names is I
had to play against the wholedamn lot of them. No. No, throw
Trevino in there are too andWatson. I know. To me, that was
so good. What a group of guyshuh?
Simpson, Scott (08:05):
I know. It's amazing. They're a great group
of guys. And how many greatplayers have been in Yeah, so
that I get to watch them growingup. I used to have pictures in
my back we didn't have videoback then. I didn't have you to
watch so I had pictures up on mywall that Golf Digest, you know,
the stop action stuff. And I'dcopy that I'd learned swinging
(08:30):
into a mirror, you know, in theoutside and then I had a net in
my backyard. I'd hit balls andjust always just loved it. Just
trying to get better and lovecompeting. And it was fun. Just
let it was fun.
Mike Gonzalez (08:44):
You're old enough to have had your own shag bag?
Simpson, Scott (08:47):
Oh, yeah. Yeah, well, unfortunately, well,
probably fortunately, it startedas it had been the worst driving
range I'd probably ever been onI mean mass where you can break
your wrist and golf balls. Itflew every which direction and
it was horrible. And so and wedidn't have any money, so I
never hit balls on the range. Imean, never. And so we had a
(09:07):
little nine hole place a littlenine hole par three, so we could
go out in the par three. Usuallyno one was there and just hit
irons and I got really good athitting. You're only allowed to
hit two balls. Well, I couldn'timagine that so I'm hitting 567
balls and then have I really getit looking over my shoulder and
(09:28):
spotting the marshal coming out.
And yeah, sometimes I hit sevenor eight balls down this way and
then I'd say oh shoot and thenI'd hit a couple of the other
way and and walk the other way.
Go pick those up later and itwas I got kicked off a couple
times for too much practicing.
And then they went I went to USCbut I got to go back and see see
(09:49):
it's not bad to let those kidspractice Yeah, but it was good
fun. It was Gosh a great placeto grow up and I hit balls. And
I love practicing on the coursetoo, because you hit so many
different kinds of shots, wewould have a wind come in
usually every afternoon off theocean few miles away. And so
yeah, you get used to hitting indifferent winds and different
(10:13):
shots and better than juststanding on a range, I think.
Mike Gonzalez (10:19):
So in addition to being a Nicklaus guy, understand
Byron Nelson was prettyimportant guy to you, as well.
Simpson, Scott (10:26):
Well, the more I started learning, studying about
golf, and I read, I wasbasically a self taught player,
my dad would give us hints oncein a while, being a good player,
the little tips, but really,nothing major, you know, not
like, you know, get the club inthis position. And, you know,
(10:48):
make sure your, your deltoidsfiring, and then you start down
and you're internally rotating,we didn't have all that stuff.
So, you know, I just tried toswing the club and then tried to
watch the best players and but Iread a lot of books. And so
Byron being, you know, about thesame height and size I was, I
(11:09):
thought, oh, geez, like, Ishould copy him, copy him. So
and I love the way he used hislegs, you know, the leg drive,
and I love the way you know,that left hand would leave
through the shot and read hisbooks. And so Byron was kind of
like a hero. Growing up also, asfar as this is swaying and
(11:29):
everything. Then Then, ofcourse, later on, actually got
to meet him and know him, andthen he became even more of a
hero.
Devlin, Bruce (11:37):
Yeah, yeah.
Mike Gonzalez (11:39):
So did you play other sports as a kid?
Simpson, Scott (11:41):
You know, just for fun? In some ways, I wish my
dad would sign me up for youknow, I haven't ever baseball or
Pop Warner or something. Butthey never did. And I never
really probably asked, but Imean, just for fun. I mean, I
shoot baskets and played a lotof handball actually at school
and things like that, butnothing organized. Just golf.
(12:04):
And, and that was fine. I mean,I love golf.
Devlin, Bruce (12:09):
Golf in high school. Oh, yeah, I
Simpson, Scott (12:11):
played golf in high school. And yeah, we ended
up winning our division and allthat stuff. And interesting
enough. Yeah, our school wasgood. And then about 18 years
later, Chris Riley came alongand played at the same school.
And, and now he's coaching tothese coaches at the University
of San Diego. So it's fun tojust get to hang out with a lot
(12:34):
of the same guys. Yeah, he's acool, cool dude, too.
Mike Gonzalez (12:39):
So, tell us a little bit of how your game
developed. And I mean, when didyou what point is you were a
kid, did you say, um, I may, Imay try to play this in college.
I may try to do something withthis. Well, my
Simpson, Scott (12:51):
dream was to go to college and, and I really was
hoping to do that. And then Iended up winning. I think I was
15 when the state junior, andthen, you know, when I was 15, I
qualified for the U.S. Junior.
And one of the favorite storiesI love telling my kids is I made
the match play. And I'm walkingout there with my friend Joe
(13:11):
Flood from San Diego and wewalked down to the range and I
see this one guy at the end ofthe range with a goofiest
looking swing I've ever seen. Isaid to Joe, Look at that swing.
guess somebody's gonna get toplay that guy. Well, it was me
after my five and three beatdown. I never made fun of anyone
(13:31):
swing again. That's for sure.
Jim, you're
Devlin, Bruce (13:37):
gonna tell us who it was. No, I
Simpson, Scott (13:39):
can't remember who it was. But I just remember
thinking oh good I get to playthat guy and he just tested me
so there's more than one way toplay good at this game. That's
Devlin, Bruce (13:51):
isn't that the truth? Yeah,
Mike Gonzalez (13:52):
we heard the same thing from Justin Leonard at the
U.S. Amateur earlier this weekhe talked about and you might
remember the name Bruce becauseit was a more well known name
was a fine older amateur playerrelative to Justin same thing
and never want to copy thatswing but boy he was pretty good
with it.
Simpson, Scott (14:09):
There's a lot of guys like that then But then I
ended up coming second in theU.S. Junior when I was 16 and
semi final the 17 and end upgetting back then the recruiting
was so different there wasn'treally much recruiting. I mean I
could have gone to Houston,probably San Diego State but
then I I was really hoping Iwrote a letter and then got back
(14:32):
from USC, Stan Wood and CraigStadler was already there Yeah,
he's a big star and won the U.S.
Amateur second year in collegeand and I played with Craig
actually in high school he istwo years older and yeah, I just
I thought USC also would be thebest school if I was gonna live
(14:52):
in Southern California to be geta degree from because I hate you
know, I was thinking I alwaysthat, you know, my dream was to
maybe be a pro one day, but mostguys don't make it. And I better
have I better have a degree, Ibetter get a job to fall back.
Because, you know, the odds ofme making it are not good. And
so I thought SC would be great.
(15:17):
And then fortunately, I got ascholarship because I couldn't
afford it and ended up going toUSC and, and rooming with the
walrus of all things. That waspretty funny. I went up there as
a freshman, and I was so shy.
And and coach would goes, he gotus for a football game and I
haven't even been to USC yet.
(15:38):
And Craig's there and so Coachgoes to Craig, the dorms are
full. So Craig, Scott's gonna beliving with you. Craig's like,
what is? No, I don't wantfreshmen with me. Is that what
do you want some freshmen?
Devlin, Bruce (15:55):
Oh, geez.
Simpson, Scott (15:56):
But the coach document knew it. So Craig was
stuck with a freshman.
Mike Gonzalez (16:03):
Well, what a great, what a great golf
tradition there. Of course, StanWoods come up on our podcast
before. And I'm thinking, I'msure you remember. You remember
the story of how Craig got hisnickname? I'm guessing it would
have been the Walker Cup in 75.
With Jerry Pate. I want to saythey were in Scotland, maybe at
(16:27):
the Old Course. soaking rain. Hecomes in all soaking wet and
Jerry Pate. Hangs that "Walrus"label on him.
Simpson, Scott (16:39):
You know what? I don't think I ever asked him how
he got his nickname. That soundslike Jerry Pate though.
Devlin, Bruce (16:48):
Yeah, doesn't it?
Mike Gonzalez (16:49):
And so I think we heard it from Jerry first. And
then of course, we had to talkto Craig about and he validated
it. That's exactly how ithappened. He is actually a
Simpson, Scott (16:58):
it's a perfect nickname. And he ended up
making. I mean, he's done wellwith it, actually. I mean, I
think he kind of embraced itafter a while because the walrus
close relative? Everything.
Yeah, it's been fun. He's a funguy, guys.
Mike Gonzalez (17:13):
We're following in the footsteps of John Jacobs
and Al Geiberger, Dave Stockton.
So tell us a little bit aboutyour college career playing with
Stadler and some of the otherfellas.
Simpson, Scott (17:26):
It was great.
Yeah, we never won the NCAA. Butwe were always right up there.
One of the top teams and we hadMark Pfiel for a year. And good
play. Yeah, we had a lot ofother good players that never
ended up making it on tour. Butyeah, good teams then. It was
just it was fun. And yeah, Iplayed actually I remember a
freshman I played really good.
(17:49):
Right off the bat. I was numberone of the team. And by the end
of the year, I was in a playoffto make it for the last man to
the NCAA. So my game kind ofwent down the toilet. Probably
because I was playing too much.
Pinball with Stadler just toomuch goofing around. He, I mean,
I ended up getting my degree.
(18:12):
And Craig, I think it was histhird or fourth year it got
Scott, I finally figured outwhat I like he was he would do
enough to stay eligible. I'llgive him that much. And we were
so different. He always knew hewas gonna be a pro golfer. So it
wasn't, there wasn't a doubt.
And so he said he stayedeligible. He says, Thanks for
you that what I like I likegeography. So well then. Can you
(18:32):
major it? No, they don't haveany for a major but I'll just
take every elective I guess.
Geography and they
Devlin, Bruce (18:44):
already good in those NCR, you did pretty good
in those NCAA. So you weremedalists there in 76. In
championship of course. NewMexico University in New Mexico
and then again in 77. You weremedalist again at Seven Oaks
Golf Club New York. So I know asa teammate, neither one was You
(19:04):
sure played pretty good. And I
Simpson, Scott (19:05):
did play pretty good. The first one especially I
are good. And they they aren'tgood. 76 was was certainly a
remember going to New Mexico andwe hit they had the East-West
matches there. And I mean, I wasplaying pretty good. But I
remember just going there and Idon't know what clicked it
actually, I got a putting lessonfrom Stan Wood. He told me
Scott, you've got to make sureyou keep accelerating through
(19:29):
the putt. And so I kept goingthrough the puck and like Dave
Stockton talks about left handgoing into the hole and I must
have been quitting on orsomething but we had these east
west matches and so I had to Igot to play Curtis Strange and
Curtis was the NCAA champ as afreshman he's first team
All-American Curtis was so goodin college and he hit it long,
(19:53):
too long and he ended upchanging his swing getting
really consistent and straightas a pro. But in college he had
a long man he was good then I'dbeen on like five and for
something and just played sogood. Like I was just shocking
myself on how good in a way. Andthen because our team was one of
the top teams we played in theafternoon everyone in the other
(20:17):
bottom teams played in themorning. Well, every afternoon
the wind came up blowing like 20miles an hour. And I was in the
afternoon I was the only guy inthe afternoon probably in the
top 10. And wow, I just playedso good. I was just playing so
good. And then I was stillright, kind of near the lead and
(20:37):
I remember I shot for under theback nine and made like a 20
footer on the last hole to win.
And I beat a guy named BartonGoodwin and because these guys
these guys were the guys thathad not really played that great
but they're on the other side ofthe draw. And Barton, Barton you
know, obviously played reallygood but Jeff Sanders with third
(20:58):
all the big names kind ofdropped off, but it was just
like, I played so good. And thenthe following year. It was just
really hard. It was cold, tough,and I think I won it either even
or won under and just kind ofplayed steady the whole way.
Man. Yeah, big thrill to winthat thing twice. It was the I
(21:19):
look back on it. I so now I'm acollege coach. And I look, I
watch these guys play. So how inthe world I ever win that thing.
These casesgreat year for you on the Porter
Cup of Niagara Falls. You werethe number one ranked amateur in
(21:39):
the United States. I mean,that's, that's pretty strong.
I don't know if they had the Iguess I was but I don't remember
that stuff. I don't remember therankings as big a deal back
then. But yeah, I never thoughtit was that good. But I guess I
was pretty good. Ben. Yeah,
Mike Gonzalez (22:00):
you Bruce. You think about the guys that would
have been on that same list backin that era. That's that's a
strong plan. Yeah.
Devlin, Bruce (22:08):
Yeah. Then in in in 77. You make the Walker Cup
team right at Shinnecock Hillsused throughout a pretty good
team there. Yeah, we Simpson,Hallberg, Ridley Sigel, Heafner.
Pretty good, strong team.
Simpson, Scott (22:25):
Yeah, I think we went pretty good too. And the
great thing about the WalkerCup, though, was that I had just
gotten married. So I had justgotten married right out of
college. The, the girl Imarried, who I'm still married
to Cheryl met her in highschool. And funny story there is
(22:46):
I saw her at the junior world.
And I met and she was actuallymeeting a group from Hawaii. Her
boyfriend was a golfer fromHawaii and her dad had just
retired from the Navy. And theyhad retired in San Diego and
most of her most of herupbringing been in Hawaii. So
she was in San Diego meeting,you know, her friends and I'm
looking over there going, Wow,that's a cute girl over there.
(23:08):
She's looking over and, and thenI see her again. It was at the
zoo for a little Junior Worldthing. And then sure enough, she
said my high school. But I toldyou I'm too too shy. I'm not
gonna go talk to a girl. And sobut she, she talks to her
friends and goes, Hey, who'sthat guy over there? And they
go, Oh, Scott Simpson. He's agolfer. You don't you don't need
(23:30):
to talk to him. He doesn't talkto anybody. So she eventually
the action fortunately asked meafter the Sadie Hawkins dance
then one thing led to anotherand been together ever since.
And so we got married and like Isaid, I didn't have any money.
I'm just out of college. But thewe timed it so that the walker
(23:50):
cup was our honeymoon rightthere in New York. And thank you
USGA for paying for myhoneymoon. Never forget, hey,
Mike Gonzalez (24:01):
Cheryl had Cheryl had a pretty good eye. So Bruce,
look at this Walker Cup recordcourse. On the on the GB&I side.
Back in 1977, you had a youngman named Sandy Lyle on that
opposing team among others. Andso let's come out of the box on
Friday morning. You've gotSimpson/Miller against
(24:23):
Davies/Kelly. Quick little fiveand four from the Simpson side.
You go to the afternoon playsome singles and I'll tell you
what the Scots call this. Scott.
Scott Simpson over Gordon Murrayseven and six. You know what
they call it in Scotland? knowthey call that a dog license.
You put a dog license on him.
(24:46):
That's how much a dog licensecosts seven pounds six P or
something. You know, they callthat a dog license.
Simpson, Scott (24:57):
I'm glad I didn't know that. Yeah,
Mike Gonzalez (25:01):
And then the second day we come out in the
morning was a little foursomesmatch the old Miller/Simpson
team begin to up onMcAvoy/Davies. And so here are
3-0 why in the world did theysit you down in the afternoon?
Simpson, Scott (25:17):
I don't know this right? Maybe they do. Maybe
they do as my honey man. Yougotta be tired here eventually.
Mike Gonzalez (25:26):
Some slack so how was that experience? So what do
you remember about that week ofbeing on your honeymoon?
Simpson, Scott (25:32):
It was just great. I mean everything about
it just be me kind of like theRyder Cup being able to
represent your country is just aspecial thrill and yeah, Lindy
Miller, great, great player.
Man. He was out of Texas. He wasprobably one of the best players
definitely in college and hit alittle little hook out there
with every shot and up and downit from everywhere so
Devlin, Bruce (25:55):
He can still hit it too by the way
Simpson, Scott (25:57):
does he?
I know what a great guy
Devlin, Bruce (25:58):
Oh yeah, he's he's still a good player.
Simpson, Scott (26:01):
Yeah, always was and then always surprised me he
didn't make an on tour I thinkhe's putting there was so good
in college just kind of wasn'tas good when he turned pro or
something. But yeah, great guyhead now. It was just fun. It's
just fun. Just love playing andand Shinnecock to is definitely
(26:24):
one of my favorite courses I'veever played. Just love
Shinnecock and being able toplay out there, too.
Mike Gonzalez (26:32):
So as you headed out there, you already knew what
you were going to do. Right? Imean, you weren't going to be a
geography teacher like Stadler?
I mean, you probably had yourmind set, right? Just waiting
for the Walker Cup to getthrough. And then you were going
to do what you were going to doprofessionally?
Simpson, Scott (26:50):
Yes. Yeah, I was gonna Well, actually, I was
gonna go back, I took back thenGolf was only in the spring. So
I would take one less class inthe spring and take try to take
most of the hard classes in thefall. So I was one, one semester
short. And so I went back to USCand got my degree. And yeah, but
(27:11):
I was gonna I was gonna turn proand definitely give it a shot.
Stan would help me get sponsors.
I think I heard Geiberger thatStan helped Geiberger get
sponsors. Then another greatthing about Stan Wood. And
because I didn't have any moneyto start with. So to get a group
of guys to sponsor me for threeyears, and in my mind, I was
(27:31):
gonna give it my best for threeyears. And if I didn't make it
Fine, I'll go back, get a joband, and play for fun. And if I
did make it great, you know, mydream was to, I just love
playing golf so much that Ithought what could be better
than to play golf every day. Soyeah, gave it a shot. And I did
(27:52):
get my degree, tried the tourschool. The first time it made
it to the finals, but then endedup making a 12 on a hole. I got
really lucky. I hooked it downnear water and I'm standing side
hill is Pinehurst for around abig water thing. So I'm trying
to hit it out to the right, butI kept hooking it into the
(28:15):
water. Drop it again, hook inthe water. Jeez. So I ended up
missing school. And then thesecond time though, we had few
schools twice a year then to tryto get on tour. Second time was
in New Mexico, where I'd won theNCAA and played as good as that
probably never played. And Ithought, well, if I'm ever going
(28:37):
to make it, it's going to behere. So I went there, playing
pretty good. And, you know,finals, made it all the way
through. And I'm kind of righton the edge go into the last day
and I shoot at the last day. AndI remember sitting under a tree
with Cheryl basically crying.
Take it I'll never make it as apro. I'll never make it and
(29:02):
because you just blew it, I blewit. And so, you know, those are
the things were either quit oryou dust yourself off and try it
again. You know and think aboutHogan going broke all those
times. Yeah, you know, you justkeep trying then. So
fortunately, the third time downand really hard course in
(29:22):
Huntsville. I made it and andthen the rest is history. I get
to get to play on the PGA Tour.
What a thrill. Yeah, what
Mike Gonzalez (29:32):
a thrill. Even for a guy like Jack Nicklaus
with his record, didn't he saythat 90% of golf is losing.
Devlin, Bruce (29:40):
And that's the truth, isn't it? Yep. Yeah.
Mike Gonzalez (29:43):
So you remember the moment? I mean, the exact
moment when you said Alright,I'm going to try this
professionally.
Simpson, Scott (29:51):
No, no, I don't remember the moment because it
was always a dream. I think.
First the dream was to be ableto play college golf and then
The dream was always to be apro. And that was one of the
things about winning the NCAA isI got the trophy, and I'm
looking down all the names onthat trophy thinking, wow,
almost every one of these guysmade it to the tour. I think I
(30:13):
got a shot. I think maybe maybethis is me, I really can't make
it out there. And yeah, so itwas a dream. i Yeah. And I never
took it for granted, I guess Iwas always a little different
than Craig. Well, I was a betterstudent. My mom and dad were
teachers. I had, I had to dopretty good in the classroom.
(30:39):
And I don't know, I never tookit for granted that never had
never thought, you know, oh,I'll make it as a pro even
winning them to the land, nevertake it for granted that I would
be out there. So in some ways,that probably helped me because
it just made me work harder. Youknow, because I never, never
really thought I was as good assome of these guys. I'm playing
(31:03):
against in some ways.
Mike Gonzalez (31:07):
Well, you know, you look at that record that you
you built over the course ofthose two years, 76, 77 it was
just a, I'm sure a series of ofconfidence boosting steps that
sort of laid a pretty solidfoundation for eventually
saying, Okay, let's, let's givethis a go.
Simpson, Scott (31:22):
Well, you would think so. But then there was
also times, there are weeks or Iplayed terrible. Yeah, I'd have
these great weeks. And thenweeks where cow Lee, I'm gonna
play so bad for. And yeah, andso looking back, I mean, I hit
it real upright swaying, it'skind of like Geiberger a little
bit. And I don't know, maybe alittle more timing involved,
(31:47):
because I went to the Asiantour, when I did turn pro and I
played terrible over there. AndI thought, and that was after
missing the first door schooland I thought, gee whiz, this is
I don't know, I gotta make itthis. And yeah, so I went to the
Asian tour, and I had this bigupgrade swing, and I just, I
(32:10):
miss about over half the cuts.
And it was it was a realstruggle. And fortunately,
Cheryl was with me. And it wasit was fun in a way but men up
with a friend of mine, BobBymun, who had actually beat me
in the U.S. Junior bobbed, itended up making the tour. And
Bob Bob Bymun was a huge Hoganfanatic. And there's a lot of
Hogan fanatics who analyze notonly his swing the book and
(32:35):
everything. And so Bob said,told me So Scott, you're way too
upright, you gotta get, you get,you gotta get your swing more
connected, flatter, where yourarms are swinging more with your
body. And he said, Read thisHogan book. And I had never, I
had read all these books, but Ihad never read Hogan's five
fundamentals just because theguy's five foot eight. What
(32:57):
Yeah, I'm not gonna swing likeBen Hogan. So I read the book,
though. And I started trying tobasically keep my arms connected
with my body. And my swing gotso much more connected. And I
mean, I'm still that's what Iliked about Hogan's book. He
said, If you're tall, your planeis going to be upright. If
(33:20):
you're short, your playing isgoing to be flatter than
Correct. Yeah. I, I, that becamekind of like my golfing Bible.
And it is for so many players.
But I just thought it was itjust really helped me to have
some fundamentals where, youknow, because in golf, you're
gonna have those peaks andvalleys. But when I did have the
(33:42):
valleys, then I had something tokind of go back to and say,
okay, you know, am I am Iswinging in the right sequence,
and I love this idea of thesequence of the swing. And so
that really helped me a lot. Nottrying to swing like Hogan, but
using his fundamentals in theswing, to for my swing. And,
(34:06):
yeah, that really helped me getmuch more consistent. And I
think that's what helped.
Getting onto the tour, then, andthen helping to be a little more
consistent once I got on therein avoiding those, just the big
peaks and valleys that I had. Soyeah, my amateur career was
really great. But it alwaysseemed like I was just it almost
seemed like I was just not asconfident as I should be just
(34:32):
because it did go up and down somuch.
Mike Gonzalez (34:36):
Thank you for listening to another episode of
for the good of the game.
Please, wherever you listen toyour podcast on Apple and
Spotify. If you like what youhear, please subscribe. Spread
the word. Tell your friendsuntil we tee it up again. With
the good of the game. So long,everybody
Popular Podcasts
Boysober
Have you ever wondered what life might be like if you stopped worrying about being wanted, and focused on understanding what you actually want? That was the question Hope Woodard asked herself after a string of situationships inspired her to take a break from sex and dating. She went "boysober," a personal concept that sparked a global movement among women looking to prioritize themselves over men. Now, Hope is looking to expand the ways we explore our relationship to relationships. Taking a bold, unfiltered look into modern love, romance, and self-discovery, Boysober will dive into messy stories about dating, sex, love, friendship, and breaking generational patterns—all with humor, vulnerability, and a fresh perspective.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com