"the fact that he gave that ball to me..."

Get your tissues out, Peter Kostis offers this emotional heart tugger of an anecdote to remind us that he's teaching one of the best players in the world.

I've been Paul Casey's coach five years, so when he made that ace on 14 yesterday—well, let's just say it was something special. A walk-off hole-in-one at the Ryder Cup—just the fifth in event history—to win your match! I was following Paul's foursomes match. When we reached the 14th, Paul's girlfriend Jocelyn turned to me and said, "This shot is right up his alley." It's like she knew. He didn't even see the ball go in, due to the topography.

 Or the lousy shaping work. Eh, just a thought...

When he watched his swing on the Jumbotron, he could read the lips of about 5,000 people saying, "Get in the hole!" Then he gave me the ball—an amazing gesture. He said something very personal which I'd rather not share, but the fact that he gave that ball to me, of all the people he could have handed it to, shows the kind of kid he is.

My NSA sources picked up Casey's comments to Kostis and passed them along: "Peter, since I couldn't get you a room here at the K Club, maybe you can sell this on Ebay to recoup some cash to pay for that lousy $500-a-night hotel room in Kildare." 

Comments

[Chuck]

Geoff, you're such a cynic. I know I got all teary thinking that Peter would never be able to proudly display Casey's Nike One Platinum ball until the Kostis/Titleist propaganda contract runs out.

But I am confused; was it Kostis' swing coaching, or "fitness" deserves the credit in the case of Casey...

[JOHN]

Chucky....In the Casey/Howell 4somes match(that's where 2 guys play 1 ball in case you didn't know) they used Howell's ProV1-X. Just keepin it real for all you Kool-aid drinkers out there!

[Geoff]

Hey Peter, I mean JOHN, thanks for chiming in! So does the Titleist deal allow you to have a Nike swoosh product in your possession?

Uh, Kool-Aid drinkers? What's that all about?

[Chuck]

Thanks John; I did wonder about whether the fact that it was a foursomes match (I know what they are) might have complicated Casey's "ball of contract" choice. But as we know, the one-ball condition was suspended this year for the foursomes. You may in fact know that Casey (familiar with the Pro-V1 from a year ago) did go with Howell's ball -- I truly don't know. I do know that Casey could have used his Nike One if had had chosen to on that Par 3; I'd be a little surprised if he didn't.
Either way, my point was a rhetorical one about our fitness-friend Peter Kostis. I will of course sleep better at night if I know that Peter's house will remain all-Acushnet, all the time.
And while I may drink deep of the Kool Aid, you'll not get my Titleist irons or my Vokeys until you pry them from my cold, dead (but newly fit in the age of Tiger!) hands...

[Van]

Certainly the happiest story (for all family members) thus far in '06.

[Steve]

Good of Peter to point out that a hole-in-one in the Ryder Cup is "something special."

Why do I get the feeling that Kostis was pleased with the European win? I wonder if he and Tiger exchanged pleasantries?