June 11, 2008
AND THEN THERE WAS ONE page 87
John Atkinson did not expect to win the inaugural Golf Digest U.S. Open Challenge. He also didn’t expect to be diagnosed with Stage 4 inoperable lung cancer as a non–smoking, healthy 38–year–old. But if the latter has taught him anything over the last year, it would be that you can never, ever give up. It’s with that frame of mind that John will try to break 100 at Torrey Pines Golf Course alongside Justin Timberlake, Tony Romo and Matt Lauer under U.S. Open conditions in front of NBC’s cameras on June 6th, only days before the Championship. Senior writer Dave Kindred visited John at his home course in Omaha, Neb. to find out how he got here and what he’s doing to get ready for the biggest round of golf in his life.
“If you play golf, there’s a good chance you’ll get skin cancer.” A frightening statement for sure, but the fact is that more than 20% of American golfers will develop some form of skin cancer in their lifetimes. So, what can we do to help avoid becoming a statistic? Check out the tips from leading skin–care experts to see how you can protect your body while out on the links.
HIGH VOLTAGE! – BRANDT SNEDEKER page 116
The blonde mop top–wearing, Red Bull–drinking, fast–talking Snedeker is one of a number of young faces to make an impact on the PGA TOUR this season, but it wasn’t his play that got the most recent attention. After a final–round 77 at The Masters, which left him in a tie for third place, the usually bubbly 27–year–old broke down in tears in front of the media after what he calls the greatest but most disappointing week of his life. In the July issue, Snedeker opens up to senior writer Jaime Diaz about his waterworks at Augusta, playing two rounds with his hero, and the turning–point in his professional and personal life.
The great Bobby Jones once wrote in his memoir, “friends are a man’s priceless treasures, and a life rich in friendship is full indeed.” Nowhere is that sentiment more evident than the way in which Jones was revered by the people of St. Andrews, and no event better captures the spirit than Jones’ 1958 trip to the historic town where he was honored as “a man of outstanding character, courage and accomplishment.”
Click here to see a clip of Jones’ ceremony at St. Andrews.
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