Tour Legends Dottie Pepper & John Mahaffey Talk Winning Majors, Solheim Cup, Ryder Cup, Ben Hogan, & Making the Transition to TV.
- S8E26
- 1:24:00
- September 8th 2021
In this edition of the podcast, my guests are LPGA Tour Legend & 2 Time Major Champion Dottie Pepper and 1970 National Champion & 1978 PGA Champion, John Mahaffey.
Dottie Pepper talks about the sports household she grew up in. Her father played professional baseball with the Detroit Tigers organization and was on the cover of Sports Illustrated in March of 1968. We also hear her stories about:
- Winning the New York State Amateur Championship when she was 15
- Her college golf days at Furman
- Finishing low amateur at the 1984 US Open
- Her two major championship victories both coming at the ANA Inspiration, formerly the Dinah Shore Classic.
- Being a part of 6 Solheim Cup teams and what the US has to do in order to win the Cup back.
- The bear that came charging towards her was she was covering the 2008 US Senior Open.
- And her new book "Letters to a Future Champion" that you can find on her Web site www.dottiepepper.net
John Mahaffey shares stories from his college days at the University of Houston. John won the individual National Championship in 1970 and helped the Cougars to back-to-back team titles in 1969 & '70. We hear about his relationship with Ben Hogan and how he became known as "Hogan's Boy". We also hear about his victory a the 1978 PGA Championship, backing up that win the very next week at Pleasant Valley Country Club, being a member of the 1979 Ryder Cup team, and his transition to broadcasting the game.
Golf Podcast: next on the tee
I am proud and humbled to say that Next on the Tee has won 13 awards over the last 3 years at the w3 Awards, Communicator Awards, Signal Awards, and Davey Awards for Best Sports Podcast Episodes & Specials plus Best Host. If you enjoy listening to Golf's Greatest Legends, Top Players, & the Best Instructors in the game sharing their stories, Insights, & playing lessons, this truly is the podcast for you.
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Meet the Host
I have a passion for game that started when I was 12 years old playing golf in the evenings with my father. I took lessons from a gentleman named Ken Friend at Tides Golf Club in Seminole, Florida and I have loved the game ever since. I grew up idolizing Jack Nicklaus. The '75 & '86 Masters remain two of my favorite sports memories.
Augusta National is my favorite place on the planet. Attending The Masters tournament is one of the highlights of every year since 2001. I cherish walking those hallowed grounds. It gives me a feeling of wonder and excitement that has become a part of me and I never want it to leave.
I was born in Pittsburgh and the Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates are in my DNA. I also lived outside of Boston for several years and spending time at Fenway Park and the Boston Garden, infused my soul with the Red Sox and Celtics.
Tranquil late afternoon rounds of golf with my father and son some of my happiest moments. My annual golf trip with my buddies is always another highlight of the golf year. I also enjoy going to our local PGA Tour SuperStore and testing out new equipment with my son; it's one of our favorite things to do together.
You can follow me on Twitter and Instagram @ctmascaro and the show @nxtonthetee. You can interact with me on the show's Facebook page or through the Contact Us form on the website. If you have a question for one of my upcoming or previous guests, please let us know via social media and I'll gladly get that question answered for you.
I have been privileged to have great players like Hal Sutton, Mark Calcavecchia, John Cook, Olin Browne, Tim Simpson, Donnie Hammond, Chip Beck, Scott McCarron, Frank Nobilo, Ian Baker-Finch, Mark Wiebe, Suzy Whaley, Dottie Pepper, Jane Blalock, Tom Purtzer, John Mahaffey, Shaun Micheel, Rick Fehr, Dave Stockton, Dave Stockton Jr., Billy Mayfair, Jim Gallagher Jr., Nick O'Hern, plus several others become regular guests and friends. The Top Instructors in the game like Tom Patri, Rob Strano, Brian Jacobs, Jim McLean, Cindy Miller, Debbie O'Connell, Tim Cusick, John Hughes, Michael Breed, Kellie Stenzel, Michelle Holmes, Alison Curdt, Andy Traynor, and many many more join me each week to help you play your best golf.
If that all isn't enough to make you want to give the show a try, I don't want else is. I hope you'll listen and make the podcast a part of your regular golf content.