Q&A with Steve Young
"My strength is my short game. If I could drive the ball, then I could be a pretty good player."
Steve Young, 48, was the first left-handed quarterback to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In a recent Q&A, Young talks about getting Jerry Rice a gig on "Dancing With The Stars," his relationship with Joe Montana and dreaming his way around Pebble Beach.
What's your first memory of golf?
My first memory of golf was sixth grade. Someone said I could earn five bucks for looping at Innis Arden Golf Club in Old Greenwich, Connecticut. That was my first exposure, looping on Saturday mornings.
Phil Mickelson is a righty who plays lefty. You're a lefty who plays righty, right?
Yes, but unfortunately I don't have a great story about my dad and a mirror image. I simply didn't have enough money to buy lefty clubs and righty clubs were in the garage. I've run into a lot of lefties who have the same story. Johnny Miller keeps telling me that playing as a righty is a benefit to me, but I've yet to see why.
I saw a video clip where you credit Johnny Miller as your swing coach.
He's a great guy. He helps me do some charity stuff. He's always giving me tips.
What's your handicap?
Four kids under the age of eight.
We'll call that a four point eight.
Yes... more like an 8.4 doubled. I don't know. I really have a tough time getting out as much as I used to. Historically I've been between and 8 to 10.
When was your last round?
My last round was in June with Johnny Miller at one of my charity golf tournaments. It has been a tough summer for golf. I did get my 8-year old, my oldest, to a golf camp this year. As soon as I can get him to tell Mom he wants to play golf, then I'm golden again.
Are you a member at a club?
I'm a member at Stanford.
What's your low score?
My low score, in tournament play, was when I shot 74 in a qualifier for the State Am.
You were ridiculously accurate on the field; what's your strength on the course?
My strength is my short game. If I could drive the ball, then I could be a pretty good player. From 50-yards in, if I have a strength, that's what it would be.
Jack or Arnie?
Because I know Jack better, I'd say Jack.
How do you know Jack?
Johnny Miller puts on a father/son charity tournament every year and they do a celebrity shootout. Jack has played in it. Through the years I've gotten to know Jack. It's cool.
Has Jack helped you with your game?
No. Not a lot of tips from Jack. He has seen me play golf. I think Jack's smart enough to leave my instruction to Johnny.
Tiger or Phil?
Oh man. Tiger. I mean, my gosh. It's unbelievable what he does. There's something to me that not a lot of people appreciate, the athlete's ability to go through it rather than go around it. It might not be fun, it might not be easy, but he's going through it. Tiger's relentless that way. He's fun to watch.
What's your ideal foursome, dead or alive?
I have to say Johnny because he's put up with me for so long. Actually, I had my ideal foursome at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am one year: It was Charles Schultz, the Peanuts creator, and my good friend Mike Reid, and Johnny. So I've actually played with my ideal foursome.
Do you play a lot with Jerry Rice?
I do. In fact I saw him today. Jerry's a self-taught golfer and he's very good. We've played in a lot of charity tournaments together.
When Jerry appeared on "Dancing With The Stars," did you Tivo that show or did you choose to ignore it?
I made sure to watch because I got him involved in that. They called me and I said, "There're better dancers than me. Trust me. Call Jerry Rice -- he's the man."
There's the famous clip, after you won the Super Bowl, of you pretending to lift the monkey off your back. They say Sergio is the best player not to have won a major. Do you foresee Sergio breaking through and getting it done?
I would hope so, because there's something very cathartic about it. And once you do it -- life gets significantly easier. Everyone says the journey is the valuable part of life. I agree with that. It really is about the journey, but it's still a fun thing to accomplish. It really is.
