Wonderful interview yesterday with a nice follow-up today. Casey is a treasure for the University of Oregon. Thanks again for another well written column.
I have always admired Casey Martin. He persevered through adversity to become a great man, a great leader and a great coach. I wish him all the best for the future.
Hung out with Casey at a party about 25 years ago in Eugene. Struck me then as he still does from afar........an incredible person. Could feel his gravity back then in those few moments I was with him.
Watched the entire US Open but really got glued in when seeing Clark. Ex-Duck. Got very emotional. Wife currently battling breast cancer. Safe to say, I'm a life long fan of the kid now.
Had no idea Casey finally had his leg amputated. Be great to hear about how his life and health have changed since that operation. His entire career is fascinating to me. Tough man.
Jun 28, 2023·edited Jun 28, 2023Liked by John Canzano
What a great story about a great story! Just remarkable what Wyndham Clark has achieved...and combining it with additional insight and updates on Casey Martin is wonderful. Thanks so much for going in-depth on Clark's outstanding achievement.
I think this is one of the most under-reported sports achievement stories in the state of Oregon. But that's one of the reasons I'm here, as opposed to other sports media outlets in Oregon.
What Casey Martin has accomplished with the golf program at Oregon is simply at the elite level. What Wyndham Clark achieved at the Los Angeles Country Club is one of the greatest sports accomplishments by an individual Oregon athlete ever. Ever. The pressure this young man was under is an intensity level very few people will understand. Staring at a 68' putt on the 18th hole, knowing you've got a one stroke lead over one of the greatest golfers in history, Rory McIlroy, and you've got two puts to win - wow!! - we'll never know the pressure level. By the way, most of the crowd was rooting for Rory.
The advice his mother gave him before passing he'll live with forever. "Go do something big and make it bigger than yourself. Give back."
What a remarkable accomplishment. His mother is proud.
Sure, golf is an individual sport, and so much depends on the make-up of the person holding the club. But just as all of us are impacted by people we meet along the way, so are athletes by coaches. Casey Martin may not think he did much, and perhaps his contributions may have seemed "small," but sometimes it's the small things that stick the most. A word of two here, a gesture or look there- something the person imparting them may not even remember years later- the message and the impact made may remain with the recipient years later. I think Casey Martin's impact was subtle but far more profound than he may realize.
Jun 28, 2023·edited Jun 28, 2023Liked by John Canzano
Thank you....I remember Casey when he struggled with his leg injury and had to get controversial permission from the PGA to use a cart. He is a brave man as he took a lot of flack for that. As for Tiger Woods, he is one of 2 or 3 people I would just love to have an hour or two for a beer. Jordan is the perfect comparison: absolutely in control of every aspect of the game, competitiveness without end and ice in his veins to close out a win (will anyone ever forget the 2008 US Open when Tiger played and won on a blown out knee; the tying and then winning putt in the playoff on the 18th?). In the case of Woods, if not Jordan, flying that close to the flame had its costs.
Jun 28, 2023·edited Jun 28, 2023Liked by John Canzano
Man oh man. Another great column, John. I’ve always admired Casey Martin. We attended his dad’s church in Eugene. What a great family. The acorn doesn’t grow far from the towering tree. I guess that works for sons and students.
I've made a few pars at Emerald Valley. But my favorite EV event was sitting front row at a Tina Turner concert in their event room and getting hit with a palm full of her sweat.
Thanks JC, great read, and terrific result. Can we have more cheers for Jeff & Jamie Gaskill. What a wonderful gift they provided this young man when he most needed it. That loved poured into him will over time, outlast all the $ and trophy’s
Wonderful interview yesterday with a nice follow-up today. Casey is a treasure for the University of Oregon. Thanks again for another well written column.
Really enjoyed that talk. Woke up thinking about the roles of coaches with players.
At the risk of minimizing the precision of your writing, another Canzano masterpiece. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Mark. Appreciate you being here for it.
I have always admired Casey Martin. He persevered through adversity to become a great man, a great leader and a great coach. I wish him all the best for the future.
He's helping others now. Really nice job with the program.
Hung out with Casey at a party about 25 years ago in Eugene. Struck me then as he still does from afar........an incredible person. Could feel his gravity back then in those few moments I was with him.
Watched the entire US Open but really got glued in when seeing Clark. Ex-Duck. Got very emotional. Wife currently battling breast cancer. Safe to say, I'm a life long fan of the kid now.
Had no idea Casey finally had his leg amputated. Be great to hear about how his life and health have changed since that operation. His entire career is fascinating to me. Tough man.
I felt an emotional connection to Wyndham Clark's mom's story also. I'm so sorry your wife is battling breast cancer and I wish her all the best.
Wish your wife, and you, the very best.
What a nice article.
Thanks Jack.
What a great story about a great story! Just remarkable what Wyndham Clark has achieved...and combining it with additional insight and updates on Casey Martin is wonderful. Thanks so much for going in-depth on Clark's outstanding achievement.
I think this is one of the most under-reported sports achievement stories in the state of Oregon. But that's one of the reasons I'm here, as opposed to other sports media outlets in Oregon.
What Casey Martin has accomplished with the golf program at Oregon is simply at the elite level. What Wyndham Clark achieved at the Los Angeles Country Club is one of the greatest sports accomplishments by an individual Oregon athlete ever. Ever. The pressure this young man was under is an intensity level very few people will understand. Staring at a 68' putt on the 18th hole, knowing you've got a one stroke lead over one of the greatest golfers in history, Rory McIlroy, and you've got two puts to win - wow!! - we'll never know the pressure level. By the way, most of the crowd was rooting for Rory.
The advice his mother gave him before passing he'll live with forever. "Go do something big and make it bigger than yourself. Give back."
What a remarkable accomplishment. His mother is proud.
John: beautiful story from the shadows of non revenue sports. Thank you.
Needed to write about something else today.
Sure, golf is an individual sport, and so much depends on the make-up of the person holding the club. But just as all of us are impacted by people we meet along the way, so are athletes by coaches. Casey Martin may not think he did much, and perhaps his contributions may have seemed "small," but sometimes it's the small things that stick the most. A word of two here, a gesture or look there- something the person imparting them may not even remember years later- the message and the impact made may remain with the recipient years later. I think Casey Martin's impact was subtle but far more profound than he may realize.
So true.
Well done, Mr. C
There are positive sports stories and amazing sports people everywhere. It takes dedication to seek them out and talent to properly share them.
Thank you John
GO DAWGS
Great piece, John. I love Casey’s story. His mother and father were in my class at Oregon so I feel a bit of a connection!
Very cool connection.
What an endearing story! I never knew about the local Gaskill family playing an instrumental part in Wyndham's success! Congratulations to them, too!
Thank you....I remember Casey when he struggled with his leg injury and had to get controversial permission from the PGA to use a cart. He is a brave man as he took a lot of flack for that. As for Tiger Woods, he is one of 2 or 3 people I would just love to have an hour or two for a beer. Jordan is the perfect comparison: absolutely in control of every aspect of the game, competitiveness without end and ice in his veins to close out a win (will anyone ever forget the 2008 US Open when Tiger played and won on a blown out knee; the tying and then winning putt in the playoff on the 18th?). In the case of Woods, if not Jordan, flying that close to the flame had its costs.
Such an amazing story.
Man oh man. Another great column, John. I’ve always admired Casey Martin. We attended his dad’s church in Eugene. What a great family. The acorn doesn’t grow far from the towering tree. I guess that works for sons and students.
Appreciate this Monte.
Got to see Tiger play in the Oregon Invitational a couple of times while he was in college.
His ball made a totally different sound when it was hit. They use to split the rounds between
ECC and Emerald Valley but Tiger never broke par at Emerald.
Clark and Wise are Oregon hopefuls going forward.
I've made a few pars at Emerald Valley. But my favorite EV event was sitting front row at a Tina Turner concert in their event room and getting hit with a palm full of her sweat.
Thanks JC, great read, and terrific result. Can we have more cheers for Jeff & Jamie Gaskill. What a wonderful gift they provided this young man when he most needed it. That loved poured into him will over time, outlast all the $ and trophy’s
A true blessing.
When someone tells you their role in a success was small, you can bet it was much more than that.
This is a great story, John. Thanks for this!
Amen.