195 replies to this topic

[playar32]

Heard this on golf channel/ESPN.  Rocco said he became an alcoholic to avoid pain on the course.  Not absolving him, but good for him for getting sober and being willing to talk about it.

Funny think he said was that virtually everyone knew.  Has to be others on tour doing this right?  (I know this is a perpetual question between drinking/popping pills on tour).  As much as golf is not physical, guys will do whatever they can to survive.

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[Baitkiller]

Lots of lonely, empty hotel rooms and airport lounges. It would be easy for me to go full lush.

Edited by Baitkiller, 06 February 2019 - 07:17 PM.

[RobertBaron]

It’s probably not as common as it used to be, but I’d imagine there was probably a non negligible amount of pros from past eras who would drink during tournament rounds.

Also pretty sure someone obvious like Daly admitted to it as well.

[bscinstnct]

I recall P Harrington (who does not drink) commenting on this

Ahhh, here he is...


"My father never drank the last 30 years of his life," Harrington says.

"I would suggest that drink probably wasn't the best thing for him. But I'm a teetotaler for the simple reason that I don't like the taste of it. I never have. I'll take a celebration swallow, but I couldn't drink a whole beer."

Besides the taste, there is another reason. "In the amateur game," he says, "I noticed right away that the players who drank -- some of the most talented guys -- did it to wash away expectations, as a kind of built-in alibi. 'I didn't win my match today. Well, I had six pints last night.' They didn't care for the stress. It was a way out, really. I see a little of that in the pro game, too."

https://www.google.c.../harrington/amp

[rawdog]

Sad, really. And not funny in the least.

Glad he was open about it.

Billy Horschel and his wife struggled with alcoholism as well. Hit home for me as someone who had a partner very similar to Brittany.

Good read.

https://www.golfdige...with-alcoholism

Edited by rawdog, 06 February 2019 - 08:10 PM.

[ZAP]

It really never ceases to amaze me how many lives alcohol has impacted.  From a sociological perspective it actually fascinates me how much of a drinking culture we live in.

[Man_O_War]

 ZAP, on 06 February 2019 - 09:14 PM, said:

It really never ceases to amaze me how many lives alcohol has impacted.  From a sociological perspective it actually fascinates me how much of a drinking culture we live in.

it's one of those legal things that is mind boggling at best...

[gatorMD]

Tom Watson and Lee Trevino probably the most famous with alcohol.  


Tiger with pills

DJ with illicit drugs

Lots smoke pot for sure.  

Golf is all mental.  It’s really not hard to believe golf and mind altering drugs get mixed together.  Both on and off the course.

[new2g0lf]

Professional golf is filled with pressure.  Unlike many other professional sports (even football) there are no long term contracts, no guarantee of income (besides those fortunate enough to have endorsement deals) and there are significant costs to travel to each tournament and pay a caddie.  Even guys that make it to the Tour have to play well enough to keep their card, otherwise they are sent back to the web.com tour and have to play their way back.  Alcohol is a coping mechanism, as are drugs for both mental and physical pain.  Those not comfortable with the pressure try to numb themselves to it, which is compounded by golfs nature of being a social sport where drinking during the round at the 19th hole is common.

We tend to glamorize the life of a Tour player, but we're usually referring to the Top 50 or even 100, I'm pretty sure the bottom 25 don't feel they are leading all that glamorous of a life.  Rocco isn't the first and won't be the last alcoholic on Tour, but it's good he's acknowledged it and sought help.

[Aaronwilson_95]

Too many to even list. I decided in college if I wanted to pursue golf professionally I was gonna have to get sober. So I did. Not only does it allow you to get the most out of your mornings but you’re really a much better off person . My bout with depression became drastically better once I got sober but that’s a battle that’s always being fought. The thing I noticed is how many friends you lose the minute you stop drinking. As if they don’t even want you around anymore , while you’re perfectly fine saying hi for a few hours and having water /soda with them. Pooof , don’t even get me started with dating. It’s newrly impossible to find someone my age who wants to be around a guy that’s sober so that’s a cool thing.

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[LeoLeo99]

My ex and my wife's ex are both alcoholics.  Now, my wife and I can both have a few drinks without worrying about the other getting out of control.  There but for the grace of God go I.  

Good for Rocco.  He's always been the common-man's hero on tour.

[straightshot7]

 Aaronwilson_95, on 06 February 2019 - 11:36 PM, said:

Too many to even list. I decided in college if I wanted to pursue golf professionally I was gonna have to get sober. So I did. Not only does it allow you to get the most out of your mornings but you’re really a much better off person . My bout with depression became drastically better once I got sober but that’s a battle that’s always being fought. The thing I noticed is how many friends you lose the minute you stop drinking. As if they don’t even want you around anymore , while you’re perfectly fine saying hi for a few hours and having water /soda with them. Pooof , don’t even get me started with dating. It’s newrly impossible to find someone my age who wants to be around a guy that’s sober so that’s a cool thing.

Good for you. Take it as a badge of honor. Anytime you try to do something different or better in life, there will be detractors. If you want to run faster ahead of the pack, you'll sometimes find yourself alone. That's the price you pay for trying to be different but it's worth it. Also, they obviously weren't true friends if something like that could end your friendship.

[rangersgoalie]

I don’t drink, and I didn’t when I played.  Can’t tell you why, just never was interested in it.
Best part for me was while on the road, I could go to dinner, do whatever, but never put myself in
The kind of stupid situations driving help present to us.

The road was a lonely place for me.  When I got injured, I was off almost 3 years.  Getting back on the road
For tournaments was even worse after all that time home with my wife and daughter.
I can see why players might want to escape some of that boredom.....fortunately, I’m naturally boring too

[boxerjoe2011]

I remember a story from my buddies grandparents down in palm desert that they saw Arnold Palmer at the bar after a round and he was sloppy drunk and being flirty with the ladies. This must have been around 1998. I remember thinking at the time that was funny as hell, but now thinking back it's kind of sad.

I remember Haney in his book saying that the club pro persona was to teach all day and hit the club bar in the late afternoon for a few drinks.  He did that for a long time I guess and finally one day said he was tired of waking up hungover. Cold turkey, just like that.

I think golf being so cerebral lends itself to finding the desire to get out of your headspace and booze is so convenient.

[iBanesto]

 bscinstnct, on 06 February 2019 - 08:08 PM, said:

I recall P Harrington (who does not drink) commenting on this

Ahhh, here he is...


"My father never drank the last 30 years of his life," Harrington says.

"I would suggest that drink probably wasn't the best thing for him. But I'm a teetotaler for the simple reason that I don't like the taste of it. I never have. I'll take a celebration swallow, but I couldn't drink a whole beer."

Besides the taste, there is another reason. "In the amateur game," he says, "I noticed right away that the players who drank -- some of the most talented guys -- did it to wash away expectations, as a kind of built-in alibi. 'I didn't win my match today. Well, I had six pints last night.' They didn't care for the stress. It was a way out, really. I see a little of that in the pro game, too."

https://www.google.c.../harrington/amp

Great read.

“Here’s to alcohol: the cause of, and solution to, all of life’s problems.” - Homer Simpson.

Joking aside, it is a vicious cycle that many people fall into and never get out.

[nic19]

Been C and S for nearly 12 years. Best thing I ever did. I hope he stays the course.

[Swisstrader98]

 Baitkiller, on 06 February 2019 - 07:17 PM, said:

Lots of lonely, empty hotel rooms and airport lounges. It would be easy for me to go full lush.

Not sure I get that one. As a forever traveling businessman I’m forever eating alone, in and out of hotels and airport lounges. Never once come close to becoming an alcoholic and I earn a bit less than these guys to boot😂

[Swisstrader98]

Lots of alcoholics in many walks of life, not just the tour. I’m always amazed at how many functioning alcoholics are out there.

[Rangeballz]

Good for him to admit it and get help. I'm rooting for him.

The stigma of alcoholism is less now as it has been in the past. I would venture a guess that there are a lot more with this problem. It's a lonely, high pressure job, and if you have no support group around you the temptations are often too high to ignore.

[golfandfishing]

 Swisstrader98, on 07 February 2019 - 07:38 AM, said:

 Baitkiller, on 06 February 2019 - 07:17 PM, said:

Lots of lonely, empty hotel rooms and airport lounges. It would be easy for me to go full lush.

Not sure I get that one. As a forever traveling businessman I’m forever eating alone, in and out of hotels and airport lounges. Never once come close to becoming an alcoholic and I earn a bit less than these guys to boot😂

Pretty myopic view of the world, don’t you think?  Something didn’t happen to you, so it doesn’t exist?

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[Itsjustagame]

Not just alcohol. We are a very addictive society. Nicotine, opiates etc. etc.

[bladehunter]

 Aaronwilson_95, on 06 February 2019 - 11:36 PM, said:

Too many to even list. I decided in college if I wanted to pursue golf professionally I was gonna have to get sober. So I did. Not only does it allow you to get the most out of your mornings but you’re really a much better off person . My bout with depression became drastically better once I got sober but that’s a battle that’s always being fought. The thing I noticed is how many friends you lose the minute you stop drinking. As if they don’t even want you around anymore , while you’re perfectly fine saying hi for a few hours and having water /soda with them. Pooof , don’t even get me started with dating. It’s newrly impossible to find someone my age who wants to be around a guy that’s sober so that’s a cool thing.

Hang in there .  You’re on the right road no matter how that looks now.  

Having grown up around drunk father ( notice I say around ) it turned me away from anything I saw as a crutch. I wanted to be clear headed and get out.  It certainly cost me “ friends “ but now 39 I can see these people were never “ friends”.   And some still are battling different addictions.  They chose  the wrong road.  Start thinking of the word friend as a rarity.  If you have 3-5 real friends in a lifetime you’re lucky.  And one should be your significant other whenever that person arrives.  If it isn’t. Run.  Run fast.  Lol.  

My point ?   Just a few words of encouragement I hope.  Your  thinking is right no matter what your “friends” say.

Edited by bladehunter, 07 February 2019 - 05:00 PM.

[Swisstrader98]

 golfandfishing, on 07 February 2019 - 07:55 AM, said:

 Swisstrader98, on 07 February 2019 - 07:38 AM, said:

 Baitkiller, on 06 February 2019 - 07:17 PM, said:

Lots of lonely, empty hotel rooms and airport lounges. It would be easy for me to go full lush.

Not sure I get that one. As a forever traveling businessman I’m forever eating alone, in and out of hotels and airport lounges. Never once come close to becoming an alcoholic and I earn a bit less than these guys to boot😂

Pretty myopic view of the world, don’t you think?  Something didn’t happen to you, so it doesn’t exist?

Oh hell no. Never said it doesn’t exist, just never existed for me and I hate sweeping generalizations or excuses with others. In fact I have more than a few friends that are either recovering or currently are dancing w the devil.

Just don’t agree with the earlier statement that alluded to the thought that people on the road and living out of hotel rooms gives them an excuse to start drinking and becoming alcoholics.

Alcoholism runs much deeper than lonely nights spent in a hotel room.

Edited by Swisstrader98, 07 February 2019 - 08:20 AM.

[RSinSG]

Like most people I’ve had a couple of family members who have struggled with alcoholism. Well, more accurately the family struggled with their alcoholism. It affects everyone’s lives in one way or another, even if you’ve never had a drink.

I used to say alcohol abuse / use was job security for me, as most calls I responded to as a LEO were in someway related to consumption or addiction.

[SurfDuffer]

The only time I'll drink on the course is if I really dislike the people I'm playing with and its going to be a looooong day on the course.  Otherwise alcohol and golf don't mix for me.  In my day to day life its rare for me to have a drink.

Edited by SurfDuffer, 07 February 2019 - 08:49 AM.

[Ferguson]

Addiction can happen to anyone.

[gvogel]

 Ferguson, on 07 February 2019 - 09:08 AM, said:

Addiction can happen to anyone.

Hmmm, yes, but some people are more prone than others.

[Ferguson]

 gvogel, on 07 February 2019 - 09:21 AM, said:

 Ferguson, on 07 February 2019 - 09:08 AM, said:

Addiction can happen to anyone.

Hmmm, yes, but some people are more prone than others.

I disagree.   Other than those chemically affected in the womb or as a result of medical treatment - the choice to abuse drugs or alcohol beyond one's limit is entirely the in the hands of the individual.  In other words, and staying on topic, no one except Rocco put the booze into his body.

Addiction is the inability to stop.

[J13]

Alcohol is one of the most damaging drugs on the planet.  I know a lot of players who use it for pain relief or to steady the nerves (at least it starts that way) then they begin to play golf just as an excuse to start drinking at 9am.  Pro golfers are no exception.  Its funny how our society views alcohol as ok yet the fight for something like legal cannabis rages on.  My wife and I are both in the medical world and see first hand what substances do to people and it doesn't get much worse than an alcoholic and the horrific effects on the body.

[bladehunter]

 Ferguson, on 07 February 2019 - 09:37 AM, said:

 gvogel, on 07 February 2019 - 09:21 AM, said:

 Ferguson, on 07 February 2019 - 09:08 AM, said:

Addiction can happen to anyone.

Hmmm, yes, but some people are more prone than others.

I disagree.   Other than those chemically affected in the womb or as a result of medical treatment - the choice to abuse drugs or alcohol beyond one's limit is entirely the in the hands of the individual.  In other words, and staying on topic, no one except Rocco put the booze into his body.

Addiction is the inability to stop.

Yep. I agree.  

I have a brother who is just like Rocco.  Listen to Rocco’s interview on it.   He said he liked it.  And when he decided to stop. He stopped.  Period.   My brother was the same. He drank because he loved the taste. He loved to be numb.  He told me this.  One day he decided not to drink that day. And he quit.  Lost 50 lbs overnight and then tried to work on the reasons he liked to feel numb ( lazy wife etc etc ).    If you’re addicted you can’t just lay it down.  Rocco’s names the 3 types of alcohol abusers in his opinion.  Made sense to me.

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