>> Female announcer: This is a

production of WKNO, Memphis.

Production funding for "Sports

Files" is made possible in part

by...

>> Gaston: My guest today on

"Sports Files" is professional

golfer Loren Roberts.

>> (instrumental music)

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

>> Hi everyone and welcome to

another edition of "Sports

Files."

For over 30 years Loren Roberts

has been splitting fairways and

dropping putts at golf's highest

level.

He was an eight time winner on

the PGA Tour and has gone on to

win 13 times on the Champions

Tour, capturing 4 Major titles

in the process.

This season Loren stands 22nd on

the money list heading into the

year's final two events, which

includes the annual Charles

Schwab Cup in two weeks.

But for all his accomplishments

on the links, the modest,

somewhat quiet Roberts, is just

as proud for what he's done off

it.

His association with the St Jude

Classic has been a long,

distinguished one.

His Annual Pro-Am golf event

benefits Le Bonheur Children's

Hospital.

Something extremely important to

Loren and his family.

And his commitment to the 1st

tee of Memphis has been

essential to the growth of that

Organization, which you will

find out first hand later in the

show.

We're talking birdies and eagles

with the "Boss of the Moss"

Loren Roberts, coming up next.

>> (instrumental music)

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

>> Gaston: Loren, thanks so much

for joining us.

>> Roberts: Greg, my pleasure.

Thanks for having me in.

>> Gaston: Happen to have an

open week here.

We appreciate the "Boss of the

Moss" being with us.

Loren, you got a victory this

year -- your 22nd on the money

list.

You're getting ready for the

Schwab Cup coming up.

How would you describe your

season to date?

>> Roberts: Well, you know, I

got started good, obviously,

with a victory early in the

year.

And then last week was my first

top ten since then.

So it's been a different year

but, you know, I am 57 now.

But, you know, I'm looking to

hopefully keep playing 'til

probably about 60 and stay

competitive until 60.

Hey -- Golf is a lifestyle for

me.

So anytime you're playing

anywhere it's great.

>> Gaston: You beat me to the

punch.

I was wondering about that as

far as how long you want to

continue to go in this

competitive mode, week in, week

out, all of the travel.

So you're saying maybe three

more years -- that's it?

>> Roberts: Well, you know, I'm

going to definitely hope I can

stay competitive, you know, for

the chance to win until I'm 60.

And then after than, you know,

I'm going to play some.

It'll be fun golf.

You know, obviously, I want to

be competitive in the major

championships for us which is --

that's key for me, you know, for

the Senior U.S., the Senior

British, Senior PGA.

That's where I want to be

competitive.

And we'll just see how it goes.

>> Gaston: Has the Champions

tour changed since you started

in it to where it is now?

>> Roberts: Oh, it really has.

Really it's gone from really an

exhibition tour from the older

guys.

You know, the guys that came

from Nicholas and Palmer and

even guys before them.

It's gone from an exhibition

tour to a really competitive

your now because guys are

staying competitive on the

regular tour until the day they

turn 50 and coming out on our

tour and still keeping that

competitive edge.

So you look at guys that are

coming out..

Freddy Couples plays Kenny

Perry.

I mean, we've got VJ Singh

coming out next year.

Guys that are still very

competitive on the regular tour.

And I've noticed the length of

the golf courses.

We've gained probably two to

three hundred years in length

we're playing.

Most courses are 7,000 yards now

which it wasn't like that even

when I started in '05.

>> Gaston: You've accomplished

so much.

On the Champions tour, you've

won four majors.

What is your biggest

accomplishment in the game of

golf on both tours or anything

else that comes to mind.

>> Roberts: Well, obviously, it

was nice to get some majors.

I really enjoyed winning, you

know, the two senior Britishes

that I had because to me, that's

where golf started.

And I won a Turnberry which was

great with Nicholas and Watson.

So much history there.

It was great to win that.

Obviously, is till hurt a little

bit from that US Open.

A lot of stuff going on there.

And it was tough.

I had the chance to win there.

But hey, it was great.

I had a chance to win the

Masters in 2000.

I ended up third.

That's probably the one thing

that kind of sticks to me a

little bit that I didn't get a

major on the regular tour.

>> Gaston: And obviously, if I

asked you if you had to have a

do over for a tournament, you

would say the U.S. Open.

You won a victory on the PGA

tour, as far as the majors are

concerned.

But how about if I asked you if

there was one shot you could do

over or a putt you could do

over.

What tournament would it be in?

>> Roberts: That's easy.

I had a six and a half foot putt

for par in the US Open.

If I knock that putt in, it's

over.

I win the tournament outright.

Then we had to go in to playoff

the next day.

So that's the one shot that I

wish I had back.

Especially when you're kind of

known as a good putter "Boss of

the Moss."

To have missed that one.

But that's the way it goes.

>> Gaston: Was the a read

miscue?

Was that nerves?

Was it just -- Hey, these things

happen.

>> Robert: Well, you know, it

took me a while to get my career

going.

I played 12 and a half years

before I won a tournament on a

tour which as '94 at Bayhill

earlier that year.

And I had a six foot putt on the

same type of putt on the 17th

hole for par that I needed to

make to beat VJ and Fuzzy.

And I knocked it right in the

hole with no problem.

So I had the same putt, you

know, three months later Open.

And I missed it.

That's the one thing that I

really remember is that one shot

-- that putt because you win a

major championship, your life

can change.

It really can.

And I'm very happy with my

career I've had though.

>> Gaston: Loren, how

competitive would you describe

yourself?

And do you believe to be really

successful as a professional

golfer on any level, you have to

be very competitive?

You have to almost be downright

-- I don't want to say cut

throat -- but when you go out

there, it's not a friendly

Sunday afternoon with your

buddies having a couple of beers

and just playing 18 holes.

>> Roberts: No, you have to be.

I don't care what field that

you're in.

You have to be competitive.

You have to want to continue to

improve all of the time.

That's the key no matter what

you do.

You want to always try to get

better all of the time, improve,

do what you can to get better.

You know, I've always felt that

I'm very, very highly

competitive.

But its kind of like, you know,

the duck paddling across the

pond.

You know, those legs are going

like crazy.

You just don't want to show it

above.

You want to have that, you know

-- that heart of fire.

But you have to be able to

handle it in the right way.

>> Gaston: When you were growing

up in California and trying to

get to this level that you've

gotten to, who did you emulate?

Who were the golfers that you

looked up to?

>> Roberts: Well, I just

remember that I would get these

golf magazines and I'd cut out

pictures of Nicklaus.

I'd make these collages where

I'd cut all these pictures out

and paste them up on a big

board.

And I've have them up in my

bedroom.

He was kind of my idol growing

up.

But I had some interesting

things.

It's like any sport or any

profession -- When you get to a

certain level, you meet people

and you develop relationships

with guys that have been there

and done that.

And that's the great thing about

it, at least for me in the golf

world, is that the guys that

have come before -- You get

those relationships.

And I had a couple of great ones

that really helped me.

Olin Dutra was the 1932 US Open

champion -- '34 PGA champion.

Gave golf lessons at this club

in this town that I lived at in

St. Louis.

He took me under his wing and

talked about putting.

And we'd go out and play nine

holes.

And he was 70-something years

old back then.

And we would go out.

And then I had a relationship

with Byron Nelson that was just

fabulous.

You get those kind of things for

me through golf.

Those kind of really help to

propel you.

>> Gaston: You still have the

collage of Nicklaus?

>> Roberts: No, I don't.

>> Gaston: It may be worth

something today.

>> Roberts: I think it's

probably faded by now.

>> Gaston: What would people be

surprised to know about you --

Something they don't know that

they would be surprised to know

about you.

It could be away from the golf

course, something you like to

do.

Do you like punk rock?

I mean, what is it, Loren, that

people would be like ,"Wow."

>> Roberts: Well, you know, I'm

a family guy.

I love being around my family.

And really, I spend so much time

on the road, basically.

I hate to say it, I probably

spent more time with my caddy

over the last 30 years than

maybe I spent with my wife.

But you know, I mean, I just

love being at home with my

family and spending time with

them.

And I like working around the

house.

And my wife and I kind of like

to drive around.

We're kind of into architecture

which we kind of like to look

around and look at different

type of architecture, and

houses, and buildings, and

things like that.

We're kind of like pickers.

We like to go through and look

at old antique shops and things

like that.

That's kind of what I like to do

when I'm not at the golf course.

>> Gaston: Most people know you

played on the '95 Ryder Cup team

that lose.

You've also played on two

winning president's cup teams.

I know you were at Medinah on

Sunday, the final round for this

year's Ryder Cup.

You risked losing four point

lead.

Your thoughts?

Would there be anything you

would have done differently if

you were the captain?

Talk about this -- I don't know

if I want to call it a collapse

but a loss by the United States.

>> Roberts: It was a pretty big

loss.

And first of all, you mentioned

the Presidents Cup versus the

Ryder Cup.

There's big difference between

both.

The Ryder Cup, obviously, is the

preeminent event because it's

been around for so long.

And I don't know what it is.

The US dominated that for 50

plus years and no were just

really struggling.

It was great to get the win up

the road to Louisville four

years ago.

It's been a tough road.

It's hard to second guess,

obviously, Davis.

We were right there --

Basically, had it.

Really what it boils down to is

emotion and digging deep and

wanting it.

You know, the fellowship is

great.

I mean, it's great to be there

and spend time with the players

because, basically, that is what

would be our Olympics.

I know golf is going to be in

the Olympics but this has been

our Olympics because this is the

only time we play a team sport.

We play individual games.

So it's a team sport.

And you know, its just a matter

of wanting to dig down deep and

want to get it.

>> Gaston: So do the Europeans

-- the last two times, do they

want it more?

>> Roberts: Well, it just seems

to me like they just have more

emotion when they come out --

more emotion.

You know, its tough.

When you come out of the second

half of the huge lead in any

sport, you know, you've got to

be able to finish it off.

And I know they're going to

seriously look back at , you

know, what we do.

And I was on a losing team in

'95 and we had, I think, one or

two point lead going in to

Sunday.

And we ended up losing.

It's the emotion of the thing if

you do it.

And I would question a couple of

things about maybe course set up

or something like that.

>> Gaston: But not player

selection?

>> Roberts: No, not player

selection.

>> Gaston: And you were an

assistant coach in one of the

Ryder Cups.

What year was that?

>> Roberts: That was 2006.

>> Gaston: So if you are a

captain, assistant captain -- If

you are the captain --

If you lose, you're second

guessed no matter what.

You should have picked this guy.

You should have not put that guy

on the team.

You should have not paired those

two.

>> Roberts: it's a tough

situation.

It's a lose-lose situation no

matter what you do.

You know, the captain gets

blamed for the loss.

But, basically, once you send

the players out there, they have

to play.

I mean, you have to make the

plays.

You have to hit the shots.

You have to hold the putts at

the right time.

It's up to the players to do it.

Now how you space them and who

goes up against who is the

tricky thing.

>> Gaston: Alright, I know

you're very modest in what you

do for the Memphis community,

for the gold community, for the

charitable events that you are a

part of.

Obviously, Le Bonheur is very,

very close to your heart -- Le

Bonheur Children's Hospital,

where my wife works.

Also, the First Tee of Memphis.

The First Tee of Memphis has

really taken off, especially

over the last five to ten years.

Nyrone Hawkins has done a

tremendous job with that.

Great young men and women --

boys and girls I should say that

are learning the game of golf.

And you're a big part of that.

Why is it so passionate for you

-- The First Tee of Memphis.

>> Roberts: I got involved

originally back in 1994.

And I have to throw it out for

Cal and Melba Vincent and

Charles Hudson because they were

the ones who really started this

program back early '90s.

And it was down at Pine Hill.

And I had actually -- I was

looking for some sort of a

junior golf program.

You were talking about the

Presidents Cup.

That year was the first year I

played in the Presidents Cup and

they were giving players money

to donate to their favorite

charities.

So I was looking for a youth

golf program to make this

donation to.

I asked all the local

professionals around town, you

know, "What do you think is the

best junior golf program around

town?"

And without a single one

disagreeing they always said The

First Tee of Memphis.

At that time it was Mid-South

Junior Golf Association.

The kids are great.

They come out and they play.

They are the mot well-mannered

and nicest kids that we have.

And I said I want to find out

about them.

So I got in touch with them.

It just started from there.

It's obviously become the First

Tee of Memphis now and grown.

It's just a great program.

It really is because it's just

so diverse and kids from all

over different parts of town.

And it's just a great program.

You know, there are scholarship

possibilities through it.

I'm just thrilled to be a part

of it.

>> Gaston: And they're very

receptive of what you have to

tell them and to teach them.

>> Roberts: Oh, yeah -- without

a question.

I mean, obviously, golf is not

the whole idea of First Tee.

That's just one of the things.

That's one of the thing to get

them there, to have something in

common, a game to play.

You know, it's about the nine

core values.

It's about being a good citizen.

It's about responsibility, about

sportsmanship.

You know, its about life.

And that's why I'm so jazzed

about it really.

>> Gaston: And you have children

of your own and you want to be

able to help if you're in

position to help.

And that's what you've done.

Again, you've flown under the

radar.

You don't make a big deal about

it.

We have to build it up more

because we know how important

you are to this community.

>> Roberts: The whole thing is

about the kids.

The important thing is the kids

in the program because they're

going to be the leaders.

They're going to be the future

leaders and that's what's great

about getting them going and

making them the focus.

>> Gaston: And, obviously, with

Le Bonheur you have children

there who have suffered who are

trying to get well.

It's -- Boy, you want to get

emotional, go over to Le Bonheur

Children's Hospital.

You go and walk around there.

But talk about that for a few

moments -- about the passion you

have for that.

Well, it was great.

It actually started out raising

money for Le Bonheur and for

their sickle cell center that

they had down there which, at

that particular time, was just

kind of down in the corner of

the emergency room down in the

bottom of the hospital.

So we thought this would be a

great little thing to help raise

some money.

And we ran a tournament for 12

years for them and raised a

significant amount of money for

them and grew that program.

And now that program has moved

over to St. Jude.

And so now we're involved with

other pre-natal care at Le

Bonheur.

So you know, during the

tournament, we used to go --

Players would go down and visit

St. Jude because that was the

recipient for the FedEx St. Jude

tournament.

I would go down there and see

some of these kids that were

suffering with these diseases

that were unbelievable --

different forms of cancer.

And I want to tell you what.

They would have better attitudes

than maybe some pros I've seen

who have just missed a seven

iron out on the eighth hole.

And to that -- That was amazing.

So how could you not get

involved and try to help

someway?

>> Gaston: Well, more power to

you.

Thank you so much for all you do

as far as that's concerned.

Alright, we got two more

tournaments.

You have the Schwab Cup coming

up.

Chances?

>> Roberts: Well, I feel like

maybe I've got a little

something going.

That's the thing in golf.

You're always positive.

You always think, "Well, next

week I've got a little something

working here maybe."

>> Gaston: Until you miss that

next five footer.

>> Roberts: Yeah -- So I'm

looking to maybe make a little

noise hopefully the last two

tournaments of the year.

We've got the AT and T

tournament down in San Antonio.

Then we finish with the Schwab

Cup.

Kind of looking forward to

already building towards next

year.

So I'd like to finish strong and

get ready for next year.

>> Gaston: We like to end our

interviews with five for the

road.

Although, I might add a couple

of more to make it seven for the

road for you.

Quick question, quick answers.

First thing that comes to your

mind.

I'm adding these two.

We don't normally do this with

our guests because we don't

normally have professional

golfers.

Favorite golf course?

>> Roberts: Anywhere I've won.

(laughter)

>> Gaston: I thought you we're

going to go St. Andrews or

something.

Maybe Turnberry.

>> Roberts: If I had to give you

my favorite golf course, I'd say

Shinnecock.

>> Gaston: Shinnecock -- okay.

How about least favorite?

You've struggled.

>> Roberts: I have never played

good at Olympic Club in San

Francisco.

>> Gaston: Really?

>> Roberts: That's all I'll say.

I've never played good there.

>> Gaston: Wow, that's hard to

believe.

Alright -- Your favorite

professional sports team?

>> Roberts: San Francisco 49ers.

>> Gaston: I didn't know if

you'd go Memphis Grizzlies.

>> Roberts: I still have

California roots.

I hate to say it.

>> Gaston: We know, we know.

You're a transplanted

Californian.

Your favorite professional

athlete of all time?

>> Roberts: Oh, gosh.

Favorite professional athlete.

>> Gaston: Well, you like the

9ers.

>> Roberts: You know what?

When I was a kid, I was a

baseball player.

I wasn't golfing as a kid.

And Johnny Bench was my favorite

because I was a catcher all the

way up through high school when

I decided to start playing golf

in high school.

>> Gaston: Really?

So you're a baseball player.

>> Roberts: Johnny Bench was my

idol.

He was my idol.

>> Gaston: What made you decide

to change?

Did your batting average dip

under 200 or something?

What happened?

>> Roberts: This is a -- I hit a

line drive to right field and

got thrown out of first base.

So that's what I figured.

I figured it ain't my sport.

>> Gaston: You had golf clubs on

your back running to first base.

>> Roberts: Exactly.

>> Gaston: Wow -- Okay, favorite

musician, signer, artist, group?

What music do you like to listen

to?

>> Roberts: This is going to age

me but Frank Sinatra is my

favorite.

I'm sorry.

I love Frank Sinatra.

>> Gaston: Old blue eyes.

Ever pop in one of those iPods

there and listen to it?

>> Roberts: It's the CDs in my

car right now.

I was listening to it on the way

to the stadium -- the station

here.

>> Gaston: There's something we

found out that we didn't know

about.

Two more.

Favorite television show of all

time?

You probably don't watch a lot

of TV.

>> Roberts: This is really going

to date me.

When I was a kid -- Remember the

show "Mister Ed?"

The talking horse?

That's my all time favorite

show.

That and "Rat Patrol."

Those are my two favorite ones.

>> Gaston: You are dating

yourself.

And finally, what's your

favorite movie?

If it's a golf movie or --

What do you like?

>> Roberts: You know, I like the

old classics.

You know, "Gone With the Wind."

I like "The Sound of Music."

My all time favorite -- This

might embarrass you.

It might embarrass me -- "My

Fair Lady."

>> Gaston: "My Fair Lady."

The things we find out about the

"Boss of the Moss," Loren

Roberts.

Loren, thank you so much --

absolute pleasure.

>> Roberts: Alright, thank you.

>> (instrumental music)

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

>> Gaston: Last weekend golfers

from the First tee of Memphis

defeated their counterparts from

the First tee of Nashville in an

event called the I-40 Challenge

Cup.

Leading the way for the Memphis

team with a three and zero match

record was Malik Luckett, the

First tee of Memphis player of

the year, who joins me now.

Malik, thanks for joining us

We appreciate it.

>> Luckett: Thank you for having

me.

>> Gaston: Alright, tell us

about you're involvement with

the First Tee of Memphis.

When did you get started and why

did you get started?

>> Luckettt: I got involved with

the First Tee when I was eight

My dad played golf in college

and he asked me if I was

interested in it.

And I said not really but I

still joined it and I ended up

liking it.

>> Gaston: Why weren't you

interested at first?

Why did you say no to him?

>> Luckett: Well, I was a

basketball player when I was

And I was really interested in

basketball but I got interested

in gold really easily.

>> Gaston: yeah, once you got

started, what was it about golf

that you liked?

>> Luckett: That you had to

practice it.

Once you hit that first solid

shot -- the sweet spot, you just

want to be able to repeat that

shot over and over again.

>> Gaston: And not like

basketball when you can depend

on teammates, it's all about

So golf can be a team sport.

But it is individual which I

enjoy.

>> Gaston: Alright, Loren

Roberts -- What type of an

influence has he had on you?

>> Luckett: He has had a big

He helps me with the game of

golf whether it be incorporating

the life skills, what to do on

and off the course honestly.

>> Gaston: Yeah, all you guys

that are involved in First Tee

of Memphis -- It's not just

You're learning, as you said,

life skills, life lessons --

learning to be better young men

and women.

Academically, it helps you.

It's more than just golf, right?

>> Luckett: Yes sir.

It helps you become a better

person.

It teaches you the life skills,

responsibility, sportsmanship.

And it helps you incorporate

those on and off the course.

>> Gaston: You're a varsity

golfer for White Station High

Spartans?

>> Luckett: Our seasons over.

I didn't qualify for state this

year but I am a two time state

qualifier my freshman and

sophomore year and a two time

all metro selection.

>> Gaston: Well, congratulations

And you've got a senior year

still to go.

>> Luckett: Yes sir.

>> Gaston: Alright, have you

started to think about college,

where you what to attend, what

you want to study and will you

play golf?

>> Luckett: I would love to play

college golf but as of where,

I'm undecided right now -- still

looking for the right place or

what I have the most interest in

>> Gaston: Alright, you just

came off that challenge cup

victory over Nashville.

You kicked some butt.

You went three and oh in your

matches.

How was that?

It was like almost a mini Ryder

Cup, if you will.

>> Luckett: it is and it was

This was our fourth year.

This is the first year we beat

Nashville and I'm also

undefeated in my singles

matches.

I just want to put that out

there.

And yeah, this is the first year

we wont and it was great.

>> Gaston: Malik, who do you

follow, as far as professional

Who do you like to watch?

>> Luckett: Of course Tiger

I like Pafraig Herrington, as

well.

Anyone who's hot.

>> Gaston: How about Rory

Mcllory?

>> Luckett: Yes sir.

>> Gaston: He had a hot year.

Talk about your game.

Where do you feel you are very

strong at and where do you

really have to work at to be a

>> Luckett: I feel I have a

really strong short game.

Around the greens, I can get up

and down from virtually

anywhere.

And I feel I could improve my

ball striking -- just getting on

greens and regulations and

splitting the fairways like Mr.

>> Gaston: You were talking

about being eight years old

playing basketball.

I'm sure all your friends were

playing basketball or football

and not golf.

And then you got in to it.

Do you see now more young men --

young boys, girls your age

>> Luckett: Yes sir.

I see a lot of them become

extremely interested in it.

And if this keeps going, then

golf will be more than just a

game, as some people look at it

as.

It will be an actual sport.

It is an actual sport but a lot

of people don't view it as an

>> Gaston: Alright -- First Tee

of Memphis.

How many more years are you

involved in it?

Is it up through high school?

>> Luckett: Yes sir.

Once you're 17, I think that's

the max.

And I'm 16 now so I have one

more year.

>> Gaston: Alright, you have 30

seconds to tell the young boys

and girls out there why its so

important to get involved at the

First Tee of Memphis -- if

>> Luckett: First Tee of Memphis

helps you with life skills.

It will help you improve your

grades, improve your social

skills.

Just it will help you become an

overall better person and you'll

learn a new game which is really

>> Gaston: Malik, thank you so

much -- absolute pleasure.

Best of luck.

And that will do it for this

week's show.

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