Baird returns to Valdosta

December 05, 2008 01:26 am

— VALDOSTA — Briny Baird, current PGA pro and Valdosta State alum, returned to Valdosta for the first time in eight years Thursday.
Baird was in town to take part in the VSU 4-Man Scramble Fundraiser for the Blazer golf team at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club.
Baird played for the Blazers in 1994 and 1995 and won the NCAA Division II individual golf championship both seasons.
“It’s good to be back, I have a lot of good memories,” Baird said. “It’s a little different being on a golf course that I’ve never been to so it doesn’t quite feel like Valdosta, but it’s still unbelievable to be back. There are a lot of tremendous memories of Valdosta.”
The morning began with Herb Reinhard, VSU athletic director, recalling a story to the crowd about how Baird won the ‘94 Division II individual title in Jacksonville, Fla. Reinhard said the three players in contention were coming to the end of the round when the weather forced play to be stopped. When play resumed, Baird was the only player to hit the next shot on the green, and he went on to win the title. Reinhard said it was that ability to focus that let him know Baird would be a professional some day.
For the next 30 minutes Baird put on a clinic for the golfers at the driving range. In between shots he fielded a wide range of questions asked by several participants, many of which included VSU coaches, staff, boosters and fans.
Baird answered everything from the technical aspects of his swing, to fishing and to what it’s like to play with Tiger Woods.
“He’s an absolute normal guy,” Baird said about Woods. “That’s what makes him such a nice guy.”
When the golfers teed off around 11 a.m. Baird set up on the 17th tee. As each group made it to the 17th Baird took a picture with the group, signed autographs and then hit a shot to the green that the group could choose to use if it wanted to.
Jared Purvis, VSU golf coach, said the day was made possible because VSU has remained in contact with Baird over the years. When players have done well Baird has called them to offer his congratulations, and a few years ago Baird began hosting the team at his home in Florida when VSU goes to Nova Southeastern’s tournament.
“We’ve been wanting to get him back up to Valdosta, but we understand what his schedule is like and it’s not easy for him,” Purvis said. “But with as well as he played this year he knew he’d be able to commit and come up here. He likes doing these things and he wanted to come. We’re glad he came.”
The 2008 PGA Tour season was a fine one for Baird. He finished No. 37 money list, earning $2,039,808. That, along with his FedEx Cup points, qualifies him for next year’s Masters, U.S. Open and British Open.
“I played very consistent,” Baird said. “I’ve been asked several times why I’m so much better this year than last year and I don’t have an answer. I’m not doing anything different or eating volcanic ash or anything crazy like that. I had another kid, maybe that spurred me on a bit. I don’t know, that’s about the only thing I can attribute it to.”
Baird also finished fourth in The Players Championship, a tournament that many consider to be the fifth major. The fourth place finish earned him $456,000.
“That was fun,” Baird said. “Most of that Sunday I had a really good chance at winning that tournament. It was my birthday that day, and I thought it was some kind of divine destiny or fairy tale to have my first win like that. It didn’t work out, but it was still fun.”
Baird began playing professionally right after his time at VSU. His first pro tournament was the Valdosta Open, and he received a $1,000 check. Four years later Baird was playing on tour.
Baird might make a living playing golf, but he doesn’t play it for fun.
“I don’t play golf strictly for fun,” Baird said. “I think that’s one thing that would surprise most people. I fish for fun. I enjoy golf. I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t love it, but I don’t go out and play a round of golf in the middle of the offseason for fun.”
Baird, 36, is married with three kids ages five, three and one. Although traveling on a weekly basis can be a grind, Baird didn’t go more than a week without seeing his family in 2008. Most of the time his family comes with him.
“It’s great,” Baird said. “It’s difficult at times, but it’s not any more difficult than what anyone else who has to go to work all day. We just happen to bring our kids on the road. They love flying on airplanes which they think is the coolest thing and we get to show them different parts of the country. It’s awesome.”
VSU is hoping that Baird comes back to do another fundraiser in the future.
“People here are able to relate to him because he played at Valdosta State,” Purvis said. “People in Valdosta try to keep up with him and are always asking how Briny did this weekend, even if they didn’t watch the tournament. Our goal is that maybe this can a turn into an annual thing or every couple of years thing so we can let him know how much we appreciate everything he’s done in representing VSU on such a national level.”

Photos

Paul Leavy/The Valdosta Daily Times