Jamy Bechler

Providing Insights on Leadership and Success. Coach Bechler is a John Maxwell Leadership Team Member.

2003 British Open Champion Ben Curtis

Ben Curtis won the 2003 Open Championship at Royal St. George’s as a rookie in only his 16th start on the PGA Tour. He became the first golfer in 90 years to win a major championship in his first try. He would go on to win a total of four PGA events. Curtis also was the runnerup at the 2012 PLAYERS Championship and a member of the 2008 Ryder Cup Championship Team. Prior to his professional career, he was formerly the world’s number one ranked amateur after winning three Ohio Amateur titles, earning NCAA All-American honors three times at Kent State University, and reaching the semifinals of the 1999 of the prestigious U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach. He retired from professional golf in 2017.  He now leads the Ben Curtis Golf Academy, as well as the Ben Curtis Family Foundation which seeks to alleviate childhood hunger in Northeast Ohio.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Winning The Open Championship as a rookie
  • Getting married and playing a PGA event on the same day
  • The mental approach to golf
  • Starting a foundation to help alleviate child hunger
  • … and so much more!!!

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A Long Time Coming

Adam Long celebrates winning the final round of the Desert Classic at the Stadium Course at PGA West in La Quinta on Sunday, January 20, 2019. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Did you hear about the dramatic duel that Hall of Fame golfer Phil Mickelson recently took part in? No, I am not talking about his one-on-one battle with Tiger Woods out in Las Vegas. I am talking about his final round battle at the 2019 Desert Classic. It looked as if “Lefty” would win his 44th career PGA Tour event because he just had to withstand a challenge from the 417th ranked player in the world. Yes, you heard that right, Phil Mickelson, who earns about $50 million per year was dueling it out with Adam Long.

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Episode 085: Drew Dinkmeyer, “Welly-Maker” Charity Water Organizer

Drew Dinkmeyer is one of the most respected experts in the fantasy sports industry. Along with Mike Leone, they co-founded DailyRoto, which is one of the most accurate and comprehensive research sites for fantasy sports. In 2013, at the age of 31, Dinkmeyer left his job as a financial investment analyst behind to become one of just a handful of fantasy sports professionals. In December of 2014, he won a million dollars in a football contest on Draftkings. 

In 2017, Drew was named the “Humanitarian of the Year” by the Fantasy Sports Trade Association (FSTA) for his work as the organizer of the Welly-Maker.  The Welly-Maker ultimately raised over $40,000 and provided clean water solutions for more than 1,300 people. In 2018, Drew launched Welly-Maker 2.0 and pledged to match up to $40,000.

“Dinkpiece”, as he is known in the fantasy world, earned an Ivy league degree in Psychological and Brain Studies (which means he is really smart) from Dartmouth University. Drew also played Division I Tennis – where he is 2nd all-time in wins. He worked for Morgan Stanley as a an investment analyst. He has been featured in both Maxim and the Wall Street Journal, as well as being interviewed by NPR. 

In today’s episode, we discuss:

  • His passion for sports
  • Advice for starting to play fantasy sports
  • The need for clean water in third-world countries
  • Why he started the “Welly-Maker”

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Episode 080: PGA Caddie Paul Tesori

Paul Tesori is the caddie for professional golfer Webb Simpson. Paul was on the bag when Webb won the 2012 U.S. Open and 2018 THE PLAYERS Championship. In addition to Webb Simpson, Paul has caddied for some of the best golfers in the world including former #1 player Vijay Singh. In total, he has more than 20 wins as a PGA caddie. 

We caught up with Paul between THE PLAYERS and the Open Championship (to be held at Carnoustie, Scotland). The memories of the record-setting performance at THE PLAYERS was still fresh in his mind (especially since it is played at TPC Sawgrass, which is Paul’s home course). Webb led THE PLAYERS Championship from start to finish. Along the way, he equaled the course record with his 2nd-round 63, and also the 36-hole and 54-hole PLAYERS scoring records. With the win, Webb became just the 9th player to have won THE PLAYERS and a U.S. Open. The victory also made Webb World Golf Hall of Fame eligible in the future. 

Paul is a Florida native and attended the University of Florida. He grew up loving sports and played golf and baseball. He was such a good golfer that he even played 21 events on the PGA Tour himself. Paul and his wife Michelle run the Tesori Family Foundation, which was founded in 2009. The foundation helps supports various charities throughout the country with focuses ranging from childhood homelessness to battered women’s shelters, from children battling disease like cancer to animal rescue charities like the Jacksonville Humane Society. 

In today’s episode, we discuss:

  • Webb’s runaway win at the 2018 Players Championship
  • Why mental toughness is important in golf and life
  • What he says to a golfer during a round
  • Caddie-Golfer relationships, especially after breakups

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