John Cook is both a professional golfer and a golf announcer. But the chance to play in Rancho Mirage’s Galleri Classic was too tempting for Cook.
It’s going be a busy week. Cook, who grew up in Mission Hills Country Club, where the Galleri Classic was held, said that he is excited about the opportunity.
Cook played the Dinah Shore Tournament Course during a pro-career that produced 11 events at the PGA Tour. Cook has not seen his home course in over 20 years.
Cook stated that he had been back in the past to see Jason (his son), play a few AJGA events. But he has not played since 1999, which I believe was the last time I played it.”
Cook, who is now 65 years old and spends most of his time at Golf Channel, will see the Galleri Classic as a complete closure. Cook’s professional career will probably end with the new PGA Tour Champions event.
Cook stated, “I chose Mission Hills and the Hoag (Classic), at Newport Beach.” These will be the last two games I play, quite frankly. I can’t imagine myself getting out there and competing at 65. Newport and Mission Hills are great places to make it a career.
Cook is a legend in the desert. He won the 1992 and 1997 Bob Hope Classics. The tournament is now called The American Express. Cook won 10 more tournaments as a 50-and-over PGA Tour Champion, but he hoped to get a chance to return to Coachella Valley with a senior event.
Cook stated that he thought the LPGA Tour was a great fit after they announced its departure. Although I was not involved in it, Miller Brady, president of the PGA Tour Champions Division, said that he had heard about it. Okay, it’s okay. I thought it was a great fit.
John Cook at Charles Schwab Cup Championship.
Cook, who has a long history in the Coachella Valley because of The American Express, is part of the reason that the PGA Tour Seniors seems to be a good fit for the Coachella Valley. Cook’s personal story includes a loss in the 1986 tournament to Donnie Hammond, and then two of most memorable victories in tournament history.
Cook won a five-man playoff in Bermuda Dunes in 1992. He made birdies on three holes, then used a chip-in to score a chip-in, and chipped in for the eagle on the fourth. Cook shot rounds of 62, 63 at Indian Wells Country Club in 1997. He set a new tour record for 36-hole scoring, beating Mark Calcavecchia by one shot. Calcavecchia was ahead by three going into the final round, and shot 67. Cook still won.
Cook stated, “Poor Calc always reminds me of that two years.” “Every time I play Gene Sauers or Calcavecchia they remind me those two years.”
Those were the days that Cook lived in Mission Hills. Mission Hills was a place where LPGA and PGA Tour players used to live or as a base on the West Coast for their careers. Cook and his family arrived in Mission Hills for the first time in 1971. Ken Venturi was the director at the golf course.
Cook won the U.S. Cook was an amateur in 1978 while playing at Ohio State. He also played on the school’s 1979 NCAA champion team. Later that year, he became a professional but remained in Mission Hills.
Cook stated that he believed we were playing it every single day: Fred (Couples), me, George Brett (Kansas City Royals third-basemen and club members) or Kirk Triplett. Kirk Triplett was also around at the time, as well as Mike Mitchell (Cook’s friend and a Mission Hills teaching professional). It was back in the 1980s and 1990s when the golf ball was still doing its job and it was a formidable course. It was extremely formidable. We could play the gold tees, or a combination.
Cook was both excited and confused when the LPGA announced that its major championship at Mission Hills would now be the Chevron Championship. Houston will host the Chevron Championship in 2023.
“I was shocked. Cook stated that it was not enough to end history and a major championship. That’s a real head-scratcher.
Cook stated that he retired from tournament golf five year ago because of his increased television schedule with Golf Channel. Cook could still play tournament golf a few times per year, but he couldn’t do so in 2022 because he was fighting melanoma under his eye. He is now healthy after the cancer spread to his brain.
Cook stated, “I’m much better than I was last years.”
Cook was offered the opportunity to play Mission Hills once more and Michelle DeLancy was named tournament director. After years of managing the Boeing Classic in Seattle for many years, Cook decided he could play two final seniors events in Southern California.
Cook stated, “I thought, you see, I’ve played a little bit” Cook said, “I’m not going embarrass myself. So I decided why not? I thought, “Why not go back and have fun?”
Cook thinks the Galleri is the best way to end his tournament playing days.
Cook stated, “Honestly, I’m just as excited as possible.” Cook said, “We have the support of our family. Our granddaughter will be joining us from Australia, as well as our daughter from Australia. My son will be my caddie, and my oldest daughter and her families are also coming. It will be very special.
