The PGA Tour faces yet another void that cannot be filled. Tom Place, a treasured figure in the golf world known for his vast knowledge of the PGA Tour and his charismatic presence that enriched media coverage for over 20 years, passed away peacefully on Christmas Day. He was 97 years old and spent his final moments at his Ponte Vedra Beach home, lovingly accompanied by his wife, Jean Place.
He initially was a sportswriter who worked as the Tour’s Director of Information from 1971 to 1992, and well, he was one of his kind. He did not use anything technical that would assist his job. Instead made sure that everything was done all by himself. In fact, in some of the tournament sites, he also took charge of everything, all alone. The long-time Director of Information was so efficient that he would often run the media centers at 40 events a year.
Before the rise of personal agents and communications representatives for players, Tom Place served as a crucial bridge between athletes and the media. His connections were equally strong on both sides, fostering trust and collaboration between players and journalists alike.
“I just loved the man,” said former Tour player Steve Melnyk. “He was so gracious, so courteous, and had to do his job without a lot of the resources they have now.”
Mark McCumber, the 1988 Players champion, admitted that his family took advantage of Place’s pleasant nature. “My wife, my brothers, my kids were always calling the media center to ask Tom how I was playing,” McCumber said. “He’d tell them, ‘Mark just parred the first hole … call me back in a few minutes about the next hole.’ He never made them feel as if they were bothering him. He was a very kind man. The Tour has lost a gentleman, a true curator of the game.”
This is a developing story..