By: Rick Limpert for WorldAmGolf.com
Sirius/XM PGA Tour Radio’s Brian Katrek may be best known for his talking about the sport of golf.
This week, at the 2014 World Am, he’s doing more than just talking.
He’s playing.
Don’t worry, he’s also here talking from 5 – 7 p.m. each day as part of the “Katrek & Maginnes On Tap” gabfest on Sirius/XM.
It’s hard to believe that the Smyrna, Georgia resident has never played in a World Am.
“I haven’t,” admitted Katrek, who is playing in the Gross Division this week, also known as Flight 1. “I’ve talked about (playing) it for years, but never had the time off.”
So like many others when they travel, Katrek is combining business with pleasure.
With his in-laws living just a few miles from Myrtle Beach, Katrek and his family are frequent visitors to the area.
“We are here quite a bit,” said the voice of Bridgestone Golf commercials and father of two. “I play golf during the day, and then at night, I take the kids to play mini golf, laser tag and whatever else they want to do. There are also a ton of good ice cream shops in Myrtle Beach and they stay open until 10 p.m.”
Katrek, a scratch player who plays frequently in Georgia USGA Section events had been playing some of his best golf up until about a month ago.
“Since then it’s been a struggle,” he admits.
He opened his play on Monday at Legends Golf Club, Moreland and he said it was tough.
“I opened with a birdie, so I was one-under after one.”
Katrek said the course was set up tough, and that included a 250-yard par 3 that he said he hit his 3-wood into and was still short.
As for the format of the event, Katrek says he’s on board.
“I love how they police the handicaps. it was always my favorite topic to talk about. The scratch division won’t have that problem, but I am (here) to beat everyone that shows up. Just playing gross is much easier, but they do a great job for all the other flights. Nothing worse than getting cheated.”
As for the state of his game the rest of the week.
“I’m healthy, but I’m rusty. We’ll see.”
Catch Katrek & Maginnes on the main stage all week as they talk golf and the World Am from 5 – 7 p.m.
If you want to know how Katrek played each day, just ask him. He loves to talk golf. On the course and off.
