Murray: Iraqi veteran Pfeifer adds inspiration to ACC field
Chris Murray, RGJ
STATELINE When Chad Pfeifer lines up a key putt or stands over his tee shot on the difficult 17th hole during this week’s American Century Championship at Edgewood Tahoe, he’ll feel pressure.
Pfeifer has never played golf in front of the thousands of fans who swarm this popular event, so he’ll surely have some nerves. He’ll surely feel the tension. But there’s no way he’ll crack. After all, standing over a 10-foot putt has nothing on having a spray of bullets fired at you in pitch dark.
“I’ll definitely feel the pressure, I know that,” said Pfeifer, the least famous but most honorable person in this year’s field. “But I look at it as I faced more pressure overseas than I will hitting a tee shot here.”
That’s because “overseas” meant Iraq, where the 32-year-old Pfeifer served as an Army Corporal until 2007 when Pfeifer’s vehicle was hit with a pressure plate improvised explosive device. His vehicle exploded, and Pfeifer lost his left leg above his knee. But he didn’t lose his drive or determination.
While recovering in San Antonio, Pfeifer was fitted with a prosthetic leg and hit a few balls on the golf range. He fell in love with golf, a game the ex-college baseball player used to describe as “something for old people.” Golf gave him confidence walking on his prosthetic. It gave the former three-sport high school star his competitive edge again. It gave him a reason to believe he had plenty of life ahead.
“I obviously couldn’t play competitive basketball, baseball or football again,” Pfeifer said. “I’m limited in my mobility and range of motion. Golf was a sport that put me on an even playing field and gave me something that offered a real sense of competition again, which was huge for my recovery.”
Pfeifer, a club pro in the Phoenix area, was a quick study. After only playing a handful of rounds of golf before his injury, Pfeifer was a 15 handicap after his first couple of outings. He whittled his score down before eventually becoming a scratch golfer. He won the 2011 National Amputee Tournament and has taken home three straight Warrior Opens, an event put on by former President George W. Bush.
When ACC officials asked if he would take part in this year’s event, he was dumbfounded.
“I was pretty shocked,” Pfeifer said. “At first I thought they were inviting me to come out and watch. When they asked if I would play in it, I was shocked and humbled by the invitation.”
Pfeifer’s family he has a wife and two young sons will watch him on television from Idaho, where Pfeifer’s parents live. The affable Pfeifer, who shot a 68 in his first full practice round at Edgewood on Tuesday, is a 15-1 bet to win the event. Despite those odds, Pfeifer joked he’d bet on Annika Sorenstam.
Pfeifer’s family chides his “celebrity status” alongside fellow ACC competitors John Elway, Aaron Rodgers, Ray Romano and Charles Barkley, who Pfeifer hopes to be paired with sometime this week.
During a news conference Wednesday, defending ACC champion Billy Joe Tolliver told Pfeifer the field “holds our manhood cheap in your presence.” When Pfeifer was asked about the pressure of playing in front of big crowds this week, Tolliver fired back by saying: “He’s had people shooting at him. I think he’ll be able to deal with this deal. This is golf. If you miss a shot, they ain’t going to shoot at you.”
Pfeifer, who has been driving the ball around 310 yards in Tahoe’s altitude, would love to compete for the ACC title. Even if he doesn’t, this is an experience he’ll never forget. He’s already met “some awesome people” and “been blown away by the course and scenery” during his first visit to this part of the world. He’s looking forward to scoring an autograph or two and has already signed his fair share.
Pfeifer’s ultimate golf goal is to become the first amputee to play on a professional tour. He’s hoping to play in some mini-Tour events in Phoenix this winter. Playing in a PGA Tour event is the dream scenario. But, for now, he’ll rub shoulders with some of the best athletes in the history of their respective games.
While Pfeifer first used golf as personal medication, he’s not using it as something bigger.
“One of my big goals is to just use golf as a platform to help inspire people,” said Pfeifer, adding that it’s “crazy and unreal” that he’s here this week. “I kind of look at golf to inspire other disabled veterans coming back with disabilities. But for anyone with disabilities, golf can be a great game to just kind of take their minds off stuff. So, that’s kind of a big thing for me is to use golf to inspire people.”
Mission accomplished there.
Columnist Chris Murray provides insight on Northern Nevada sports. Contact him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @MurrayRGJ.
THE FILE ON CHAD PFEIFER
Age: 32
Lives: Goodyear, Ariz.
Who: An Iraqi War Veteran who lost his left leg in battle
Golf honors: Three-time winner of Warrior Open; 2011 National Amputee Tournament champ
Job: PGA Club Professional at the Golf Club of Estrella
Family: Wife and two sons (2 years old and 3 months)
Odds: 15/1 to win ACC
Tags: Veterans News
