Francona talks golf while in RI
NEWPORT – For some prestigious golf tournaments, it’s customary for the honorary starter to hit a ceremonial tee shot that serves as a two-fold purpose.
One, it helps to whip the crowd into even more of a frenzy.
Two, the swing on the tee by a non-participant with built-in cache serves as the official declaration concerning golf’s competitive aspect and how it’s now officially underway.
That brings us to Terry Francona, former MLB manager and honorary chair of this year’s U.S. Senior Open. The skipper of the curse-breaking 2004 Red Sox was asked Tuesday if local fans could expect to see him wave to the crowd before putting his head down and making what he hopes is a good swing.
“I don’t need to be hitting the ball 10 feet,” Francona told the Call/times before the speaking portion of Tuesday’s U.S. Senior Open media day program got underway at the Newport Marriott Hotel.
Even in retirement, Francona’s self-deprecating humor that served as his trademark when he managed remains spot-on. Consider his answer to how he wound up attaching his name to the U.S. Senior Open, scheduled at Newport Country Club from June 26-30.
“I told them that if I’m not doing something, I’m there. It was easy to say yes,” said Francona. “They told me I could do as much as I want or as little as I want, but whenever I’m done with my responsibilities, I’m going to put my shorts on and go watch those guys play.”
How does Francona describe his golf game?
“The way I would explain it, I would come home after the season and need more club. Then I would be running out of clubs. I don’t hit it very far, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love playing,” he said. “I’m trying to get my body to a point where it doesn’t hurt so I can enjoy it, but I love it.”
These days, the golfing itch will manifest itself when Francona least expects it.
“I’ll be sitting at home [in Arizona] in the rocking chair and be like, ‘I’m going to go hit a bucket of balls’ and I do,” he said. “I’ve got a simulator in my garage. I’ve got a putting green in my backyard. It’s not helping me enough, but I love it.”
Francona has grown close with several of the current golfers on the Champions Tour, the list including Rhode Island native Billy Andrade. By getting to know Andrade, Francona has also become friendly with Andrade’s caddie Mark Zyons, a Cumberland High graduate.
Francona’s admiration for Zyons included whipping out his phone to show this reporter a graphic that
was specifically produced to congratulate current Bryant University infielder Zac Zyons – Mark’s son – for winning this year’s America East batting title.
“You can’t find a better guy. ‘Zig’ is awesome,” Francona said about Mark Zyons. “Through [Andrade] I feel like I know so many of the other [Champions Tour] guys.”
Asked if he finds himself watching more golf these days, Francona replied with an answer along the lines of “you can take the manager out of the dugout, but you can’t take the dugout of the manager.”
“I’ve actually watched more baseball than I have in years. I’ll be home, put the TV on, and see that a game is 4-4 in the eighth inning. I enjoy it. The only baseball I used to watch was based on who we were playing next. Now it’s much more enjoyable,” said Francona.
No conversation with Francona is complete without mixing in some reflections on life as a big-league manager.
“I was so fortunate. I’m a baseball lifer. That’s all I’ve ever done. I got lucky,” said Francona. “I got another chance [as a manager] after getting beat up in Philadelphia. Most guys don’t. I came to Boston and we were ready to win.”
From managing the Red Sox team that snapped an 86-year title drought to skippering a Cleveland team that in 2016 came close to tasting World Series glory, the Boston team that won it all in 2007 has a special place in Francona’s heart due to all the homegrown talent that emerged from the minor-league system, namely Dustin Pedroia, Jonathan Papelbon, Jon Lester and Jacoby Ellsbury.
“It was different. Thankfully, the ’07 team didn’t emulate the ’04 team. The decibel level was lower on the ’07 team,” said Francona. “You can’t win and not have fun, but both of those championships [with the Sox] were special.”