The Tesori Family Foundation held its fourth All-Star Kids Clinic at Sawgrass Country Club. The foundation was started in 2014 by Nocatee resident Paul Tesori and his family.
Wednesday afternoon was the only time all week a crowd will be encouraged to cheer when Jordan Spieth is approaching a tee shot. It will also be the only time this week, the three-time major champion does not mind at all.
Spieth was the featured guest at the Tesori Family Foundation’s All-Star Kids Clinic at Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach.
Dozens of disabled children participated in the fourth annual clinic. Paul and Michelle Tesori started the foundation in 2014 when their son Isaiah was born with Down syndrome.
Paul Tesori, a St. Augustine High graduate who played golf at the University of Florida before making a cameo on the PGA Tour, has spent nearly two decades as a caddie on tour. He was on the bag last year when Webb Simpson won The Players Championship. Their faith, and close bond, attracted media attention to the foundation and the air-tight bond Paul and Michelle have with their youngest child.
As Paul spoke about his son during Wednesday’s clinic, his voice cracked before noting “that extra chromosome makes him perfect.”
At the clinic there was a driving station, a chipping station and a putting station.
Before the participants got to break out their clubs, Spieth spoke, gave tips and took a few shots. Spieth also discussed his younger sister. Ellie Spieth was born with a neurological disorder and will soon celebrate her 18th birthday.
Big brother quipped he has a hard time believing his sister was about to be an adult; but he turned serious for a moment to describe her impact on his life.
“I’m jealous of her,” Spieth said. “Every day, she has so much fun and so much joy. She has so many smiles and so many more feels. It’s incredible to watch her grow up.”
The participants asked Spieth questions, and some even asked him to hit shots. Jake Scovil asked him to hit a fade with his driver. When Spieth did it, Scovil’s face, which was covered by a blue St. Louis Cardinals cap, lit up. Later, Scovil was so adept at driving the ball high and straight that one of the volunteers playfully asked whether he charged to provide lessons.
Dawaun Smith is not much of a golfer. But he believed Wednesday’s clinic was the ideal setting to introduce his 9-year-old son, Liam, to the sport.
“It’s excellent,” Smith said of the clinic. ”(It’s) a laid-back sport, peaceful and gives them an opportunity to do it. It’s beyond awesome.”
Wednesday’s clinic was the fourth held in conjunction with The Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach. Since the foundation was created in 2014, there have been 11 clinics, including one in Simpson’s hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina. Michelle Tesori said the foundation’s goal is to host a clinic in every city with a PGA Tour stop.
Tesori’s ties on tour are what attracted a half-dozen caddies as well as The First Tee of North Florida and as other charities and businesses to help stage Wednesday’s clinic.
Every child who participated received a medal. Some hugged Isaiah Tesori as his mother, Michelle, awarded them with a medal and gift bag, while others danced to their seats.