PRESSBOOK MCB TC 2023

BARE MY SOUL

Name: Gary Evans Nationality: English Age: 54 Tour: Legends Former Tour: European

What has been your closest brush with death? When I was four I had a cyst in my throat. You can still see the scar to this day. I was playing with a torch with my mum, and I was looking into her mouth. She then looked into my mouth and she saw this lump in the back of my throat. It was a poisonous cyst and had it not been spotted, if it had exploded, I would have died. Pure luck. I was operated on at Southlands Hospital in West Sussex but they didn’t get it all out, so I was rushed up to London and they cleared out the rest of it. Dr O’Malley was the doctor. I was four and I still remember the name. What scares you the most? Getting dementia. Describe yourself in three words. Genuine, generous, loyal. Have you ever been star-struck? Yes I have. Seve had an aura about him. He was always my hero when I was growing up. When he walked into a room, if he was smiling, the whole room would light up. He was unique. Other than that, not really. People are people. If you could bring back one defunct tournament, which would it be and why? The Lancome Trophee was a beautiful event. It was a slightly shortened field event, so rather than 144 it might have been 90 or 100. But Seve and Ollie and Monty, all the top players would always turn up and play. There were always great crowds… typically French, knew f*** all about golf but dressed immaculately. It was just like a summer garden party in Versailles, around a beautiful course with a beautiful clubhouse. What’s your most annoying habit? I’m very anal about tidiness, so my flat is spotless. If I have a girlfriend and she is, shall we say ‘normal’, it can be an issue. It’s just because I have a ‘clean life, clean mind’ mentality. How would you like to be remembered? Just as a genuine guy who cared. I care

GARY EVANS

‘I’VE GOT ALL 15 OF TIGER’S MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP FLAGS – ALL SIGNED BY HIM’

What was your first car – and what do you drive now? A Volvo 343 GL that I bought off my next-door neighbour for £300. When you went over a bump, you’d still be bouncing about 100 yards down the road! It was burgundy, with cloth interior, but I thought it was the best car in the world. Now, I drive a BMW 320d, which is a great car. It’s very understated. Great fuel economy, cheap to run, and no-one looks at it twice. What was your first job? Stacking shelves in Tesco. I worked 8pm until 7am. I did that five nights a week and got paid £90. I would have been 17, just after leaving school. Aside from property, what’s the most extravagant purchase you’ve made? After The Open [in ’02], I bought a Porsche 911 4S. I always wanted a Porsche. It was always the car of my dreams. I paid £65,000 for it. Now the same car costs about £120k.

Do you own any golf memorabilia? I’ve got every one of Tiger Woods’ Major championship flags, all signed by him. All 15. It took me years. And I’ve got all of Rory McIlroy’s Major championship flags. One of my particular favourites is a Bay Hill flag that Arnold Palmer and Tiger signed for me. I’ve got Adam Scott and Sergio Garcia’s Masters flags, too. But Tiger’s my hero. Some former Chelsea players, like John Terry and Eidur Gudjohnsen. I used to do the Chelsea golf day. And Gianfranco Zola is a good friend of mine. We used to play golf together in Sardinia. Probably the nicest man I’ve ever met in my life, and a very good golfer, as he proved at the Legends Tour Celebrity Series at Belle Mare Plage in Mauritius. He nearly won it. Do you have any famous, non-golfing names in your phone book?

about the tour, I care about my colleagues. I don’t think I’m

self-centred. I’m not selfish. I fight for my friends, I fight for my tour. I defend the game – this is the greatest game on earth because it’s all about honesty, integrity and hard work.

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