Among the stars shining at this week’s Farmers Insurance Open is Bruce Koepka, a five-time major winner who’s returning to the PGA Tour after exiting the LIV Tour.
Bruce Koepka?
“My wife was watching on TV and she said, ‘Did you just call Brooks, Bruce on national television?’” legendary FIO starter Tony Perez said.
Yes, he did, years ago, and Perez was aware that he needed a mulligan when the gallery started hollering, “Let’s go Bruce!”
Perez later offered his mea culpa when his son, Pat, and Koepka were LIV teammates.
“Was that you?” Koepka said, sharing a hearty laugh.
No joke, Solana Beach’s Perez is in his fifth decade of clearing his voice at the Torrey Pines Golf Course and announcing who’s next on the South No. 1 tee box. His tireless work of contributing countless hours to the event since the mid-1980s made him a finalist for the 2025 PGA Volunteer of the Year Award.
He’s being honored at this year’s FIO, where it’s a safe bet he’s greeted like Norm from “Cheers”: Everyone knows his name.
“He’s part of our tradition, our vibe,” FIO tournament director Marty Gorish said. “He always has that big smile, and he puts the players at ease.”
Perez now introduces the offspring of touring pros who once commanded his vocal cords.
While the smooth-talking, always-at-ease Perez seldom stumbles, he’s human. He occasionally blows a tire, but never a gasket.
“I remember one of my first guys I announced was Billy Andrade and it came out as Billy Andretti because that was when Mario Andretti was on the racing circuit,” Perez said.
Andrade, then a two-time PGA Tour winner, turned to Perez and said, “I’m not the race-car driver.”
Take a few laps with Perez, and it’s one story after another for a person with few, if any, peers on the PGA Tour. The concoction of his longevity, his son being a pro, and his reliable outstretched hand and over-the-top kindness are among the attributes that make him special.
“I believe I’m the most hugged starter on the tour,” Perez said. “Tony Finau and Xander Schauffele always give me a big hug, and I just have a good relationship with the players because they have seen me there so many times.”
It’s the first-time competitors who glean the most from Perez. With their knees shaking and palms sweaty, here comes a dapper man with the style, class and demeanor of a maitre d’ at a restaurant with white tablecloths.
“He is totally relaxed, which makes it feel a lot less formal for the players,” Gorish said. “And he genuinely cares about the guys, they can feel it and he makes them feel at ease.”
Perez knows of the trials and tribulations it takes to reach Torrey’s No. 1 tee box.
“I see rookies coming out and I think, ‘Oh my god it’s just an uphill trip to get here,’” Perez said. “And it’s a long haul and not easy if you are going to make it.”
If making it to Torrey Pines this week, tip your cap to Perez. He’ll literally introduce hundreds of golfers to the fans, many of them who never neglect to tell Perez hello.
“So many people come by the tee box and some of them I have no clue who they are,” Perez said. “But do you know what that means to me at 80 years old for people to do that? I’ve even had people ask for my autograph.”
Tiger Woods can relate. Perez has known him for 42 years, since Woods and the younger Perez played junior golf.
“Tiger never forgot that we all grew up together,” Perez said. “We go way back and he always shows me a lot of respect and gives me a hug.”
Once Woods, fresh off a birdie, gave his ball to a double-amputee Army veteran who was a guest of Perez’s through his work of getting wounded veterans into golf. The fans ringing the hole declined to rush off after Woods sank his putt, choosing to witness a special interaction.
“Tiger never even turns his head when he is playing but he saw this guy, gave him the ball and no one moved,” Perez said. “Instead, everyone was crying. You couldn’t have written a better script.”
No one can predict Sunday’s winner. But everyone is certain they heard his name from Perez’s well-tuned pipes.
“This is what helps me wake up every morning,” Perez said. “I’m thankful I’m still here and I’ll be doing this for as long as I can.”
Contact Jay Paris at [email protected] and follow him @jparis_sports
