PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. -- The powers-that-be here at the Genesis Open -- a group which includes new tournament host Tiger Woods -- had a terrific idea. They decided to rename their annual exemption for a golfer representing a minority background in honor of the legendary Charlie Sifford.
Then they had an even better idea.
They gave the exemption to Kevin Hall.
Hall is African-American, a demographic barely represented on the PGA Tour right now. He's also deaf, the result of H-Flu Meningitis before his third birthday.
And he's the consummate never-give-up professional golfer, a 34-year-old who toils on the mini-tours, hasn't played a PGA Tour event in 11 years and still owns the dream of regularly competing on the game's highest level someday.