Aces and Fastballs
Verlander has won two
Cy Young Awards, in
2011 and 2019.
THE
VERLANDER
FILE
AGE: 37
HOMETOWN: Manakin Sabot
HIGH SCHOOL: Goochland
MLB DEBUT: July 4, 2005 for the
Detroit Tigers
CAREER BASEBALL HIGHLIGHTS:
Two AL Cy Young Awards (2011,
2019); three no-hitters (2007, 2011,
2019); 3,000+ career strikeouts; AL
Rookie of the Year (2006); 8-time
All-Star
GOLF HIGHLIGHTS: As of Feb.
19, had a 3.6 Handicap Index, per
GHIN. … Best posted score (accord-
ing to GHIN) was a 69 at Los Ange-
les Country Club in 2016. … Playing
with Viktor Hovland, tied for fifth in
the amateur portion of the 2020
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. … Tied
for 19th at LPGA Diamond Resorts
celebrity event in January, making
five birdies in his final round. (Former
MLB pitcher John Smoltz, who has
qualified for the U.S. Senior Open in
the past, won.)
24
is something that I learn a lot about. It’s
just like the consistency. That’s what I’m
in awe at with those players. Just their
consistency and striking the golf ball,
distance control. Just realize that dis-
tance control is probably the biggest thing
VG: How many rounds do you play a
they do so well, and when you have good
year, approximately?
distance control, if you miss right or
JV: I’d say around 70. That’s a
left… Like when I miss short
good guess. I played a lot in
right, I’m 50 feet, 40 feet
the offseason. Last year, I
“Now I go play
from the pin. If I was
only played three times
sometimes at Richmond
only 10 yards offline,
during the season. I
Country Club. Really,
I’m still short, too.
just didn’t play much.
I ’m a w a y s a w a y
I go to Kinloch most of
from the pin. Those
V G : Do you take
the time. Spring Creek
guys, if they miss 10
your clubs on the
is nice. There’s one
yards right or five
road with you?
out in Powhatan (The
yards
right, they
JV: They’re always
Foundry), but it’s mostly
hit it the right dis-
with me. It’s just the
Kinloch. That’s where
tance, they’re 20 feet,
opportunity…I didn’t
I play most of
15 feet. That’s the dis-
play much. This off-
my golf.”
tance control. It’s some-
season I played a bunch.
thing that stands out.
VG: You’ve had a lot of oppor-
tunities to play alongside professionals
VG: What’s your favorite memory from
in PGA Tour pro-am events in Pebble
playing in one of those events?
Beach and Scottsdale and at the LPGA’s
JV: Actually, Viktor Hovland’s hole in
Tournament of Champions. What have
one in (at Pebble Beach) when I played
you learned about your game playing
out there. He had a hole in one. I got to
alongside touring pros?
see that. The first time I played in the
AT&T, the last round I made a birdie
JV: It’s fun to play with those people, men
net eagle on the 18 at Pebble Beach. We
and women. I think course management
attribute, but it’s also my biggest enemy
because my driver is a little errant. I’ll
lose a ball every now and again that I have
no business losing.
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COLLEGE: Old Dominion University