The Grillroom - Steve Pate - Brief Article - Interview

Golf Digest, Feb, 2000 by Bob Verdi

It's been several months since the Ryder Cup victory. Are you still on a high?

A lot of tournaments after that felt like a walk in the park. I didn't win last year, but after the Ryder Cup, that's unimportant. It was fun.

Any particular memories?

Monday morning, I'm in bed with a massive hang-over and one of my buddies calls, screaming about what Johnny Miller said on TV [critical remarks about the U.S. team]. I told my pal to calm down. I since saw the tape. Miller's job isn't a cheerleader. Then I went back to sleep.

Why the hangover?

You kidding? A few of us diehards celebrated deep into the night. Tiger tried to sneak out. We got him out of bed.

Your 12-man team, it's 11 now.

What a reality check. I have this picture from after it was over. He's dancing on a table, in sweatpants and this hideous orange shirt, chili peppers all over him. Payne Stewart. So sad.

What about the "Volcano" nickname?

I do have a temper. Paul Azinger said we should be allowed to make one tackle per round to take out our frustrations. You hit a bad shot, you get to tackle someone. But the nickname, I'm not proud of it.

But it fits.

I did flatten a tee sign at Doral a few years ago. Got a running start, put the shoulder to it, boom. I was fined. Once a year, I get fined. Throwing clubs, language, wearing shorts during a pro-am in Kapalua. Mostly language. I'm not proud of that, either.

Most of your outbursts are at yourself.

Right. I only get mad at me, and even that doesn't last long. Fortunately, I'm only that way playing golf. Our older daughter, Nicole, saw me snap a club over a tree a few years ago and asked me, "Daddy, why did you hurt that tree?" Told her, "Because the tree got in the way. Shouldn't have been there." At home, though, I'm a different guy.

Do you have the shortest fuse on tour?

Used to, but not any more. Woody Austin can get pretty hot. Dudley Hart, too. For longevity, probably Craig Stadler.

And when you join the senior tour?

I'll probably be a grumpy old man. I'll try to fit in.

You're happy to be playing, period.

Exactly. I mangled my hand and wrist a couple of years ago. I rear- ended a truck, and the truck won.

Like the deer won.

Well, it lived, and I was OK. I was on a bike, coming into my driveway, my dog's chasing this deer, and boom. Deer walked away, and Simon just sat there watching. Simon's my dog.

Why do these things happen to you?

I have no idea. Before the Ryder Cup in '91, I'm in another accident, and I'm not even driving. Why me? I'm playing basketball in a hotel swimming pool with my kids, and rip my head open. Stitches. This poor body of mine.

Speaking of which, a lot of your fellow golfers are into fitness. Their bodies are their temples.

I understand. I just don't worship mine as much. I do work out. It just doesn't look that way. I'm about 20 pounds overweight.

Why?

I'm a pig. I like to eat. My problem isn't going back for second helpings.

My problem is thirds.

But you're a lot better than 1996.

Oh, yeah. The year I was hurt, I was scary. My wife, Sheri, would come home, I'd be on the couch watching cooking shows, then I'd go to the grocery store. I hit 225 pounds.

The real you enjoys peace and quiet.

I live in the mountains near L.A. No noise. Play with the kids, my friends, read anything by Stephen King. People who think I don't have any fun couldn't be more wrong.