Interview with Rick Pendergast

By Aaron Story

Fresno, Calif. ( KFSR)—The 88th annual Masters Tournament was broadcast live from Augusta in April 2024. KFSR reporter Aaron Story interviewed Former professional golfer Rick Pendergast about his hope to win the tournament and what the game of golf has meant to him. 

Story: What age were you? Were you named an official professional golfer? 

Pendergast: I was 21.

Story: Alright. Was that something you always knew you wanted to be or was it just something natural to you and you feel like you could, you could pursue that?

Pendergast: No, golf was kind of an I fell into it. I was a baseball player going into high school, and I played basketball. The basketball coach was the baseball coach. And I told my dad, I can’t play baseball for this guy.  My dad said you should play golf. Yeah. And I said, but I’m not that good. And he goes, just play golf. You’ll have more fun. You don’t have to deal with your jerk coach, and you know you’ll have fun. You get to play golf with your grandpa all the time. 

Story: What was that journey? Like you said, you would play with your grandpa casually? Was it when you really wanted to become a professional golfer? Well, I’m sure there were some long days on the course on the range. What was that journey like to becoming a professional golfer?

Pendergast: When I was 22, I got a job as an assistant pro at Woodland Hills Country Club in the San Fernando Valley. And that’s where we played golf when I was in junior college. And it was, it was fun because the golf course is right there but you have to fold your shirt and be nice to all the members and stuff, so you’re playing golf, was the furthest thing on my mind then but then I get out and play and of course was pristine, incredible greens and I can get better playing here every day.

Story: What age did you retire from being a professional golfer?

Pendergast: On Saturday, I turned 64. I got my amateur status last year, I think in March. There’s nothing for me to play in 64 here; there’s no mini-tour.

Story: What have been some of your favorite moments from your golf career that you can remember, some specific moments, a specific shot, or something like that?

Pendergast: I’ve had four holding ones, five double eagles.

Story: Okay. That’s really impressive, in my opinion. 

Pendergast: Two of them were in tournaments. And one was, I was, one shot to make the cut and double eagle on the West Coast. So I went from going home to actually moving up the leaderboard a little bit.

Story: So do you still, like you said you still enjoy playing golf? You enjoy watching golf? Are you still a big fan? 

Pendergast: Sure. Absolutely.

Story: Okay. Do you have like a favorite golfer? You just watch it from a fan’s perspective.

Pendergast: My favorite golfer is Finnley Pendergast.

Story: Your son I heard he’s pretty good. When we talked last semester, he was pretty good with all the scores.

Pendergast: It’s fun to see him enjoy it and mature on the course, and yeah, the guys on TV, I really liked Cameron Smith. Okay, so he’s a live golfer, so I’m a sinner for saying that

Story: Is it cool seeing your son pursuing golf? I remember talking to Finnley last semester.  He said he played in high school. Is it cool to see your son doing something that you love to do?

Pendergast: Oh, absolutely. I was pissed off by that. I can’t say that. I was mad at him last semester because he had a Friday class. And he didn’t have Friday class the previous semester. So we play golf every Friday. So now he’s off on Fridays, and we get to play golf again. 

Story: That’s awesome. As a person, I love to play golf, my dad, so I can only imagine those are some of the best times, you know, with your family out there and stuff. So that’s pretty awesome to hear.

Pendergast: Kim and I used to play golf. She would play. When we got married, we lived in Knoxville. And she was actually taught by a top 50 teacher in the United States.

Story: Oh, wow. Okay, that’s an interesting fact. I’m pretty sure not a lot of students will know about Kim, but she was actually a pretty good golfer. 

Pendergast: We didn’t say she was pretty good. At least she tried out there. She went out there. She was fun to play with. Yeah, that’s awesome.

Story: The Masters are coming up. Is there a specific person you want to see bring home that legendary green jacket on Sunday? Or? Are you just watching as a fan?

Pendergast: Because we’re friends with him? I’d like to see Bryson.