JERRY MCGEE | PROFILE Plugging away, but struggling on tour

The East Palestine native isn't having fun these days.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
AKRON -- Nobody loves the game of golf more than Jerry McGee, but the East Palestine native isn't having fun playing the game these days.
McGee was at Firestone Country Club, taking part in the 63rd Senior PGA Championship, which began Thursday, and he just about shot himself out of the tournament over the first 18 holes.
McGee shot an opening round 8-over-par 78 on the rugged Firestone layout, which was playing much more difficult because of all the rain.
Health a problem
But McGee's problems go past the game. He's been struggling with his health since 1999 when it was discovered he had some cancerous tumors on the left side of his neck.
He battled back from that surgery and ended up playing 14 tournaments that season, then 33 more in 2000 and 30 in 2001, but each year a little more of him was being drained away, until this year he has a hard time just getting through an 18-hole round.
"I don't have any strength left at the end, I'm just drained physically," McGee said. "It's not much fun coming out here and playing like this."
The fact that Thursday's round began in a steady rain on an already wet Firestone course didn't help McGee, the former director of golf for 12 years at Oak Tree Country Club in West Middlesex, Pa.
"The guys playing in the afternoon will have a three- or four-shot advantage over the guys who played this morning," McGee said.
The 58-year-old has been used to battling adversity throughout his career.
Turning professional in 1966, he played 14 years on the PGA Tour, winning four times and finishing runner-up five times with over 50 top-10 finishes.
His health forced him off the regular tour when he was diagnosed with hypoglycemia.
He then took the job at Oak Tree and once he got his illness under control he counted the days until he was eligible to try the Senior Tour.
Senior Tour
In 1993, his first year of Senior Tour eligibility, he played in 15 events and won $113,191, following that up with $398,219 in 1994. Although he has never won an event on the senior circuit, his best season came in 1997 when he had five top-10 finishes and finished 21st on the money list with $562,794.
He won over $300,000 in 1998, but then the cancer was discovered. He's fought through that battle and won nearly $250,000 in each of the last two seasons.
This year, McGee has played in just six tournaments prior to the PGA Championship, his best finish was a tie for 12th at the Mexico Senior Classic.
His wife, Jill, who has been following him this week, says that it is difficult for him to play when his strength goes.
"He keeps saying that 'I have no legs,' " she said. "His legs just won't help him when he gets tired and you need your legs in this game. He wasn't even sure that he'd be able to walk 18 holes in this tournament."
McGee, like many senior players, rides a golf cart during regular tour events, but they are not permitted in events like this one and the U.S. Senior Open.
"He's probably a little embarrassed today because there are so many of his friends out here following him around," Jill added.
McGee's son, Mike, is caddying for him this week.
First time
"It's the first time this year, but he's carried the bag several other times," Jill added. "He wanted to be his regular caddy when Jerry started out on the senior tour, but Jerry wouldn't let him, saying that their relationship was too good to ruin it with a situation like that."
On Thursday, despite a steady rain at the start of his round, McGee birdied the first hole, a 399-yard par-4, hitting his second shot to about 6 feet from the pin.
But after that his driver got him into a lot of hot water. He made two bogies and a double bogey on the front nine for a 38 and bogeyed three of the last four holes on the back side and finished in 40 for the 78 total.
"They talk about tough finishing holes," McGee said. "Well on this course they start at No. 2.
"This was one tournament that I really wanted to make the cut in," he said. "I know this, though, when the time comes I won't have any trouble packing them up and putting them away for keeps."
mollica@vindy.com