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Pros keep Green in mind after scary accident
by Staff Report , Connecticut Post Online
Green, who had seemed to finally find solace playing on the Champions Tour, lost the lower half of his right leg in a horrific car accident on June 8 in Meriden, Miss., where his brother, Bill, his girlfriend, Jeanne Hodgin, and his dog, Nip, were all killed.
"He's been around a long time and gosh, it's tragic what happened. I think everybody feels for him on many levels," Corey Pavin said at the Travelers. "Let's hope he recovers, and if I know Ken, he's going to try and get out here and play some more. I just hope he has a great recovery. It's sad, his brother, his girlfriend, it's just awful."
At both the Travelers Championship -- ribbons were also passed out to fans at the main entrance -- and at the Champions Tour Dick's Sporting Goods Open in Endicott, N.Y., players had the chance to wear a green ribbon to show their support for Green.
"We wanted to do something to raise awareness and show our support," said Dan Baker, director of development for the PGA of America and former GHO tournament director, by phone. "I can't imagine what he's going through, but I've talked to him a few times and he's really been positive. He's doing the best he can in a difficult situation."
Baker got his start as Green's tournament director when Green hosted a one-day event at Ridgewood the Monday after the GHO. That led to Baker working the Walker Cup and then directing the Ryder Cup before landing the GHO gig.
Baker added that Green had been excited about his prospects on the Champions Tour before the accident.
"He was working out and had lost weight," Baker said. "His back was still bothering him, but he was really excited about how he was playing."
Green's right leg just below the knee was amputated on June 15 after doctors determined that the injuries were so severe that he would never have a functional knee, ankle or foot. The three-hour operation was performed at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.
"I was telling my wife, 'I can't imagine anyone losing his brother, his girlfriend and their dog, and then losing a leg to boot. What could be worse?" Steve Elkington said. "I feel so sorry for him. I heard that he was going to try to get a prosthesis to play and I hope he does. I'll be the first one cheering for him."
As will Fairfield native J.J. Henry.
"I've always kind of looked up or followed Ken a little bit with the fact that he was from here, and when I was growing up, he was the player in the area with the Ryder Cup and winning a bunch of times," Henry said.
Despite the amputation, Kevin Richardson, Green's friend and manager, said Green has not given up hope of returning to competitive Golf. In fact, Richardson said that's why Green consented to the amputation -- Green had been told by doctors he would never have a functional lower right leg.
"Ken said, 'If (the leg) is not gonna work, then take it off so I can play,'" Richardson said.
Green had made 18 starts on the Champions Tour since he turned 50 last July, with one top-10 and two top-25 finishes. A bitter divorce and child custody battle in the mid-90s along with a nagging back injury left Green depressed and his Golf game in a shambles. But he appeared to find new life on the Champions Tour, before the accident stole that all away.
"I knew he was playing over there and it was nice to see someone finally get things in order, and it's horrible when something like this happens," Pavin said. "You can question why, but I think he's strong-willed and has a great heart and he'll keep plugging along. He's just a good guy and he worked hard on his game and just a good person, really."
Contact Chris Elsberry at
celsberry@ctpost.com
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