Final Four-bound Kruger also makes impact on golf course
It was a perfect day at Las Vegas Country Club in 2007. Lon Kruger, the UNLV basketball coach at the time, had undergone open heart bypass surgery but had recently been cleared to play golf.
Kruger, now the coach at Oklahoma, was nice enough to join me and two longtime Las Vegans, Michael and David Saltman, for his first round since the health scare. He was thrilled to be out on the course, and the grass probably looked a little greener and the sun felt a little warmer to Kruger that day.
Kruger, a single-digit handicap who loves the sport, was rusty during the round but still posted a score in the 70s. I shot a career round of 72, inspired by Kruger’s positive spirit.
My round was highlighted by a miracle 87-foot eagle putt on the historic LVCC 18th green. Moments later, the coach knocked in an impressive 25-foot birdie putt. In typical Kruger fashion, he deferred credit to others instead of celebrating his moment.
“That was probably the most anti-climactic birdie in the history of this hole following that amazing eagle,” Kruger said.
Kruger also has recognized others during the Sooners’ run to the Final Four, where they will play Villanova on Saturday in the national semifinals. He has been asked several times how it feels to make it back to the Final Four for the first time in more than 20 years. His answer is always similar and never begins with the word “I.”
“It’s about seeing the feelings of satisfaction on the players’ faces,” Kruger said.
Also making news has been Kruger’s planned golf trip to Scotland with Oregon coach Dana Altman, whose team lost to Oklahoma on Saturday in the Elite Eight. Before that trip in August, Kruger and Altman are scheduled to be in Las Vegas from May 22 to 24 for the annual Coaches vs. Cancer golf tournament.
Kruger created the event while at UNLV and has returned each year. He and the other coaches have raised more than $3 million to help fight cancer. The tournament includes rounds at Southern Highlands and Shadow Creek, plus a VIP party at the MGM Grand.
“Our Las Vegas event has the feel of a family reunion now in a way,” Kruger said. “People from across the country come together for a few days each May to have a great time, but – more importantly – to fight this nasty disease.”
To become involved, visit Facebook.com/coachesvscancerlasvegas.
Deal of the Week
The nonprofit Southern Nevada Golf Association has launched GetVegasGolf.com. The Southern Nevada Golf Passport is available for purchase and offers 242 discounts plus five unlimited offers.
Spiranac to Hit Las Vegas
The second annual Think Young, Play Hard Golf Digest Invitational is scheduled for April 21 to 24 at Royal Links, Bali Hai and ARIA.
Paige Spiranac, a professional golfer who has more than 658,000 Instagram followers, is playing, as are other celebrities. Festivities include two rounds of golf, a poker event and VIP parties.
Spots are still available at GolfDigestInvitational.com.
Stars on Course
■ Country music singer-songwriter Darius Rucker hosts the annual Academy of Country Music Lifting Lives Golf Classic on Saturday at TPC Las Vegas. Other artists playing are Drake White and Hudson Moore.
The private event is part of “The Week Vegas Goes Country” and is the day before the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand. The awards are hosted by Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley.
The golf notebook appears every Thursday. Freelance writer Brian Hurlburt is a two-time author who has covered golf in Las Vegas for more than two decades. He can be reached at bhurlburt5@gmail.com. Follow on Twitter: @LVGolfInsider