THE WOODLANDS, Texas — For an LPGA major trying to forge its identity deep in the heart of Texas, Saturday’s third round of the Chevron Championship brought a huge golf fanatic and a Texas icon — former Longhorns great Vince Young.
Young did a lengthy segment with the film crew from local HBCU Prairie View A&M, which has been broadcasting live from the event all week inside the Inspiration Dome, a golf ball-like monstrosity just off the 18th green at The Club at Carlton Woods.
And then he told Golfweek he has been playing regularly for the past few years and consistently breaks 90 at a number of courses in the Houston area.
“I play a lot out here,” Young said of the Jack Nicklaus Signature design, one of two courses on the property. “I also play the Fazio (also at Carlton Woods). I play Wildcat (which is south of Houston) a lot, too. But I haven’t joined anywhere yet. I’m still looking.”
Young, whose legendary fourth-down touchdown run in the 2006 Rose Bowl was the decisive play as the Longhorns downed a talent-laden USC team and captured the national championship, said he was in awe of the LPGA players at the Chevron on Saturday.
“Since I’ve been here, I saw a sand shot go right in the hole and heard there was a hole-in-one,” Young said. “For the first year in Houston, I’d say that’s pretty good. And with weather like this, it’s great.”
Young, who grew up in Houston and played high school football at Madison High School where he led his team to the state title game, said he played sporadically when he was younger, but got into the game more during his pro career. Young played for the Tennessee Titans and Philadelphia Eagles and was also signed by the Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns.
“I started playing in like my fifth or sixth year in the pros, and then I really picked it up three years ago during the pandemic,” he said. “I can’t get enough. You know, I’m in the 80s. Any time I’m in the 80s is a good day, ”
