“I never exaggerate. I just remember BIG.” -Chi Chi Rodriguez
The original golf showman, Chi Chi Rodriguez, had humble beginnings in Puerto Rico fetching balls for quarters on the golf course. Rodriguez and his brother, Julio, reflect on their youth and how Chi Chi reached the PGA tour in the 1960s, when golf was considered a sport for the privileged. Through his relentless drive, he changed the norms of the game with his unique style. It brought him fans, and it brought him fame but it also brought him detractors. Chi Chi’s experiences were a reflection of the times - where most people’s impression of Puerto Ricans came from films like “West Side Story.” He found himself defending his “American” status to those who did not realize that Puerto Ricans were U.S. citizens. Yet, Rodriguez always refused to give up his identity. Sports experts discuss his legacy on and off the green. He brought entertainment to the game, one of the first to celebrate on a sports field, used the post-game press conference to build a brand, and one of the first to use his name for philanthropy. Archival footage of Rodriguez on the Senior Tour shows him in his element as the ultimate showman.