Ohio Golf Journal October 2018

The PGA Tour Champions is THE MOST DIFÚCULT GOLF TOUR IN the world, on which, to earn a spot. Every year thousands of 45-year-old Champions Tour wannabes dream of making a run for the senior tour, when they turn 50. It sounds good, but don’t be fooled, the system is stacked against anyone without serious credentials from the regular PGA Tour, ever making it. Rod Spittle, a Canadian and Ohio State Alumni, did just that after spending most of his life selling insurance and raising a family. Spittle was born in St. Catharines, Ontario, near Niagara Falls. As a high school GOLÚNG sensation, he caught the eye of Buckeye Golf Coach, Jim Brown, who lured Spittle to venture south of the border to play collegiately at Ohio State. During his time in Columbus, Spittle helped the Buckeyes win the BIGTenChampionship three consecutive years 1976-1978, with teammates, John Cook and Joey Sindelar, who would both go on to win PGATour events. Also, while at OSU, Spittle won consecutive Canadian Amateur titles in 1977 and 1978. After graduation, with a degree in Business Administration, he took the more prudent path of selling insurance and playing amateur golf, rather than the risky road to fame and glory on the PGA Tour. He was successful in the amateur ranks, winning the Ohio Mid-Am Championship three times, 2000, 2001 and 2003. He knewhe had enough game to compete against the best and that competitive ÚRE continued to burn. Finally, he decided to put his game OSU Alum Rod Spittle Retires from PGA Tour Champions By Fred Altvater Ohio Golf J ournal