“Caddy for Life: The Bruce Edwards Story,” based on John Feinstein’s best-selling book, debuts June 14 at 9 p.m. ET
ORLANDO, Fla. (May 19, 2010) – More than a golf story, Caddy for Life: The Bruce Edwards Story is a tale of life, love and loss. The Golf Channel documentary, based on the New York Times best-selling book by John Feinstein, premieres June 14 at 9 p.m. ET and recounts an amazing and emotional remembrance of the extraordinary relationship between one of history’s greatest golfers, Tom Watson, and his longtime friend and caddy, Bruce Edwards.
In addition to revealing how Watson and Edwards’ 30-year professional and personal partnership permanently changed the perception of player and caddy, the 90-minute documentary also tells the story of Edwards’ life – how he found true love and how he blazed a trail in golf until his untimely and tragic death in 2004 due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
“Bruce Edwards, whose story may be unknown to many sports fans, was well-loved and respected in the world of golf,” said Keith Allo, Golf Channel vice president of programming and original productions. “But even for those who’ve read the book, seeing this extraordinary story come to life on the screen is truly inspirational.”
Interviewed for the documentary is a who’s who in golf, as well others who touched Edwards’ life the most. Included are: Watson, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Jim “Bones” Mackay (Phil Mickelson’s caddy), Edwards’ wife Marsha, family members, fellow caddies, friends and medical professionals. Each share fond memories of Bruce Edwards, his valor, kindness, and the vast legacy he has left to caddies, golfers and others beyond the world of golf.
“It’s going to be clear what a wonderful, passionate person Bruce was, and still is in my mind,” said Watson, when referring to what viewers will discover by watching the documentary. “What he gave to life is more than he ever got.”
Consciously or not, Edwards had the foresight to pursue caddying as a career when it had yet to be established as a viable profession. It took all the courage he could muster to approach Tom Watson on that hot, summer day in St. Louis in 1973, but his sheer love for the game gave him no other option. “First and foremost, Bruce Edwards was a caddy,” said Watson. “He loved to be inside the ropes caddying for the pros.”
Edwards would draw on that same courage, as well as his decades-long friendship with Watson as he faced the tumultuous end of his first marriage, the challenges of the PGA TOUR, and a disease that would not only take away his ability to participate in the game he loved, but also his life.
“I learned a lot of lessons from Bruce and Tom about friendship and loyalty,” said Feinstein, who conducted the interviews for the documentary and helps introduce segments of the show. “A lot of people use those words, but those guys lived them.”
Caddy for Life is part of a new slate of original programming on Golf Channel featuring A-list Hollywood talent and fascinating sports personalities. In addition to Caddy for Life, other recent Golf Channel programs include Donald J. Trump’s Fabulous World of Golf, The Haney Project, featuring Ray Romano, and Being John Daly. Other original programming standouts for the network include Uneven Fairways, hosted by Samuel L. Jackson, and Golf in America, hosted by film and television actor Anthony Anderson (Law & Order, Transformers).
About Golf Channel
Golf Channel is a multimedia, golf entertainment and services company based in Orlando, Fla. The Golf Channel cable network, co-founded by Arnold Palmer and a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA, CMCSK), is available in more than 120 million homes worldwide through cable, satellite and wireless companies. Exclusive partnerships with the world’s top tours allow Golf Channel to feature more live golf coverage than all other networks combined, added to a programming schedule distinguished by golf’s best news, instruction and original programming. Golf Channel’s digital platform of businesses is led by GolfChannel.com, the number-one golf destination on the Internet, delivering unmatched coverage of the world of golf, as well as services that help the recreational player with how to play, what to play and where to play golf.
Contact:
Jeremy Friedman,
Golf Channel Public Relations
407-355-4058
jfriedman@golfchannel.com
