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Editor's note: Comedian George Lopez, star, co-creator and writer of the hit television sitcom "George Lopez," is an avid golf fan and will serve as the host of the 2007 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, making it the only current PGA TOUR event with a celebrity host. An 11-handicapper, Lopez has played in the tournament for the past three years, as well a sin the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. He recently served as the emcee for the 2006 World Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and sat down with members of the media to discuss his passion for the game of golf.

PGATOUR.com: Is this your first time at the World Golf Village?

LOPEZ: It is. I've seen the commercials, Mr. Player's commercials. It is the Chuck E. Cheese for golfers. It has everything you need. It has the re-creation of the 17th hole at Sawgrass. I mean, I've dropped a few dollars in the pro shop there; it's got great food. I just think they need to take the fireworks stand off the road there and put one in here. It will bring in more people, right? You can buy a driver, some M-80s and be on your way down the road.

PGATOUR.com: You played Pablo [Creek Club in Jacksonville]?

LOPEZ: I did. You know, it's very exclusive, it's hard to get on. But I just told them that Pablo was an uncle of mine, so I got right in.

PGATOUR.com: Tom Fazio designed that course. Do you like his style?

LOPEZ: That place is fantastic. Even with the gators, it's great. It is a beautiful course, the members were great and they mix a mean margarita.

PGATOUR.com: What is your handicap and what is your golf course?

LOPEZ: It is an 11.2 Lakeside [Country Club in North Hollywood, Calif.], Bob Hope was a member there. And I'm hosting the Bob Hope [Chrysler Classic]. It will be, for the AT&T [Pebble Beach National Pro-Am], I'm going to get it somewhere around 34, I'll elevate that thing. The only way to win is to chea...well, we don't call it cheating. We call it sandbagging in golf, it's very proper.

PGATOUR.com: You ever been to any other sport's Hall of Fames? Cooperstown?

LOPEZ: I haven't because I'm a West Coast guy, but the Hall of Fame here -- when a lot of the members decide to become more involved in it, which they should, you look at the baseball Hall of Fame, when they probably get 90 percent of the living inductees to the ceremony every year for the induction -- I expect that that will be the case here for the future. I will help spread that word, being as that I've now been here and seen how great it is. I also have two calls to make. One to Lee Trevino and one to Nancy Lopez about getting stuff for their lockers so they are up to par.

PGATOUR.com: Are they kind of bare?

LOPEZ: Bare, dude.

PGATOUR.com: What does Lee need in his locker?

RELATED

• The PGA TOUR announced today that actor George Lopez will narrate and host Every Moment Counts, a one-hour special presented by the PGA TOUR and AstraZeneca that airs nationally on ABC, December 24th from 3-4 p.m. ET.  • Complete story,  click here

LOPEZ: Lee needs one of his Super Mex bags, his hat, like a red bag -- a Spaulding bag, some golf balls, some shoes, a picture of me and him in there. Some tees and a bottle of salsa from La Victoria.

PGATOUR.com: How about Nancy?

LOPEZ: Nancy has to have a picture of her and her father in there and her clubs and letters. Things like that. Golf balls. It is important to kids who want to play golf, especially with The First Tee, that if they are of color they see the people who look like them and that their lockers aren't bare. They need to dream. It is hard to dream when you are looking into an empty locker.

PGATOUR.com: How did you get introduced to golf?

LOPEZ: I started hitting lemons in the backyard. I told them last night, we had one club at the house. It was a 7-iron and that was in case we heard a noise. Literally, it was more a weapon than it was a club. No bag. We had a lemon tree in the backyard and I would go back there and hit lemons.

PGATOUR.com: How old were you when you actually got some clubs and started playing?

LOPEZ: I was 20. At that time we didn't even know where to get clubs or where to play or anything like that. I couldn't be the person that I am without golf. Or the person that I was last night at the bar without golf. I am two people. I am one that plays and one that drinks and for those two people, golf is responsible.

PGATOUR.com: Who fills out your dream foursome, living or dead?

LOPEZ: I would play with Lee Trevino, I would play with Elvis Presley and I would play with Bobby Jones.

PGATOUR.com: Do you think Elvis played golf?

LOPEZ: Are you kidding me, all the medicine in that guy? He couldn't bend down to put the ball on the ground.

PGATOUR.com: But you would want to play with him?

LOPEZ: Just what he would have in his bag would be great. We would feel no pain, I tell you that, for 18 holes.

PGATOUR.com: Were you self-taught as a golfer or did you have someone working with you?

LOPEZ: You know what, I actually was self-taught and really bad but I enjoyed playing. Now I have gotten lessons from Mike Weir, Peter Kostis, David Feherty, Luke Donald gave me a sand lesson. Billy Andrade, Lee Trevino. Now I just pick up the phone and call these guys and say, "I'm not taking a divot, what do I need to do?"

PGATOUR.com: What was the best tip that you ever got?

LOPEZ: I spent 45 minutes with Peter Kostis at the range at Pebble Beach and he was telling me to hit down on the ball. Everything but the driver. We are Latinos, the last thing we want to do is ruin grass. So it is hard for me to actually get down in there and hit it, you know.

PGATOUR.com: What is your main job at the Bob Hope (Chrysler Classic)?

LOPEZ: It is to get celebrities to play. I'd love Donald Trump to play, I'd love Bill Clinton to play. They are all getting invitations. You know, this is kind of a bizarre list, but I'd like to see Trump there, Clinton there, and Nick Lachey. How's that? You know, that tells you that you are in celebrity golf when you want Nick Lachey and Bruno [Tonioli] from Dancing with the Stars and Bill Clinton. What the hell kind of organization is that? It is that kind of tournament. No one can ever fill in for Bob Hope but it needs its legacy honored. It is one of the oldest celebrity tournaments around and I'm looking forward to it, we are going to have fun that week.