New TOUR moms mark Mother's Day with special photo shoot
 
May. 15, 2007

Little Will Johnson is already a natural in front of the camera. He's smiling, albeit with the help of some off-camera squeaky toys, and posing with his mom Kim for a mother-and-son photo shoot.

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In honor of Mother’s Day, Zach and Kim Johnson, along with several others, will take part in a non-denominational church service held at the 18th green bleachers at 7:30 a.m. before the final round of THE PLAYERS Championship.  
A brunch will also be held for mothers in the newly renovated clubhouse at TPC Sawgrass, plus the first 10,000 mothers to enter the gates for Sunday’s round will receive a commemorative "Celebrating Mothers" pin.  
As for the pros, several will sport pink spikes on Mother’s Day to support the “Pink on the Links” program to raise money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.  

At just four months old, Will made his television debut when dad Zach won the Masters weeks ago. As Johnson stood behind the 18th green and waited to see if he'd have to go into a playoff, he hugged his wife and planted an emotional kiss on his baby boy's forehead for all the world to see.

Last Tuesday, the audience was much smaller but baby Johnson still posed sweetly. He and his mom, along with 14 other PGA TOUR new mothers and babies, met at the Ponte Vedra Inn and Lodge for a special photo shoot with Dallas-based photographer Kimberly Wylie.

With the moms dressed in white tops and blue jeans and the babies -- all born within the past year or so -- dressed in white outfits, it should have resembled one of those summer beach photos with a family clad in matching white outfits. Appropriate, too, considering the wives are like one big, traveling road family.

"Everybody is really close friends out here," said Kim Johnson. "They were truly happy for us (when husband Zach won The Masters)."

Unfortunately, though, as their husbands well know, Mother Nature can be quite fickle. The planned beach shot was rained out, but the 15 moms and babies re-organized and found a place to pose in front of a big bay window at the hotel. Getting one baby to look at the camera and smile without a pacifier is no easy feat, but the end result was picture perfect.

The life of a PGA TOUR family isn't always perfect, as it involves constant traveling, hotel rooms and new cities each week, which can be especially daunting with kids. Dudley Hart and wife Suzanne have their hands full with five-year-old triplets, who will start kindergarten this year.

"It's a lot of packing and unpacking, but it's worth it because we want to be a family. He's been doing this for 17 years now and it killed him when he wasn't with us for two weeks. We sent him a care package," said Suzanne Hart.

The wives rave about the day care provided by the PGA TOUR, which allows them time to follow their husbands on the course without worrying about the little ones.

"Everyone is different but most of us are out 25 weeks a year," said Heather Crane, who is married to Ben. "They have such good child care that it's really great."

For the Hart triplets, the PGA TOUR daycare is "golf school", where they go when they aren't at pre-school. On the road, they love to see fun things like Ferris Wheels in Chicago and Disney World when the TOUR hits the Walt Disney World Resort in October.

Some TOUR parents choose to home school their kids, others cut back on the traveling when they reach school age.

"I won't home school. Not because I don't support it, but I just don't think I'm capable of it," said Jennifer Kaye, wife of Jonathan and mother of almost two-year-old Ryelie.

That's not to say traveling on the TOUR isn't a unique learning experience for the Kaye family, though, and it won't continue. Once Ryelie is school-aged, "I see us having fun traveling in the summertime. I think traveling on TOUR is priceless. You can expose your child to so many great things out here, so I'd love to do this forever."

Jennifer has had an up-close view of the golf world in more ways than one. Like many wives, she follows her husband's game closely, but not as much as she once did.

"I used to caddie and I got more nervous caddying than watching so now I'm just watching. But it was fun while it was going on. I live with every shot," said Jennifer Kaye.

"It is nerve-wracking if they are about to win but how can you complain, they are about to win?" said Dory Faxon, Brad's wife. "I think it's probably more nerve-wracking when they are about to make the cut, that's the hardest part, watching them struggle to make it. Just because you know they aren't playing to their standards."

For Dory, it can be tough to watch, especially if he isn't playing well. But she still wouldn't trade her life on the road for anything, especially since she is given the opportunity to reach out and give back to the communities that the TOUR visits through her position as the President of the PGA TOUR Wives Association, Inc.

"We fundraise and raise money for children's charities throughout the country. We do a series of fundraising efforts throughout the year where we will hold an event at the tournament," said Faxon. "We do lots of different things. We aren't too picky, we just like to be busy and for the TOUR we do hands-on work."

Faxon is a step-mom and mom to four kids, who range from five years old to nearly college aged. She's been out on the road for seven years, so she and the other more experienced veterans can offer the new moms on TOUR the tricks of the road.

As Jennifer Kaye put it, "it's like a big traveling circus. There is like a baby shower every week, sometimes with like two or three girls. Lots of new mommies coming out and other women that have children are a great resource. They give great advice on what strollers to buy, how to get through security which is an issue now with your car seat and your Pack 'n Play. They know all the good names to travel with and where to stay to make it easiest."

"If you are kind of excited about it, it's all wonderful and if you are not thrilled about it, it will be tough," said Faxon of time on the TOUR. "It's all in your attitude. It can be tiring sometimes, going week to week, packing bags, doing laundry in laundry mats but I love it. Personally, I wouldn't trade it for the world."

With all the travel, it can be somewhat taxing but the life of a wife definitely comes with some perks. Kim Johnson got to accompany her husband on their whirlwind media tour of New York after he won The Masters, a 24-hour trip made a little more difficult since it was her first time leaving the baby.

The highlight? Getting to see her husband on Live with Regis and Kelly, The Late Show with David Letterman and then, a few weeks later, The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Guess we know where little Will gets his on-camera talent.

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