D.J. Gregory's walk impacted fans, players and caddies

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Despite suffering from cerebral palsy, D.J. Gregory walked every hole of every PGA TOUR event in 2008.

Throughout this year, D.J. Gregory walked every round each week on the PGA TOUR, a journey that resulted in nearly 1,000 miles and 1.5 million steps ... and a journey made more difficult by the fact that D.J. has cerebral palsy. His inspirational story led Mark Huber, the caddy for Robert Gamez, to write the following essay about D.J.

It didn't happen inside the ropes; the moments occurred on the cart paths. He wasn't a pro, but he had a gallery. His handicap only related to his golf game, not his physical disability. We all have crutches we lean on and use as excuses; his cane propelled him beyond what anyone thought he could do, even himself.

We start bitching about the grind after three straight weeks, he walked every round during every tournament and never, ever uttered a complaint. He followed a different pro every week, getting to know them (the pros were lucky to know him), cheering them on, and trying to do something no player or caddy has ever done. Absolutely, no one has ever walked every scheduled round.

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D.J.'s journey comes to an end
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Staff essay archive
2008 Year in Review

He showed up every Tuesday, smile on his face, looking for that week's pro. No interviews, appearances, or dinner invitations were ever refused. He just wanted to be involved with the game he loves. We helped him on and off bar stools, in and out of hotels, cars and restaurants, and he was always asking what he could do for us. He gave back to the game he loves and didn't realize it. Watching him "gimp" along the cart path made that last bogey seem small. He inspired many and his infectious smile eased our pain even though his body ached.

Some mornings his feet had to be massaged back to life, but his will, his fortitude, his perseverance never had to be tweaked. He rubbed off on many and we were all better for his journey. "Who's D.J. following this week?" was heard quite often. We followed him more than the leaderboard -- he was that special. The newspapers picked up his travails at every stop, and he picked himself up after every fall. Golf builds character; D.J. added character to the TOUR this year.

It's the game he loves; this journey wasn't for the recognition. He wanted to be involved with the game at the highest level, and we learned about a person functioning at their peak. Sometimes it wasn't pretty on the outside, but that inner glow melted even the toughest of pros. To a man, each pro said they were the lucky one's having D.J. follow them for a week. They gained a little bit of something, that something you can't put a finger on. D.J. brought that to the course every day, and it rubbed off on all of us.

None of us realized what he had accomplished until that final round a few weeks ago at Disney. It was appropriate; miracles happen there and when he walked up the final hole with a smile and a few tears, I offered him a chair. He refused. D.J. had autographs to sign, friends to hug, and a gallery to inspire.

Mark Huber, caddie for Robert Gamez, wishes he could have walked more holes this year.