Six months later, Gore adjusting to life as player relations director

His Twitter post after last year’s RSM Classic notwithstanding, Jason Gore knew he wasn’t really cut out for the insurance business. Or retirement, for that matter.

Sure, the PGA TOUR veteran actually had his license – and a personal stake, along with his wife Megan, in Kirkman-Gore Insurance. But client golf was his forte, not pouring over policies and assessing risk.

“I was always the guy, yeah, I'm on No. 14 -- why don't you call my wife?” he says, laughing. “I wasn’t the heart and soul (of the business) by any means.”

The USGA – which was in the market for its first player relations director – took notice of Gore’s post, though. So, Jeff Hall, who had managed the 1997 Walker Cup team when Gore played on the victorious U.S. Team, contacted him to gauge his interest in the job.

At first, Gore had trouble imagining a life in golf, the game he’d played professionally for more than two decades, outside the ropes. He had just tied for 15th at Sea Island, after all, and was one shot off the lead through three rounds.

Gore kept thinking about what Hall had said, though. And when the annular fissure in his back – the nagging injury that makes him feel like a starting pitcher who takes the mound and then needs four days off to recover -- acted up during a pro-scratch event in Scottsdale, Gore decided to take a second look.

“I get to about the 14th hole on the second day and my back's killing me and I hadn't stopped thinking about what Jeff told me, and I'm like, hmm, this could really be kind of awesome,” Gore recalls.

So, after an eight-hour drive back to California, Gore asked Megan to join him in the office in their home. Together they called Hall and asked him more information about the position the USGA was creating to be a bridge between the organization and TOUR players.

“And we hung up the phone, my wife looks at me, she goes, this is all you, you know that, right?” Gore recalls. “I'm like, yeah I do. So, I threw my name in the hat.”

As it turned out, Gore had exactly the kind of credentials and credibility the USGA wanted as it sought to open the lines of communication with pros and elite amateurs after dealing with frustration over the implementation of recent rules changes, as well as course setup at several U.S. Opens.

For one thing, the gregarious Californian had been a successful player. His signature season came in 2005 when he won three times on what is now the Korn Ferry Tour, earning an instant promotion to the PGA TOUR where he captured the 84 Lumber Classic. He nearly won the USGA’s signature event that year, as well, playing with Retief Goosen in Sunday’s final group at the U.S. Open on Pinehurst No. 2.

In addition, Gore served nine terms on the PGA TOUR’s Player Advisory Council. So, he’s gone from the practice range to the board room before, and he understood the inner workings of the game, as well as the hard work it takes to play at the highest level.

The job necessitated a move to Far Hills, N.J., where Gore has an office and oversees a team of four. But he and his wife had been contemplating a move from California anyway, and their two children were on board. Gore says the eldest, 14-year-old Jaxson, is actually looking forward to the winters and snow.

In addition to attending USGA championships, Gore is making regular appearances at PGA TOUR events; leaving now, though, by the time the first round begins so as not to interfere with anyone else’s job. Who knows, if his back cooperates, he might even play in the occasional tournament, too.

While there’s been the expected ribbing about going over to the dark side, Gore says players have been receptive to his new role. “They gave me hell for a little bit, you know, but I would be worried if they didn't,” he says. He’s also quick to point out to the players he used to compete against that he’s there to answer questions and be their sounding board.

“We want to all do this together,” Gore says. “We don't have to be in the same paragraph, but we definitely have to be in the same page.”

Gore, who started working for the USGA in March, says the TOUR’s player relations personnel like Ross Berlin and Marty Caffey have been “great Sherpas” as he adjusted to his new role. He even sought their advice before going to talk with the USGA about the position.

“I had never been on a job interview,” Gore says with a smile, adding that getting adjusted to a corporate environment with committees and meetings has been very different from his previous life.

“I was just so used to saying, hey, grab our bag, grab my clubs, we're out of there. You know?”

Gore understands that there will be difficult conversations at times but he’s ready. And he knows from experience that sometimes simply hearing someone out can go a long way towards diffusing a situation.

“At least I have one thing, at least I can say like, hey, man, I've been there. I get it. I know where you're coming from,” Gore says. “Just pump the brakes and let me find out what we can do. Let's make this better. I want to make it better. And I know when to be like, no, you're being ridiculous. Just sit back and think what you're doing and give them examples.

“I've probably done it. There's been times I've yelled at him like Marty or Ross or somebody like that, and they'll be like, well, do you want me to look into it? I'm like, no, I just feel better for it. Thanks for listening to me.”