Ted Purdy and Manuel de la Torre

When you're ranked No. 367 in the world, not many people ask about your instructor. But when Ted Purdy came into the press tent Saturday at Harbour Town, it presented an opportunity to introduce one of the more unique relationships in professional golf, his alliance with LPGA teaching pro Pam Barnett. They've been working at Moon Valley CC in Phoenix since Purdy was 4. "She got me where I am today, no question," Purdy said. Barnett, a former LPGA winner and runner-up in the 1972 U.S. Women's Open, was back on the lesson tee Monday morning with the simple swing-the-clubhead philosophy she learned from the legendary Manuel de la Torre. "I never thought of myself as a trailblazer," Barnett said. "I've had some PGA Tour wives tell me that they thought my teaching relationship with Ted was special, but I'm just out there to do my thing."

April 23, 2004 Golf Digest