HOW WE ROLL

INSIDE TWO OF COLLEGE GOLF’S TOP PROGRAMS—THE PREDAWN WORKOUTS, THE PLUSH PRACTICE FACILITIES, THE COMPETITION TO MAKE THE TOURNAMENT TEAM AND, YES, THE OCCASIONAL JAUNT ON A PRIVATE JET

- DEREK DUNCAN

THE COODY BROTHERS deprived the golf world of a potentially electrifying storyline when they committed to the University of Texas. Parker and Pierceson, twins from Plano, Texas, had narrowed their college choices to Texas and Oklahoma State. Their father, Kyle Coody, who played golf at Texas (their grandfather is 1971 Masters champion Charles Coody), encouraged the boys to go their own directions, even separately. After a long back-and-forth recruiting process, Kyle asked them to write their selected school on pieces of paper—neither knew who the other had chosen. Kyle turned the papers over: Texas. In an alternate future, Texas and Oklahoma State, a Coody on each team, might have faced each other in the NCAA finals—a strong possibility given the recent history and perennial prominence of each program. It would not be inconceivable to imagine the national championship coming down to a match between brother and brother.

I mention this fantastic situation to Parker while he practices on the range, crushing the same 7-iron shot over and over into the distance. “Yeah,” he says, acknowledging the scenario. “But it would be a lot better to win one with him.”

That nearly happened the previous spring when Texas lost to Stanford in the 2019 NCAA finals, 3-2, with Parker and Pierceson splitting their respective matches. Coach John Fields’ Longhorn team this year senses another opportunity and came into the 2019-’20 season ranked No. 1, though the season’s first tournament, the Fighting Illini Invitational at Olympia Fields outside Chicago, is still a few days away.