BOCA RATON, Fla. — At 63, Lawrence Taylor still knows how to deliver a shot.
On Wednesday, he was hitting golf balls instead of quarterbacks.
The NFL Hall of Fame outside linebacker played in the TimberTech Championship’s PNK DRV Pro-Am at Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club.
“I play golf almost every day,” he said. “I’m retired. There’s nothing else for me to do but play golf.”
Taylor said he plays to a handicap of 5, but admits his best days on the course are in the past. That’s because he now feels like some of the quarterbacks he leveled over the years.
“I used to be really good,” Taylor said of his golf game. “I just can’t practice like I used to. Everything hurts when I swing.”
That doesn’t stop Taylor, who was wearing a diamond-encrusted “LT” earring, from having fun on the golf course. Even when he’s having a bad hole.
Such was the case at No. 18 Wednesday. His tee shot on the par 5 landed in the right rough. There was a large tree in front of him.
“I’ve got no shot,” he said.
Sure enough, the ball smacked into the middle of the tree and ricocheted right, hitting one of the multi-million-dollar homes at Royal Palm, the ball bouncing on the upstairs balcony before it came to rest.
At some point, the residents will realize they have a souvenir outside their back door. The ball says “56 LT” on it.
“I’m quite sure there are a few people out here looking to sue me,” Taylor said, laughing. “I hit a couple balls on people’s balcony today.”
Paul Stankowski, the professional who was paired with Taylor, thought he was in luck when he saw one of his amateur players was listed simply as “LT.”
“He’s a great guy, lots of fun,” Stankowski said. “He’s a good player. For a big guy, he’s got really good hands. He has a good short game and feel with the putter.
“His swing is a little short, but obviously his body has been through the ringer. He delivers the club into the ball solidly and he’s long enough.”
It’s been almost 30 years since Taylor stopped terrorizing NFL quarterbacks, having spent his entire 13-year career (1981-93) with the New York Giants. Taylor was three-time Defensive Player of the Year, an honor he now shares with J.J. Watt and Aaron Donald.
LT has started following the Giants again
Taylor said he hasn’t kept up with the Giants in recent years because of their constant struggles, but is “actually back to watching some of their games” after a 6-2 start this season.
“They are exciting,” Taylor said. “The defense plays ball, and the offense is doing better. I just hope they can keep it up.”
Other celebrities playing in the TimberTech Championship’s pro-am Wednesday were former Florida Panthers No. 1 pick Ed Jovanovski, former Panthers GM Dale Talon and IndyCar driver Kyle Kirkwood.
The TimberTech Championship, the second of three PGA Tour Champions playoff events, is Friday through Sunday. Steven Alker is the defending champion.
