It was after an overseas Curtis Cup, probably 20 years ago, and on the flight home, I heard those magic four words at airport check-in — upgrade to first class.
I found myself sitting in Row 1, across the aisle from Rhonda Glenn, an accomplished player but perhaps better known for her work as a television analyst and golf historian, and Louise Suggs. It was the most memorable eight-hour flight imaginable.
Knowing in advance that Suggs was making the trip, the U.S. captain had asked her to spend an hour or so with the team before the start of the matches, sharing some secrets and her wealth of short-game knowledge about playing links golf — keeping the ball on the ground, if you will.