PGA Tour players are generally thought to be superstars and celebrities — Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, etc. Even if you are a casual fan, you’d recognize them walking through your hotel lobby. However, a vast majority of players on Tour are low-profile and can get lost in the crowd.
Take Adam Long for example. The 33-year-old has a win under his belt at the highest level, but that doesn’t mean he’s a celebrity. Far from it, in fact. As he explained on this week’s episode of GOLF’s Subpar, it’s not uncommon for him to be mistaken for a fan, and one instance in particular stands out from the rest.
As Long explained, he was getting on the elevator at the host hotel in New Jersey for the Northern Trust, when an oblivious fan stepped onto the lift with him. Unbeknownst to the fan, he was sharing the ride with a professional golfer.
“You think any of the players are staying here?” The man asked Long. “We’re pretty close to the course.”
Long decided to play along and told him “I think there’s at least one player here.”
“That was bad,” Long continued. “That was a ‘play better’ moment for sure.”
But that’s not the only time Long has been mistaken for a fan. He shared that he’ll often go into restaurants after coming off the course and fans will chat him up as if he were a fan. Such is life on Tour if you aren’t one of the elite players.
“That’s alright,” Long said. “I don’t mind it that way.”
Check out the entire interview below as Long discusses why he can’t chase distance like Bryson DeChambeau, the highs and lows of his career, and more.
Zephyr Melton
Golf.com Editor
Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Prior to joining the team at GOLF, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with the Texas Golf Association, Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists on all things instruction and covers amateur and women’s golf. He can be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.
