ESPN Classic - Innovative Callaway changed golf

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Friday, July 6, 2001
Innovative Callaway changed golf
By Andy North
Special to ESPN.com

Ely Callaway was a fantastic man and innovator who was involved in much more than just Callaway Golf, like vineyards and textiles. But he changed the direction of the golf industry.

Callaway's impact has been dramatically felt. He was a successful marketer and spent large sums of money to develop a golf ball in an era when people thought there was no reason to do so.

When Callaway developed the Big Bertha drivers, they were the first ones that were so much larger. Most professional golfers thought, "Gee, these are huge." But after playing with one, you thought it was crazy not to be using one.

Callaway had created a driver designed so every level of player could hit the ball straighter. Big Bertha changed the way people built drivers after that.

At age 82, Callaway was working hard until his gall-bladder surgery two months ago. He loved to be involved and attacked everything he did with great vigor and energy. He did as well as he could, and took a lot of pride in his work.

The people in his office looked forward to him coming in every day. A lot of people will really miss him. He was a very interesting gentleman and always fun to be around.

Callaway's legacy was one we would all love to leave.

Two-time U.S. Open champion Andy North is a golf analyst for ESPN.