October's COVID-19 Impact
On October 13, 2023, the golfing world lost an eleven-time PGA Tour winner Andy Bean. He was 70. His demise came six weeks after undergoing a double-lung transplant to address severe lung damage caused by a battle with COVID-19. Born on March 13, 1953, Thomas Andrew Bean spent his formative years on the picturesque Jekyll Island, Georgia, before his family relocated to Lakeland, Florida. The move was inspired by his father Tommy's passion for golf, which led to the development of a golf course in Lakeland. Andy Bean's connection to the sport grew stronger as he went on to attend the University of Florida, where he played alongside teammates Gary Koch, Woody Blackburn, and Phil Hancock, helping the Gators secure the 1973 NCAA Championship. Bean turned professional in 1975, embarking on a journey that would establish him as one of the PGA Tour's most consistent performers. Standing at an impressive 6-foot-4, Bean even gained notoriety for an incident where he "wrestled...