Next week, Valhalla Golf Club will host the PGA Championship, the biggest week of the year in Louisville, Ky., that doesn’t involve horses.
Sports Illustrated: In your book, you wrote “I’m responsible for marketing, branding and re-design of a one-of-a-kind Kentucky golf experience.” How’s that going?It’s been the joy of my life. I was really lucky to team up with three great partners , and the reason I got involved was that the PGA of America decided it wasn’t in the golf course-running business. The PGA of America had an out-of-town buyer go in and pitch them, to sell the course to them.
SI: In your book, which examines “habits of the world’s most successful people,” you draw on more golfers—Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Jon Rahm—than athletes from any other sport. Is there a common thread between them? SI: I’d be remiss to not ask you about the current state of the game. Given your experience with Yum! Brands and other companies, can you remember in your years a disruptor to your business and how you reacted to it?When I was at Pepsi, from 1990 to 1994, the carbonated soft drink business was really declining. What was happening was the waters and alternative beverages were really growing.
SI: Two of the main themes in your book are learning and listening, how does that play into handling those situations?You have to be on top of what your competitors are doing. I think the only way you stay a leader is if two things happen: one, you create more value for your customer than your competition.