Costner Now A Supporting Player

by Steve Brodersen

February 28, 1999
TUCSON - Imagine it's a Wednesday and you're a golf professional and you're playing in the Pro-Am with a movie star who has just about every woman in Tucson following the actor asking for autographs while you're working on your game. And the men that are following your famous playing partner are all calling him "Cup" and asking if they can take a picture or fetch him a beer.

Then imagine it's Thursday and you're playing in the first round of the Touchstone Energy Tucson Open. You're in the last group of the day to go off Number One. With you are two other pros, their caddies, your caddie, and about a dozen spectators. Oh yeah, among the spectators are your parents, your girlfriend, and your sister. And one media-type (me), who only hung around for three holes then beat feet back to the pressroom for the free food. Chasing a story, after all, makes one hungry.

If you're Brian Hull it's not your imagination.it's real.

Hull was Kevin Costner's partner in the Pro-Am on Wednesday. But their relationship goes deeper than pro and amateur. Costner is sponsoring the former University of Southern California Academic All-American as he pursues a career on the PGA Tour.

Hull came to the attention of Costner while Hull's sister was the nanny for Costner's children. Costner sees in the golfer a bit of himself and the struggles he faced when he was starting out in the acting profession. "We've kind of developed a friendship beyond the financial ties because I'm going through the kind of things he went through when he was starting out," Hull said. "He didn't start out as a $20 million man. He told me yesterday (During the pro-am) that he sees some of me and what I'm going through in him."

With big crowds and big-name sponsors comes pressure. PGA Tour professional and CBS Analyst Gary McCord wrote in his autobiography (Just A Range Ball In A Box Of Titleists) about his sponsor, Lawrence Welk, and about how he went on Welk's nationally-broadcast show and duffed a shot for the cameras. Wednesday's crowds and the pressure of his sponsor doesn't bother Hull. "No. I have my own expectations," Hull said. "He (Costner) is not that way. He understand the process of getting there," Hull added.

Costner told Hull there are no deadlines regarding the sponsorship. "He said, 'As long as you love it and as long as you're working as hard as you can.'"

The crowd following Costner was no big deal either. Hull played along, careful to let Costner and his other amateur partners enjoy the day. Besides, Hull had played in front of a larger crowd. "A practice round with Tiger," he said.

In 1998, Hull played about twelve events on the Nike Tour. He missed being exempt for the 1999 Nike events by one stroke. He has conditional exemption status in Europe, and is relying on both good play and tournament sponsors' exemptions for 1999. He will also attempt to enter PGA Tour events through the Monday qualifying process.

When you hear that Kevin Costner is sponsoring a pro.it's news. So you follow the pro for a bit and you come away impressed by his graciousness as you observe him interact with the tournament volunteers and the youngsters who ask for his autograph. The people who play professional sports make it easy for the press to be cynical. Brian Hull makes it harder.

And, if you would, imagine a couple of other things. Imagine it's twenty years from now and Hull and Costner are back in Tucson. Costner is now playing character roles instead of being the leading man and he draws the same number of spectators at the 2019 Pro-Am as Alice Cooper. Imagine Brian Hull is at the apex of a successful playing career.

And as you watch him in the last group on the last day of the 2019 Tucson Open you say to one of the thousand or so people surrounding his group, "You know, I remember when this guy played in front of twelve people. He was sponsored by some actor."

And you don't have to imagine that he's still signing every autograph request and apologizing for not having enough used golf gloves for the kids surrounding the scoring tent at 18.

Costner wasn't available to talk about Hull, but as an actor and director I' m sure he would agree that quality movies stick with you.

So do quality young men.