As an only child raised by a single mother who worked as a State Farm insurance agent to make ends meet, Jason Ballard no doubt needed mentors growing up in the Northern California city of Santa Rosa, and also later in life. Fortunately, he found some good ones.
First came his grandfather Jim, who introduced Ballard to the game at a local muni called Bennett Valley Golf Course. And it was at that track where young Jason met Jim Knego, a PGA professional who took a liking to the lad – and took to educating him about different aspects of the sport.
Years later, there was Rick Burton, another PGA golf professional as well as the president and CEO of the East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, who hired Ballard as an assistant. Also, Tony Sessa and J.J. Weaver, the longtime co-head golf professionals at Augusta National, who induced Ballard to leave East Lake to work at the home of the Masters in a similar position.
The Ballards: Tami, Jason and Alexis[/cap...