Champ Vs. Reality

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA | It’s not easy being a phenom.

Cameron Champ, all of 23 years old and still working through his first season on the PGA Tour, is learning all about it.

A year ago, Champ was another long-hitting kid out of college trying to build a career with more than his jaw-dropping power. Then he earned his PGA Tour card, won the Sanderson Farms Championship last October and was ordained the game’s next big thing.
“I had somebody ask me if he’s the next Tiger Woods. I said, ‘Are you kidding?’ ” - Sean Foley, Cameron Champ’s longtime swing coach who also worked with Woods for a time
Champ didn’t ask for it but there he was, looking out from magazine covers and hearing the fans rushing up around him on every tee to feel the jet wash from his next tee shot. He’s gone from quietly going about his business to being surrounded by noise.

“I had somebody ask me if he’s the next Tiger Woods. I said, ‘Are you kidding?’ ” said Sean Foley, Champ’s longtime swing coach who also worked with Woods for a time.

That’s how ...