The Icelandic Canadian - 01.03.1981, Page 43

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
41
HALLDORSON: STRICTLY FIRST-CLASS NOW
by Larry Tucker
Dan Halldorson came home from a golf
tournament yesterday. That, in itself, is
hardly anything new.
The way he arrived is, though.
There was a time — not long ago — when
Halldorson came home from tournaments in
a van. More often than not, he was early .. .
pulling into the driveway Sunday afternoon,
when many of the guys he’d been golfing
with Thursday and Friday were still working
on the back nine.
Only the immediate family knew he was
back in town.
Yesterday, when he arrived at Winnipeg
International Airport, Halldorson said
thanks to the flight attendant, climbed out of
his first-class seat and strode into the ter-
minal.
He was not the least bit surprised to be
greeted by reporters and photographers.
And he was non-plussed when a total
stranger walked over to say hello and offer
congratulations. This time he came home a
world champion. His yearly salary is six-
figure material. He is one of the large suc-
cess stories of the 1980 Professional Golfers
Association tour. His work consists of play-
ing the game he loves.
If you think the best golfer who ever
called Shilo home is happy, you’re wrong.
He’s ecstatic. The entire year has been a
dream come true, capped with a tour win at
the Pensacola Open and the victory he
shared with Canadian teammate Jim Nel-
ford last weekend at the World Cup cham-
pionship in Bogota, Colombia.
“I didn’t want to go to Colombia at one
time,” Halldorson said. ‘‘But it meant
playing for Canada. Besides, we hadn’t won
in 12 years.
‘‘Winning the Pensacola was a big thrill.
But the World Cup was different. . . playing
for your country. It’s the best thing that’s
happened to me in golf. ”
Dan Halldorson, living a dream come true, is greeted at Winnipeg airport by his wife
Sharon. —Courtesy Winnipeg Free Press, December 17, 1980