Q&A: Sports agent remembers golf legends, Portales eateries

Editor's note: This is one in a continuing series of interviews with local newsmakers. Eastern New Mexico University graduate Steve Loy, who recently donated $2.5 million to ENMU sports programs, is a former collegiate golf coach and longtime player agent.

Q: Can you walk me through what it was like to recruit John Daly? Did you think he'd become what he is today?  

A: John was one of the most naturally talented golfers I had ever recruited and coached at the University of Arkansas. I always felt John was professionally bound to be great from the time he was a junior golfer.  He always hit it higher and farther than all his peers. 

Q: Do you have a favorite Phil Mickelson story?

A: I was caddying for Phil when he was just a sophomore in college at Arizona State, and he was winning the Tucson Open. 

On the final day of the tournament, at the third hole of the day with a two-shot lead, Phil hit it in the trees off the tee - imagine that occurring? - and there was a lake between him, the trees, and the green. 

I immediately pull out a chipping iron as I knew he would chip out into the fairway, and we would move on to the next shot. Not Phil on this day, as were most.

Phil kept looking at the surroundings as if it were in the movie "Tin Cup," as I kept putting the chipping iron in his face. All of a sudden, he pushes me away and pulls out a 3-iron instead of the pitching wedge I had in hand.

Next thing I know, he hits it onto the water, skips the ball across the lake and onto the green.

Everyone is cheering but Phil, and I ask him, "What's wrong, Pal? You are on the back of the green, and we are putting." 

Phil immediately looks to me and says, "Dang coach, if I would have skipped a 4-iron across the water, we would have ended up right by the hole to make a birdie!"

To say the least, Phil went on to win the Tucson Open in 1991 and became only the second player in history to win a PGA Tour event as an amateur, and his career skyrocketed from that day forward. 

Q: What's the most incredible live golf moment you've witnessed?  

A: Phil Mickelson winning his first Masters tournament in 2004 and making history as the oldest player to win a major championship (the PGA Championship in 2021), and Jon Rahm winning the U.S. Open 2021 and the Masters in 2023 (age 27 and age 29) to become the No. 1 player in the world. 

Q: What are your thoughts on sports agents getting involved with college and high school athletes through NIL (name, image, and likeness)? Is that something you're interested in?  

A: My personal opinion is that the transfer portal for college athletes or high school athletes having the right to receive NIL deals will cause tremendous damage to our student-athlete high school and college athletic programs if we don't make serious amendments to the policies soon. 

Q: What was your favorite place to eat when you attended ENMU in the early 1970s?  

A: DOC's and the Truck Stop. Both buildings and businesses are no longer even standing. 

Q: What's your advice to current ENMU athletes who are interested in building a career in sports management? 

A: Learn as much as you can about our business and gain intern experience with agencies or professional team organizations while you are in college, earning a degree in sports management and sports law.  Then, go to work for a company that allows you to learn as much as you can and grow meaningful relationships in the industry that will help you advance your chosen career. 

- Compiled by Matt Weiner, the Staff of the News