DECATUR, Ala. — This is Bryan Askew. He's a local product. "I'm from Decatur."
The same hometown as Sam Murphy. "From Decatur, Alabama."
It happens to be the location of the BurningTree Country Club. A place that houses a golf course familiar to the two.
I've Been here since I was five years old," says Murphy. "Lived on the mountain up there and I used to ride my bike down every morning at 8 o'clock:"
"I played in it a bunch," says Askew. "I don't know how many times I played in it when I was in high school."
Both are not only competing with one another in the Daikin Spirit of America Golf Tournament this week, but they share the lead heading into round three.
"I didn't realize I was tied for the lead," says Askew. "That's pretty cool. It's incredible. I've been a member here for about 20 years. I was the president here for 14 years."
"You always joke around with them and it's like aw man, what if we're both leading the Spirit," says Murphy. "It's kind of a dream come true."
Linked through the links, the leaderboards and through geography. The degree of separation is only about three decades.
"I'm old enough to be their dad. As a matter of fact I'm fixing to go to Point Mallard and hang out with my grandkids for the rest of the day. Murphy's grew up out here. I've been messing with them for a long time. They are great kids, great golfers. It's hard to compete with them. I'm older.
The ageless wonder and the wonder boy sharing a course and a tee time with an attainable goal --- to take home the title of 2021 Daikin Spirit of America Championship.