On his partnership with Stryker, he said, “It was pretty easy. In November of 2009, I had my knee replaced and my career was pretty much done if I didn’t do anything. I got my knee replaced and I basically got my career and my life back. I am still playing competitive gold on the Champions Tour, and I’m pain free.”
Funk had nothing but the greatest words for fellow Stryker spokesperson, NFL Hall of Famer and Super Bowl Champion Jerome Bettis. “Jerome is awesome. He is a lot of fun, and we are a good team. Almost a comedy team at times, and it’s a lot of fun. It has been great having him on-board. The theme we have going is to keep active and to keep moving, in order to get your life back after hip and knee replacement. We try to give the realization that they can get their life back together, and be very active after replacement surgery.”
In golf, Funk was motivated by his initial goal to see how good he could be. “I wanted to see what level I could get to,” he said. “I”m always working hard at it. I see the end of the career coming, but I want to put it off for as long as I can. I’m trying to keep the body going.”
Funk is an individual who believes in giving back, especially to causes that are dear to his heart such as helping Veterans. “My passion is the Veterans and I love doing everything I can to raise awareness and money for the different entities of Wounded Warriors, and scholarships for the kids left behind and the families of the fallen,” he said.
Throughout his respected career in golf, Funk had eight career PGA Tour victories, as well as nine career Champions Tour victories. He was inducted into the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame and the Maryland State Athletic Hall of Fame. “That was pretty cool. No kidding,” he admitted. “I never dreamed that would ever happen.”
On the key to longevity in golf, he said, “Moving. You’ve got to stay active and keep the body moving, especially when you get older. You don’t have the mobility or the easiness of moving like you used to when you were young.”
Funk defined the word success as “Being able to play at the best of your ability and getting the most out of it. Maximizing what you are trying to do.”
To learn more about professional golfer Fred Funk, check out his official website.
