STEVE ELKINGTON: So mate, 10 years ago, we were doing this course. We're-- our lives were so different.

- Yeah.

- And here we are, 10 years later, what-- you know, what were we doing? I mean, look at this place. It's turned out great, obviously, but it was a big experience for us, because, you know, you-- you'd never done anything like this, I was-- we were both--

- I-- I just wanted to be involved because I'm from here.

- From here, of course.

- And I have a lot of passion for New Orleans. And-- and having you involved with Pete Dye, it was just an unbelievable opportunity for me.

STEVE ELKINGTON: Yeah.

KELLY GIBSON: I really didn't know, but I'd learned so much from y'all. And it kind of changed my life. But it all started right here.

And it seems like longer than 10 years ago to me.

- It does.

- You know?

- We both didn't know-- you know, we'd heard all these stories about Pete Dye, we didn't know what kind of guy Pete Dye was. But he was an awesome guy.

- He is an unbelievable guy. He's one of the funniest guys you could ever meet. I mean, he's a riot.

- Yeah, and-- and the first thing he told us, because you and I came out here and it was under water, right? And you and I are looking at one another like, there's not going to be a course here. And you knew, because you're from down here. But Pete's like, (PETE DYE VOICE) well, actually, what we got to do is get the water off this damn place. Arr. We got to get--

- Well, I remember him saying, they only give me rock piles and swamps, Kelly. You know? And he looked at us, and he goes, why don't I ever get the good land? Yeah, so unfortunately, down here in New Orleans, everything is flat. And, you know, there's only 4-foot elevation change here, and there's a lot of water. We get 80 inches of rain a year, so--

- And we've got a 780-year-old tree up there-- a cypress tree that you had a bit of an argument about with Mr. Dye.

- Let's go up and talk about it. It's still there.

- I want you to--

- It's still there.

STEVE ELKINGTON: Yeah, it's still there.

OK, Kelly, now, there's a funny story about this. This is-- this is your-- obviously your favorite tree, because you were so passionate about it. These are-- this is the living roots of a bald cypress. It comes up in New Orleans, right?

KELLY GIBSON: Well, I mean, look at this tree. So if-- if you remember, this is very unique, and it's indigenous to South Louisiana. But I don't know if you remember, Steve--

- I do, I know this story. You wanted to keep it--

- I-- I wanted keep it.

- And we sent you in to Pete Dye.

- And you guys said, this is up to you. And I went into Pete Dye, and I said, Mr. Dye, this tree is 750 years old, we'd really like to keep it. And he said, I'm 75 years old, and you're telling me this tree is 750 years old? Which I was making up. And he said, one of us is leaving today, and it's not me.

- That's right.

- And everybody started laughing--

- And you were like-- you were like this.

- And I was so upset--

- You were like this.

- --I put my head down, and I'm going like-- well, he told me I couldn't be a tree hugger if I was going to be in this business.

- That's right.

- So we walked off to the green, and y'all were all laughing. And we looked back at the tree, and he goes, I think-- I think we should keep the tree.

- He gave you a little wink, didn't he?

- And I felt like I accomplished something.

- And I'm glad that we kept the tree, because this is-- when you-- when you see these big-- that's awesome.

- Well, the only-- the only bad part for me is the first year I played in the tournament, I hit it right behind one of them.

[LAUGHTER]

- Did you?

- Yeah. I had the chip out.

STEVE ELKINGTON: Good story. Thank you.