David Feherty Became An U.s. Citizen

David Feherty, who is CBS golf analyst and GolfAfter the official ceremony, Feherty, 51, was
Magazine columnist, officially became a U.S. citizensurprised by his wife, Anita, with a party. The
at the new Citizenship and Immigration Building inparticipants included longtime friend and golf legend
Irving, Texas, and now turned briefly serious andTom Watson and several wounded combat
emotional Tuesday.veterans. Feherty has been active in supporting
Feherty, a Northern Ireland native who moved tocharities that help wounded soldiers, including
the Dallas area in the late 1990s, bypassed theorganizing golf tournaments and traveling to Iraq
wisecracks that have made him famous, sayingwith other golfers.
he was honored and humbled to finally become anSeveral of the wounded soldiers came down
American citizen. The 51-year-old former touringfrom Walter Reed Army Medical Center outside
pro had a flashback to his childhood in Belfast,of Washington, and others came in from Brooke
Northern Ireland, where bombings and barricadesArmy Medical Center in San Antonio.
were common as the Catholic minority foughtWatson, Feherty and long-drive champion Art
British rule. Baghdad became an epiphany forSellinger have all been to Iraq together to visit the
Feherty, who witnessed compassion and restraintU.S. troops.
there.A native of Bangor, Northern Ireland, Feherty
Early Tuesday morning, Feherty, who is off thisplayed on the 1991 European Ryder Cup team
week from his CBS duties, had to pass theand was a regular on the European Tour, where
citizenship test. Then he was one of two dozenhe won several times.
new citizens to take the oath of allegiance to hisJay Fain, a 25-year-old veteran of Iraq who
new country. And he will not give up his golf clubsserved in the Army infantry, flew in from
and game. He was one of the few peopleColumbus, S.C., for the ceremony. He said
selected to talk to his fellow new citizens aboutFeherty had "heart.
what becoming an American meant.