Justin Thomas & Rickie Fowler Feature in PGA Tour’s Touching Tribute to College Football Legend

Lee Corso has been a lot of things over the past seven decades-Florida State defensive back, college football coach, entertainer, and the heartbeat of ESPN’s College GameDay. At 90 years old, he finally called time on his broadcasting career, making his last headgear pick on August 30, 2025. The news of his retirement didn’t just ripple through the college football world. It reached the PGA Tour, too.

The PGA Tour’s official account rolled out a montage reel, celebrating Corso’s larger-than-life presence, digging up some of his best crossovers with the golf world. Fans were treated to nostalgic throwbacks featuring Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler, and even Scottie Scheffler sharing the GameDay stage with Corso, whose quick wit and flair for showmanship made him a fixture on the weekly college football pre-game show.

In the clips, Corso is heard quipping, “That’s a bogey,” playfully ribbing the golfers when disagreeing with their picks.

For Rickie Fowler, the moment came back in 2015 when GameDay stopped in Stillwater, Oklahoma, during Bedlam weekend. Corso, then 80, turned his pick into pure theater, brandishing a toy shotgun before donning the Sooners’ mascot head. Fowler, showing his Cowboy pride, could only laugh along as Corso stole the spotlight.

Justin Thomas got his own taste of Corso’s antics in November 2019, when GameDay rolled into Tuscaloosa for LSU vs. Alabama. True to form, Corso pulled on the LSU Tiger head, directly clashing with Thomas’ Alabama loyalty. “That’s a lousy pick,” he joked, as Thomas tried in vain to stop him. LSU went on to win, but the playful exchange captured exactly why Corso resonated so deeply with athletes and fans alike.

Ultimately, the PGA Tour’s tribute wasn’t just about nostalgia. It underscored how Corso’s cultural reach stretched far beyond college football, weaving into golf and other corners of sports. His presence became part of the broader American sports story: equal parts humor, theater, and heart.

Even Colt Knost put it best in his tweet. “I normally don’t get up at 6 am on a Saturday, but when it’s the legend Lee Corso’s final @CollegeGameDay, there is no way in hell I’m gonna miss it! Let’s have a day! #gameday.“

At 90, Corso walks away from the set, but the echo of “Not so fast, my friend!” will live on- not just on college campuses, but across every sport he touched.

Lee Corso and his charisma

Lee Corso’s reach stretched far outside the lines of the football field. Over the years, his charisma and theatrical flair made celebrities eager to be a part of the chaos. Actors like Will Ferrell and Ken Jeong leaned right into Corso’s antics, often matching his over-the-top humor with their own. Ferrell, in particular, became a fan-favorite guest picker on GameDay.

Athletes from other sports were just as eager to share the stage with him, such as Drew Brees and Andrew Luck, both NFL quarterbacks with larger-than-life reputations in their own right, lit up whenever Corso turned the spotlight their way. Even active coaches like Steve Sarkisian and Brian Kelly seemed to relish their moments with him.

One of the most unforgettable celebrity moments came in 2013, when Bill Murray showed up in character and tackled Corso during a headgear segment. Corso, dressed as Chief Osceola at the time, went along with the prank in stride, and the bit instantly became one of the most iconic clips in GameDay history.