Story and Photos by: Bill “The GolfFather” Cuebas
FRISCO, TEXAS – The sun was shining down on Frisco, Texas, as whispers of anticipation filled the air at PGA Frisco.
It wasn’t just any day—it was THE PRO FTB tournament, a spectacle where retired football athletes swapped their jerseys for polos and clubs. Amid the chatter, one name stood out: “Matty Ice.” aka Matt Ryan. But… little did the fans know, they were about to witness something extraordinary.
Matt Ryan, the former All-Pro quarterback for the Atlanta Falcon, seemed cool, calm and collected as he approached the first tee. But when he rolled in an eagle on the opening hole, there was no mistaking that he was here to win. He had his sights set on Mike Leach, the tournament leader and a seasoned NFL veteran with 16 years of experience with the Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, and Arizona Cardinals. Leach had dominated the first two rounds, conquering treacherous winds and challenging greens, but Ryan was determined to close the seven-point gap.
With steady precision and quiet confidence, Ryan unleashed three birdies that propelled him to the top of the leaderboard. His final round, scored in the Stableford format, earned him a spectacular 38 points—the highest of the day—securing him The Pro Rivals Football Championship.
The drama didn’t stop there. Leach fought valiantly, stringing together six crucial pars on the back nine, and kept the crowd on edge with a back-and-forth battle against Ryan. Ultimately, he finished third, just one point shy of victory. Meanwhile, Garrett Graham, another former NFL Tight End with the Houston Texans, surged up the leaderboard with an impressive 36 points, landing in solo second place.
As the players reflected on the day, Ryan’s voice carried the spirit of camaraderie that THE PRO embodies. “We don’t get to compete like we used to, but this was something special,” he said, a grin stretching across his face. “It’s incredible to have the chance to showcase what made us great in our other careers.”
The tournament concluded with a promise of more thrilling events to come. THE PRO HKY and THE PRO BKB will hit Flossmoor Golf Club near Chicago this July, followed by THE PRO BSB at Innisbrook Resort in Florida this December.
The inaugural event was just the beginning; THE PRO was set to redefine competition for professional athletes across leagues.
A short Place Kicking Demonstration on the 11th tee with New Orleans Saints kicker Garrett Hartley – Okay… Golf Time!
As Matt Ryan raised the trophy and the cheers echoed across Frisco, it was clear: when legends return to compete, “Magic Happens.”
Time to “Visit Frisco” for yourself…
and create some Magic.
Bill Cuebas
Bill Cuebas is the Co-founder/Publisher of Ignite Golf Network and co-host of the weekly golf talk radio show, Biggs Golf Talk. After spending more than a decade working in PR and Communications within the golf industry, Bill knows what drives the professionals and customers and actively seeks to provide the communication and input needed to help industry leaders be successful in presenting these things to the consumers. Bill knows that having a passion for something increases the desire and ability to do the best you can do. This passion has allowed Bill to combine his love of golf and country in a unique way with his charitable work with different organizations. Bill’s years in law enforcement gives him strong communication skills and a keen understanding of how to read people which are invaluable tools when seeking to promote and grow a business.
