David Feherty became a red-white-and-blue U.S. citizen

David Feherty, who is CBS golf analyst and Golf Magazine columnist, officially became a U.S. citizen at the new Citizenship and Immigration Building in Irving, Texas, and now turned briefly serious and emotional Tuesday.

Feherty, a Northern Ireland native who moved to the Dallas area in the late 1990s, bypassed the wisecracks that have made him famous, saying he was honored and humbled to finally become an American citizen. The 51-year-old former touring pro had a flashback to his childhood in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where bombings and barricades were common as the Catholic minority fought British rule. Baghdad became an epiphany for Feherty, who witnessed compassion and restraint there.

Early Tuesday morning, Feherty, who is off this week from his CBS duties, had to pass the citizenship test. Then he was one of two dozen new citizens to take the oath of allegiance to his new country. And he will not give up his golf clubs and game. He was one of the few people selected to talk to his fellow new citizens about what becoming an American meant.

After the official ceremony, Feherty, 51, was surprised by his wife, Anita, with a party. The participants included longtime friend and golf legend Tom Watson and several wounded combat veterans. Feherty has been active in supporting charities that help wounded soldiers, including organizing golf tournaments and traveling to Iraq with other golfers.

Several of the wounded soldiers came down from Walter Reed Army Medical Center outside of Washington, and others came in from Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.

Watson, Feherty and long-drive champion Art Sellinger have all been to Iraq together to visit the U.S. troops.

A native of Bangor, Northern Ireland, Feherty played on the 1991 European Ryder Cup team and was a regular on the European Tour, where he won several times.

Jay Fain, a 25-year-old veteran of Iraq who served in the Army infantry, flew in from Columbus, S.C., for the ceremony. He said Feherty had "heart."

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