So I’m volunteering this week at the Senior PGA, and in turn I get a hall pass for the week. Pretty cool deal. Of course most everyone else in the city of Louisville is doing the same thing.
I worked my shift for yesterday’s practice round so today I hit the links to watch some cool play. Quick secret. It’s always been my dream to play on the Champions Tour one day. As a kid we always dream of these things. I dreamed it would be baseball, then I gave that up two days into college. I dreamed it would be golf, but in high school I could barely break 80. So I tabled it. Over the years I’ve made my way down to a 2.5, and I’ve won a couple tournaments at my club. Nothing major. I’ve still never tried to qualify for any state open or amateur events. Another thing on the bucket list. So I mentioned this because it will set the stage for where I go with these posts over the next few days.
As I arrived I felt the nostalgia immediately. I saw lots of players I had never seen or heard of on the tour. I’ve watched golf faithfully since I was 12 years old. With my grandpa, my dad and now with my wife. At least she pretends. When I noticed that I didn’t recognize many of these players I thought— interesting. Maybe that dream is possible for a hack golfer like myself. Who knows? Only the one who gets the glory knows that. We’ll see what he has in store.
I noticed lots of names that slipped past my radar. Lots of players who slipped onto the Champions Tour while I watching the PGA. There are some big names out there now. At one point I stood with about 3 or 4 other patrons and watched Tom Watson, Mark OMeara, Corey Pavin, Wayne Levi, Hal Sutton, Andy North, and Steve Pate putt on the practice green.
I watched Watson go about his business. He sounds just like he does on interviews. I think I heard him say something about turks or turk and playing a nice round. I thought young turks? Someone’s nickname? Maybe just self-talk? Whatever it was, it was priceless. He hit a bucket of balls in a way I admired. Quickly. The goal of many amateur golfers is to see how quickly you can get to the bottom of the bucket. Maybe Tom feels the same way. He looked like he was just getting loose. Not even aiming. A man after my own heart. My favorite line of his came walking off 8 tee when he said “not bad for some old guys”. He, Hal Sutton and Mark Johnson had all stuck it pretty tight on the Par 3 8th. Watson also started out in a great fashion. He was left in the trees off 1, yet he cut it in through the trees to about 12 feet short of the hole. I just imagined that the other two players thought they had the upper hand (if this were match play). Not so much.
I noticed lots of little things. Sam Torrance was like a postcard from Scotland. Like a character from my Hercule Poirot Box Set. I love Poirot. He’s the detective of Agatha Christie fame. He looked like he just went at it, went and found it, and went at it again. He smoked a real small cigarette. He hit a great lob wedge on number 1 from a stymied lie. Over the bunker onto about 10 feet of green downhill to the hole. The look he gave his caddie would have made a great picture— raised eye brow after a puff off the cig.
Andy North is a tall guy. The combined age of he and his caddie was probably North (pardon the pun) of 135. Andy’s only 61 sayeth Wikipedia, so his caddie is um, up there. Not that there’s anything wrong with that (hat tip: Seinfeld) but I thought it was noteworthy.
Other interesting factoids, even if only interesting to me, were that Ted Schulz hits a high ball. I’m envious.
Peter Jacobsen cracked a joke upon entering the practice green area. That fit with the humor we see from him on TV. He also seemed to have the shortest prep time. I like his style too. He joked with Jay Haas and Larry Mize on number 1 that their putts were good. Among friends and all.
Corey Pavin seemed to be sporting a Wilson 8802 putter. I always thought he was a Bullseye guy. Maybe I saw it wrong. I putt with an 8802. I was turned onto it by my buddy Smitty. He always let me putt with his in scrambles. I loved it. I got one a few years back. Best club in my bag. It worked for Arnie, Phil and Crenshaw, and they can putt OK 
Wayne Levi had a great exchange with maybe his daughter? I’m guessing it was his daughter caddying for him. I couldn’t see as she was wearing rain gear with a hood. I overheard him say. “Which lucky numbers do we have today?” She said 6′s. Then they headed for 10 tee. He carted it around well at 1 over, and finished birdie, birdie.
I love these little moments. It was much easier to catch them here then it was at the Ryder Cup or PGA Championships.
The rain hit us in the morning, then came down like an avalanche around noon. Play was postponed from 12:19 or so until 3:30 PM. We bailed out. The sun came back out, and I thought about a trip back out. We live 7 minutes away. But the thought of another gusher kept me at home, and kept me dry.
I am geared up for tomorrow. I’m planning to follow Kenny Perry, Tom Lehman, Loren Roberts and Ted Schulz. Also, I have a golfing buddy who caddies at Valhalla. He picked up a loop with a club pro, and I want to go out and watch him do his thing.
Great day today and more to come tomorrow….
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Thanks for sharing, Bryce. Sadly, I don’t get to participate this year. Can’t support an end of May tourney and run my business. Glad I get to see it through your words. I love the Sr PGA. So many great memories of watching those golfers with my grandfather.
No problem. I always enjoy it when others tweet or blog about events when I’m not there. That was part of my goal. I needed to take some time away from the business, but I feel you. I have been months without taking a break, but it’s hard to step away from running a small business. I have a new partner in the business. I’ll introduce you soon. Thanks for reading!
Long time, man! Good read, wish I could’ve made it, but things come up. Was at two days of the Ryder and it was one of the best sporting events I’ve ever attended. Watchin these guys hit the ball in person is a thing of beauty to a golf fan and I am envious of your oppurtunity to be so close. Too bad Freddy had to pull out! Have fun out there and keep us informed
What’s up Doyle! Ryder Cup was a blast. I always sign up for these things then regret it, but someone talks me into sticking it out and I have a great time. I wish I had their rhythm. It looks like they are barely swinging. So fluid. Well most of them. There are a few that look like us. I love boom boom. Wish he could have played. Langer and Zinger too. Even Russ Cochran the local guy had to WD because of an injury. I’ll keep the posts coming.