2009 PGA TOUR Qualifying School- First Stage, Second Round

St. Johns Golf and Country Club in St. Augustine, FL.

Wednesday, October 22^nd, 2008

It was a beautiful day and I always wanted to go so I hopped on my Suzuki Volusia motorcycle and drove the 25 miles or so down to St. Johns Golf and Country Club in St. Augustine, FL. I found the course easily enough and sort of coasted onto the property so as to not disturb the golfers with an unexpected roar of my 805-cc engine. I knew I was in the right place as I casually watched three golfers on the fairway to the right. I observed three full swing shots and one thrown club even before I parked my bike.

This is it! The qualifying school of the PGA TOUR. Some of these guys aren’t so good and will not make it to the big show in 2009. Most of these guys will not make it for sure. The odds are against it. Eighty players today at this first stage site and the 23 best and ties will make it to the second stage. At that next stage the competition naturally increases but also dramatically increases with really good accomplished players exempt from the first stage. Ditto for the final stage- more really good competition. What’s that saying… the grindstone depending on what you are made of will either make you shine or completely consume you.

If you are one of the lucky 25 players to successfully emerge from Q-School with full exempt status then there is some more competition on the PGA TOUR. The top 125 on the 2008 money list- the world’s best players will be there waiting for you. So too will the other new guys- the top 25 GOLD graduates of the Nationwide tour. The PGA TOUR- to be one of the fortunate 175 golfers to make it there would be an incredible lifetime and professional achievement.

As I strolled through the parking lot up to the clubhouse I knew this was no ordinary amateur event. I passed the reserved parking spot with the sign Men’s 2008 Club Champion David French. The parking spot was vacant. Usually the club champion with reasonably good skills and intimate knowledge of the golf course would compete in any tournament held at his club. Why not take a gamble and see what would happen? But here in Q-School the ante up fee is $4500. Evidently he chose not to go for it and his friends elected not to ante up and sponsor him either. Likely a good day job. I have been told many times by many whom have witnessed my Jim Furyk-John Daly like swing to “keep my day job.” I understand completely but am never one for taking good advice. How about you?

This is technically a PGA TOUR event even though there are no spectator shuttles from East Timbuktu. Thank you very much. There is no welcoming corporate sponsor’s tent or merchandise tent the size of Macy’s department store that you have to walk through. There is not one picture of Tiger Woods and sadly there are no concession stands. This is a dry tournament. But this is the PGA TOUR. There I said it again. I will see guys today that make it. Then I can say I saw them at the very start of their PGA TOUR career!

As I walked though the manicured hedges I noticed the large clock at the apex of the clubhouse. It looked like the one on the Hill Valley courthouse in Back to the Future. The clock read a quarter to twelve as I approached the front doors of the clubhouse. Almost High Noon- it is time for these players to realize their dreams and their future or head back to their past.

The pairings for rounds 1 & 2 are posted on the glass door. This reminds me of college way back when they posted exam results outside the professor’s door. I cross-reference the posting with what I printed out from the PGATOUR.com web site. All 80 players are present and accounted for- 26 threesomes and 1 twosome. Guess where they placed the twosome. You guessed it right in the middle of the pack. Those two are hoping for a fast pace of play!

Walking through the modest clubhouse to the pro shop area I was in search of a scorecard with a hole routing map. I am in luck as the man behind the counter produces a scorecard. But out of luck as it has no map on it. Those little maps are especially important to make your way around a course that you have never seen before. I go out the backside of the clubhouse and find the scoring area. There will be no results posted on the front door at the conclusion of play. This is an impressive professional looking scoring area. The calligrapher did a nice job posting the first round results from yesterday.

I see a guy by the name of Phil Eich from Maitland, FL shot a red hot 9-under 63 in the first round. Three guys with their last name starting with ‘D’ were next at 65- Jesse Daley, Chip Deason, and David Denham. There are 29 at 70 or better. Doug Dvorak of Windermere, FL had the highest score of the first round, a 78. Not only is it only the second round but it’s the first stage. Long road. Only the players that play consistently well over a long period of time will advance to the PGA TOUR.

There’s a notice posted to Qualifying Tournament Participants informing them that the Next Number Nearest 50 eligibility category on the Nationwide Tour may be subject to a reshuffle in 2009. I have no idea what this is about or what it means. There is a name and the phone number of a guy at the PGA TOUR to call if you have any questions. There is legalese everywhere isn’t there?

Seeing a handful of people standing on a knoll between two greens I suspect them to be Nos. 9 and 18. I ask someone because I can’t figure it out from the scorecard without the routing. They confirm that it is indeed the 9^th and 18^th greens. The earlier club throwing I witnessed occurred on the 18^th fairway. With water now visible to me short left of the green that was likely the impetus for the observed behavior. Not a great way to finish the round. Luckily or unluckily there is no cut at Q-School during the 72-hole tournament. Everyone plays all 72 holes. The cut at the end of the tournament however is final and irreversible at least for the coming year.

I walk out to the knoll to observe a little of the action. It is a convenient place to watch with clear views of the approach shots and the putting greens on both par-4 holes. One guy chips up to the 9^th green and 3-putts from 10 feet. He has a nice green shirt on though and looks like a professional golfer. Boy those 3-jacks can really kill the mojo especially if you have a good round going.

They are shuttling players from No. 9 to No. 10 and from No. 18 to No. 1 having started off both tees. The shuttle driver comments that the greens were running 13 on the Stimpmeter earlier this morning. With the 20-MPH wind and sunshine they are likely drier and much faster by now.

I meet a guy that looks like Lee Trevino. His son is competing in the tournament. I learn that his son chose a friend to caddie for him instead of his father. Dad was on his bag for the last two tournaments on the Tarheel Tour.  He won one and finished second at the Tour Championship. Hey they didn’t name the television show “Son Knows Best.”

Maybe this guy is Lee Trevino I began to think. He can talk fast and has something to say. In reality his name is Rod Curl. A name I am only vaguely familiar with but should know. He beat Jack Nicklaus by one stroke and won the 1974 Colonial National Invitation in Fort Worth, TX. He is the first full-blooded Native American to win a PGA TOUR event. I asked him if people ask him if he is Lee Trevino. His reply was “yeah about 65,000 times a year.”

His son Jeff comes up No. 18 fairway. Rod calls his son’s second shot short and right to the right side hole location. “He’ll go for the hole for sure.” He is half-wrong, as the ball is long and right. It comes to rest in the proverbial jail on a knoll with all downhill to the hole and not much green to work with.  Luckily the lie is decent.

The son bumps the ball down the hill and it nearly escapes the rough releases a bit and leaves a downhill 15-footer for par.  The father comments that he would have flopped the ball to the hole taking six out of the equation if the ball gets caught up in the rough. The son drains the 15 footer for par. The father goes over to the son and congratulates him on the par-save and likely the round as he flashes back a handful extended downward indicating the son shot 5-under 67 today. He’s grinning wider and smiling more than I ever saw Lee Trevino do as well he should!

How good is that? What an experience to visit Q-School at a golf course close to you. You might even meet or see a former PGA TOUR winner play. Either way you will see the golfing stars of tomorrow!

By the way- Phil Eich followed his first round 63 with a 72, 74, 71 finished 1-under tied for 8^th and made it to the second stage! All three of the first round ‘D’ 65s- Jesse Daley, Chip Deason, and David Denham made the grade too. Doug Dvorak followed his first round 79 with a 69 but then had rounds of 80 and 78 finishing plus-18 tied for 75^th. He did beat 2 other guys and a DQ and WD.

Jeff Curl followed his 72-67 start with a 69 and 70 finishing 2-under and tied for 5^th.

Matt Borchert from Windermere, FL beat the pack by 4 strokes winning the Qualifier with a 16-under par performance! Four guys tied for 21^st so technically one extra golfer made it through this qualifying site. I wonder if he will be the new Tiger Woods of the 2009 PGA TOUR?

Andy Reistetter is a freelance writer. For three years he followed the PGA TOUR volunteering for the tournaments and working part time as a spotter for NBC Sports, CBS Sports, and The Golf Channel. He resides in Ponte Vedra Beach where he is hoping to land a position in the golf business that allows him to pursue his passion for the game of golf and everything associated with it. Check out his website Andy’s Golf & Travel Diary and feel free to e-mail him at AndyReistetter@gmail.com.         

Fond memories of my first year out on tour and being there spotting for NBC Sports at the 2008 Ryder Cup at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky with my good friend Sir Walter Eckhart! Incredible week of golf resulting in a USA Win! Great honor to meet President Bush No. 14 and Michael Jordan on the secluded par-3 14th tee. I thanked the President for his service to our country and that of his son President Bush No. 43 too! I jokingly thanked Michael Jordan for putting my son through college as he was a caddie at the Merit Club in Chicago where Jordan was a regular playing member and a big tipper. He joked back that he (Jordan) must have made a lot of birdies. I responded that he should have since he played 54 holes a day! We both laughed.

Watching Miguel Angel Jimenez miss a putt on the 17th green and Jim Furyk winning the decisive point for a USA victory was an amazing lifetime experience. Now you know why, nine seasons later, I love every minute of being out on the PGA TOUR!

CLICK here for Video of Jim Furyk Winning the 2008 Ryder Cup for the USA!

Jimenez misses, Furyk wins decisive point for USA victory in the 2008 Ryder Cup at Vahalla. That my buddy Sir Walter & “Sticks” Bill Price on the right, Dottie Pepper in the middle and sorry but I don’t know the girl’s name on the left! (Facebook Post, Andy Reistetter, 9/21/08 with video and link to this article).

[Show slideshow]

World Golf Championship, the Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone CC.

I arrived at Firestone CC around 6 PM on Monday. My weekly travel schedule has seemed to evolve over the past 6 months and this week’s experience confirms that it is near perfection. Having Yahoo Maps the course location I seek at first to find the Will Call. Once there I get directions to the CBS compound. I check in, make my way on to the course, taking pictures and getting my bearings for the week. This week is a treat in that the compound is near the 15^th tee. Following the par 3 15^th leads me to the signature hole of this “monster” golf course- the par-5 16^th.

The 16th at Firestone CC- she is long and she is a beauty!

As I walk back the 70 or so yards to the modern tee my senses tell me that I am 8 years old, it’s Christmas morning, and I know there will be a special surprise. I walk to the back of the tee not glancing to see the hole yet as I want the full effect when I open my eyes from the back of the tee. I do look up to see the hole sign: Par 5, 667 Yards, 610 Meters. I do the math- definitely a three shot par 5 for me with each shot averaging over 220 yards! Truly a “monster beast” for me! I also smile in that I see the United States of America has finally gone metric, only 30 years or so after those engineering college debates I participated in. Okay Andy sarcasm will get you nowhere and 200 meters per shot sounds better!

From the back of the tips!

I open my eyes and there she is… after a long stretch of narrow tee grass the view is framed by two bunkers on the right, trees everywhere and a hint that the hole turns slightly left and goes downhill from there. Like many masterpieces this one must be experienced one section at a time before you get the full impact of the whole work of art. It is inspiring and beautiful. So naturally appealing I dismiss the thought of wishing I had a tee in the ground with a ball atop it and my driver in my hand. At this first encounter I want to focus completely on her majesty and not be distracted by my amateurish seemingly random at times golfing behaviors.

Two bunkers and a tree guard the landing area and the corner of the 16th.

The fairway landing area appears to be slightly uphill from the teeing area. As I walk down the extended tee to the fairway I reach into my back pocket for my yardage book. I want to dissect the hole with respect to yardages so I will be prepared to play it hopefully at our next encounter. Walking through a depression then more than anticipated uphill slope I arrive at the targeted area for the first shot, at least for amateurs. The knoll is 283 yards from the back of the professional tee. For them it is conceivable to carry this area to get to the downslope and points beyond. For us too from the front of the tee is more manageable at 213 yards. Interestingly enough the first sprinkler head one encounters on the fairway is labeled “Just Hit It.”

Love it! Other sprinkles have yardages but not this one! Just hit it Baby!

I realize that the Monster hole at Firestone CC is a topographical cape hole. I think the term “cape” refers to a piece of land jutting out into some body of water. Possibly named visually after Cape Cod of the New England variety. Is there a cape in Manhattan? No that is soup, not geography. Let’s get back to golf. A cape hole in golf rewards the riskier longer shot that carries the water with a shorter distance on the next shot. Risk-reward plain and simple.

The Monster’s topographical risk-reward is really a benefit to the longer more powerful drivers of the ball. After all who is going to lay up on the tee shot of a 667-yard hole? If you carry the 283 yards and the grassy knoll of the fairway then it is downhill from there. Even steeper downhill slopes and further driving distance reward a longer carry over the knoll. Much like the slot in the 10^th fairway at Augusta National. Of course it is needless to say that you have to hit it straight where you are aiming to claim success here.

Second shot! Lay up for us mere mortals, reachable for Tiger & John Daly!

The turn to the left is an illusion off the tee. The two right bunkers grace the hillside that peaks in the roots of a large oak tree. Hit it in either of these two bunkers and you are in a hazard extraordinary. The first one further from the fairway is the worse of the two in that it is as deep as the other but its location offers nothing but that large tree and others between you and advancing the ball down the fairway. You would likely be playing out mostly sideways to the top of the knoll. The lip on the second bunker would mandate no more than an 8 or 9-iron club to be utilized in the recovery attempt.

The view at the top of the knoll reveals what only one can image when back at the tee. Here she is quickly laid out for all to see her inherent beauty. The downward slope to the fairway immediately gives one confidence that this hole can be conquered even for us mere mortals. To achieve the position at the top of the fairway knoll is to feel one has arrived, that one can be successful, that one can indeed master the subtleties of this elongated beauty.

Bunker, pond, green… Go Play!

Then reality sets in quickly! The hole is tree lined on both sides its complete length. There is one remaining fairway bunker situated exactly in the center between the tree lines. It is right in the way of the second shot! With a hillside and rough to its left there is a constricting feeling in the pit of one’s stomach. At a carry of 220 plus yards one is forced to contend with this a side hill, steeply banked fairway bunker. As it should be in the presence of greatness, even though standing at the top of a hill, one feels compelled to bow their head in reverence to something truly magnificent. This truly is the essence of golf course design.

Approach shot, 3rd shot, if you are lucky and a good golfer!

Realizing the fairway bunker is not the end of the hole one gently raises their eyes to the distant green. The fairway goes right around the bunker then left around the placid water hazard in front of the green. It is at once pleasing to the eye yet challenging to the psyche. How will I play this hole? Slopes, rough, trees, sand, water- this hole has all the meaningful hazards except the contrived out-of-bounds stakes. They are likely there to the left but the ample real estate crowning this jewel dictate they are out-of-play rightly so.

Wanting to sense fully the beauty of this place I find myself almost jogging down the slope to the left fairway bunker. As a welcoming sign, the hole becomes fairly level for the remainder of the journey. Somehow I know that doesn’t mean it will be any easier yet somehow it will showcase another darling feature of this memorable golf hole. If you are in this bunker on any afternoon, let alone this Sunday afternoon, carrying the pond in front of the green is no foregone conclusion to even the best professional golfer.

A look back up the fairway, almost as beautiful!

I look back up the fairway with no sight of the first two bunkers or the tee. I feel enveloped by the gentle roller coaster like ride of this experience. From the start I could not see the end and from the end I will not see the start yet I know of its entirety all the time. Am I in love with this golf hole? But what of her relatives, the other 17 holes? I am definitely smitten, as you would be too. Surely this is one of the greatest holes in golf on the planet Earth.

If you manage to avoid the bunker and are in its vicinity then all you have left is about a 150-yard shot. To a sliver of a green encroached tightly to the guarding water hazard. A back left bunker for the power pull hitters and deep rough all around confronts the golfer as they make their final approach shot on this golf hole.

Gosh, what a beautiful golf hole!

The green is not of the “buried elephant” variety of the 14^th at Augusta National yet it does have pronounced variants on its general countenance of back-to-front slope. The most tragic being the swale front left guarding the traditional Sunday hole location, which leads a ball with too much spin to a watery death. There is certainly tragedy amidst the beauty of this hole. Maybe that is why she is so memorable.

Somehow I emerge from the captivity of the 16^th hole and walk over to the tee of the 400-yard par-4 17^th hole. This hole is decidedly uphill especially in the narrowing fairway area between the fairway bunkers. Will the professional golfers lay up short or try to power the ball onto the flatter fairway above the bunkers and be rewarded with a short pitch into the green? The cross-bunker guarding the 17^th green is familiar to me yet I have never seen it before. I viewed it many times on television growing up. The nostalgia and history of Firestone CC is beginning to overwhelm me.

The 18^th is a wonderful finishing hole- 464 yards downhill with trees right and left to a tight landing area. The tightness of the landing area is further constricted by two large pin oaks in front of the green. Like centurions, they guard the left and right insuring only the most perfect approach shots pass by without interference. With bunkers short left and long right this green angled to the fairway is well protected. This hole is memorable to me from the great Tiger Woods-Jim Furyk finishes here.

There is nobody around on this beautiful summer evening. Feeling the urge of nature I head to the portable toilets only to find them all with locks in place preventing my entry. Luckily the handicap version does not have a lock. There must be a law in Ohio that one can not lock a handicap bathroom?

I swing by the clubhouse. This is a classically laid out golf course with Nos. 1 & 10 tees coming from and Nos. 9 & 18 greens coming to the clubhouse. At Firestone this layout is enhanced with No. 16 green and No. 17 tee being located just beyond the 18^th green. Like the 16^th tee there are several (well most- Nos. 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14) where the tees are extended back from the previous green to lengthen the Monster. After holing out, the players walk back to the next tee and the caddies head across and up to the landing areas of the next fairway. At par 70 and 7,400 yards Firestone CC is a formidable modern test of golf. I bet the original yardage in 1920 when Bert Way designed the course was somewhere around 6,200 yards.

I head out No. 1 to see some of the front nine. I don’t think there is a weak hole on this golf course. No. 1 is a 399-yard par-4 similar to No. 17 in that it is short, tight and has a well bunkered difficult to putt green. No. 2 is brilliant in that the fairway landing area is sloped drastically from right to left. No. 3, a 442 yard dog leg right par-4, lures you in with a downhill drive to a flat landing area, only to be confronted with a carry the water hazard second shot. I have seen photographs of this hole somewhere before. The tee shot on the 469-yard par-4 6^th hole is blind. Firestone CC seemingly has all the design features a golfer would want to be tested by in a golf course. My camera runs out of batteries and storage space on the 7^th hole.

Freshly recharged and with renewed capacity, I came back on Wednesday afternoon for one more look at Firestone CC before the tournament commences and to take a few more pictures. I have taken over 300 pictures of Firestone CC this week. Hopefully I can share them with you one day soon!

A WGC (World Golf Championship) is right up there with the four Majors and THE PLAYERS Championship. A great and renown golf course. A top field including many international players. In fact a WGC may be the place to go to see the best representation of golfers from around the world. Along with the PGA TOUR, a WGC is a product of 5 other tours- the Asian Tour, the PGA TOUR of Australia, the European Tour, the Japan Golf Tour, and the Sunshine Tour (South Africa).

Pic with Boo Weekley.

I decide to go over and walk holes 8 and 9 into the clubhouse area. Steve Stricker is practicing teeing off No. 8. I see Brandt Snedeker and Boo Weekley on No. 9 tee. I play spectator, get Boo’s autograph and a picture with him. I wish him well this week. I check out the Professional Caddies tent just past the pro shop on the driving range side of the clubhouse. This event has a major feel and the caddie tent is really an air-conditioned temporary but rigid structure- very nice indeed. I am surprised when I open the door and see Colin Montgomerie sitting there at a table chatting with two other guys. One is his caddy (must have paid his admission?) and the other guy looks like Mark James but is not.

I read a posted memo from Rick George (from the PGA TOUR?) to PGA TOUR Caddies regarding Caddies Blocking Camera Shots… cooperation greatly appreciated… yadda yadda. I use to write some memos like that when I was in corporate America. Never read, never effective. “Get your big A—out of the way” would be more eye catching. Or why not a highlight film showing the best shots blocked by caddies never to be seen by you and me? Players understand the entertainment and business perspectives of the game of golf. So too should professional caddies. What makes a caddie a professional caddie? Like golfers, acceptance of money? Is your caddie at your club therefore a professional caddie? Get your butt out of the line of my play…

Pic with Colin Montgomerie.

I am trying to pass time as I am hoping there will be an “awkward moment” (no not the Seinfeld type) when Colin gets up to leave and I can ask him for a picture. I pick up the newspaper to read the front page headline “Between HOF and GOLF no Rooms to be Found.” You can’t always believe what you read in the paper, as I had no problem finding a room. In fact I lucked out and got a suite for what they are paying for one night. Maybe I got the last room available?

I chat with the volunteer tent watcher. I realize I am “inside the ropes,” hence Colin’s presence here and wonder why he did not give me the boot. Must be I am looking all too familiar on tour as I know it is looking all-familiar (but not too) to me. He’s a really nice guy as all volunteers are at least the ones I have met. He’s interested in my story and I tell it while also giving him a few tips on how to operate my camera. Colin rises, the moment is here and he agrees. The picture is taken, well not really as the volunteer thought he had it but did not. There is a reason he is not a volunteer for the media. I chase Colin outside and quite surprisingly he agrees to a second staging and the volunteer gets this one right. Maybe Colin’s reputation at least to us Americans is all-wrong?

I go by the SHOTLink trailer and pander for the open SHOTLink position. They all know me by now maybe too well to hire me? Really good guys and gals. I could do a great job especially working with and training the volunteers. Please hire me is my departing good karma thought shared with only myself.

I head up to the practice chipping area. A nuclear engineer from Pennsylvania and I get chatting. He mentions that Colin Montgomerie was out here chipping and he can’t believe how badly he was chipping. I told him sometimes they play games and work on different things. He did not believe me. He said he had a job interview trying to get on a project to build a state-of-the-art nuclear plant. Gas is $4 a gallon but coming down since the elections are near. I think America is finally going to go nuclear. Hopefully it will help my friends in the plastics business too!

Pic with Stewart Cink.

I watch Stewart Cink chipping and see he has a good touch around the greens. He won the Travelers and won previously here (2004 WGC- NEC Invitational). I head up to the putting green and see Lee Westwood and Kenny Perry stroking it around. I watch to see if anyone touches Kenny for good luck but no one does. He’s as hot as a pistol so maybe he will win this week? Pistol Pete Maravich. Kicking Butt Kenny Perry? Wait until September at Valhalla in the Ryder Cup. Kenny leaves and I get a picture with him too! Spectator day for Andy Reistetter, once a fan always a fan!

Pic with Kenny Perry.

I meet the most interesting people on golf courses, especially at PGA TOUR events. This rather attractive lady has about 5 kids around her. They all have bags with plenty of signed golf balls. One of the kids follows Perry all the way to the clubhouse yet comes back hollering that she got it! The mom shows me her golf ball with a phone number written on it. Evidently a golfer provided a special souvenir for her. Quite a classy lady she would not reveal whom the golfer was nor would her well-behaved children. I remarked that she looked like a trophy wife without the wedding ring and her response was ”trophies are replaced by younger trophies.”  Very interesting life out here on the PGA TOUR at times…

Report time for CBS Sports on Thursday morning is 11AM. There are 27 groups of 3 in the field. I am assigned Group No. 27- the last group off No. 10 in the afternoon: Niclas Fasth from Sweden; American Charles Howell III; and David Howell from England. With a 1:21 PM tee time I have plenty of time to meet my new friends Dan & Denny, enjoy a pasta lunch and meander down to the 10^th tee.

I start my daily tradition of walking down the famed 16^th hole. As I emerge from the CBS compound I see the last group of the morning off No. 1 on the 14^th green: Vijay Singh from Fiji- the BIG Fijian; lefty Richard Green from Australia; and lefty American Steve Flesch. I wonder what the odds of three lefties playing together would be? I check out the scoreboard at the 15^th green and see that Retief Goosen has posted a 4-under 66 and that Vijay is at 4-under through 14 too. I watch him leave a 20 footer for deuce short on 15 green and then walk over to the knoll on 16 fairway to watch their tee shots. Vijay carries the 300 yard knoll but the ball bounces up with no roll. The course has not yet dried out from yesterday afternoon heavy downpour. I hear on the radio Sweden’s Fredrik Jacobson birdies his first three holes and Paul Casey almost double eagles (a.k.a. an albatross) the par 5 second hole. I enjoy my stroll down the 16^th hole and make my way across in front of the clubhouse to the 10^th tee.

Niclas Fasth is 36 years old, turned pro in 1993 and regularly competes on the European Tour. He has won six times on the European Tour, most recently in 2007. He was 5^th on the Order of Merit in 2007, currently No. 83 after 16 events. He qualified for the WGC-Bridgestone by being 50^th in the Official World Golf Ranking as of July 21, 2008.

Niclas got off to a shaky start driving it into the right rough on No. 10. He muscled it out of the rough well short of the green where he pitched up brilliantly to save par. On No. 12 he was in the left rough and so this day on the course would proceed in a military fashion. He bogeyed No. 14 after missing the green long into a sand bunker and missing a 5-foot par putt. On his second nine the front nine he followed 3 bogeys at 1,4, and 8 with 3 birdies at 2,5, and 9. Shooting a 1-over par 71 he hit 8 fairways, 12 greens, got it up and down 5 out of 8 attempts with 30 putts.

Charles Howell III is well known to American golf fans growing up in Augusta, Georgia and playing golf for Oklahoma State University.  He will be 30 next June and turned pro in 2000. He has won twice on the PGA TOUR most recently the 2007 Nissan Open at Riviera CC.  He qualified as a member of the victorious 2007 Presidents Cup team.

Charles got off to a solid start hitting the first 5 greens but missing 3 birdie putts in the 10-12 foot range. He bogeyed No. 17 failing to get it up and down from the rough greenside rough. He turned it around on his backside (the front 9) recording 3 birdies and shooting a 32. Overall he shot 68 (-2) for the day hitting only 6 fairways, 12 greens, getting it up and down 6 out of 7 times with 28 putts.

David Howell is 33 and turned pro in 1995. He is best known for outplaying and beating Tiger Woods on the final day in the inaugural HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai in 2005. He has five European Tour victories beginning with the 1999 Australian PGA Championship but none on the US PGA Tour.  He qualified as a member of the 2006 European Ryder Cup team.

David had the best showing of the threesome on the first 9 (Nos. 10-18) shooting a 1-under par 34. His 3 birdies on 12,15, and 17 were offset by a double bogey on the famed 16^th hole. Seemingly in control his lay-up on the 16^th was in the fairway. His approach shot nicked a tree along the right side and splashed in the water.

On the front 9 his birdie at No. 3 was weighted down by bogeys at hole Nos. 4 and 6. Carding an even par round of 70 he hit 8 fairways, 9 greens, got it up and down 7 out of 10 times with only 25 putts. David Howell- an exciting golfer to watch!

Other Thursday Round 1 Notes:  Vijay Singh out in the morning had it to 5-under but settles for a 3-under 67 after double bogeying the 18^th hole.  Retief Goosen (66) leads by 1 over 4 others- Vijay, Tim Clark, Daniel Chopra, and Zach Johnson.

I like how they keep the groups the same and change the tee times the first two days of the tournament. The group I had on Thursday the very last in the afternoon becomes the very last of the morning tee times. So the very last is at least not the very first the next day. You can sleep in a little but not much.

My assignment for Friday Round 2 is Group No. 26 going off the 10^th tee at 1:10 PM: American Vaughn Taylor, Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal, and Australian Geoff Ogilvy. Vijay Singh is in the final group of the day right behind us.

Vaughn Taylor is 32 and turned pro in 1999. He has won twice on the PGA TOUR both being the Reno-Tahoe Open back-to-back in 2004 and 2005. He qualified for this WGC as a member of the 2006 Ryder Cup team.

Pablo Larrazabal is 25 and was born in Barcelona, Spain. He turned pro in  2004, played the European Challenge Tour last year and won a tour card at Q School. He qualified by winning the 2008 Open de France ALSTOM.

Geoff Ogilvy needs no introduction. Winner of the WGC-CA at Doral CC in Miami earlier this year and the 2006 US Open at Winged Foot. Geoff also won the 2006 WGC- Accenture Match Play making him eligible this week with a win to match Tiger as the only winner of all three WGC events.

Vaughn Taylor started off with a bogey on the 10^th hitting his iron approach long. He also bogeyed 15 and 16 failing to get it up and down from around the green. I am not sure what he did at the turn but he dialed in his iron play for the second nine (Nos. 1-9). He birdied 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 8 and had a twelve-foot putt for 28 on No. 9. Missing that he settled for a 6-under 29 netting a 67 for the day. He hit 12 fairways, 13 greens, got it up-and-down 2 out of 5 times, with 28 putts. Certainly the lowest 9-hole score I have witnessed to date- it was spectacular!

Pablo Larrazabal (no middle name Marie?) was all over the course and like Seve had a masterful recovery on his first hole getting it up and down from a long way down the fairway after hitting it in the left rough. On No. 14 he wasn’t so lucky hitting a tree and chipping out a second time ending up with a double bogey. On No. 6 it was even uglier taking three shots to recover, then 3-jacking for a triple bogey. He did eagle No. 2 from 15 feet and holed a greenside sand shot for birdie on No.8. Exciting golfer to watch- the next Sergio for sure!

Pablo shot a 5-over 75 with 30 putts. He hit only 5 of 14 fairways but managed to hit 9 greens. He got it up and down 6 out of 8 attempts including the holed out sand bunker shot on No. 8. Definitely a talent to watch as his golf game matures.

Geoff Olgivy shot a 3-under 67 but missed so many 10-15 foot putts that I lost count and I keep notes as you can tell. He was even on his first nine bogeying No. 15 by fluffing a flop shot and then played No. 16 masterfully securing the birdie with a 10-foot putt. He shot 3-under on the front nine birdieing Nos. 1, 2, and 6. He hit 12 fairways, 13 greens, and got it up and down 5 out of 6 times. Truly a round where you feel the difference between 67 and 63 is putting!

Vijay Singh leads Phil Mickelson by one stroke after two rounds of the WGC- Bridgestone. At a WGC Friday is not cut day as there is no cut. Saturday is still moving day- players wanting to position themselves to win in Sunday afternoon. The field is realigned from worse to best scores and paired in twosomes for the weekend. For Round 3 of the tournament my assignment was Group No. 11 off the first tee at 12:30 PM: Ian Poulter and Tim Clark. I am excited to see the course from the first hole on and see if the Thursday/Friday pattern of easier front nine, more difficult back nine holds true.

Ian Poulter, that colorful character from England is likely familiar to all. He had a strong finish 2 weeks ago at The Open at Royal Birkdale finishing second alone to Padraig Harrington. I remember him from the US Open at Torrey Pines when on Friday he came to the 16^th tee and promptly withdrew from the tournament with only three holes left to play. Evidently he injured his wrist swatting the ball around and 4-putting the 15^th hole. Quite a different performance than say a Tiger Wood playing with a sore knee.

Ian is 31 and turned pro in 1994. He has won seven times on the European Tour but has not won yet on the US PGA Tour. He started the round well with a two-putt birdie at No. 2. On the third hole the hole was located front right with the water before and the right sand bunker behind. He courageously went for the hole but wound up in  the bunker with a very difficult lie and shot, which resulted in bogey. He then went on to birdie Nos. 4 and 5 but lost the momentum with a bogey on No. 9 failing to get it up and down from short of the green.

On the back nine he birdied 10 with a 10-foot putt then added a bogey at the difficult par-3 15^th hole using the putter three times from the back fringe. Over all he shot a 1-under par 69 hitting 12 fairways, 11 greens, getting it up-and-down 4 out of 7 times with 29 putts. No movement on moving day.

A lot of people call Tim Clark from South Africa “wee” or “little” Timmy Clark because of his size.  He is 32 and stands at 5’7”. He is remembered for finishing second to Phil Mickelson at the 2006 Masters. He splits his time between the US (18 starts this year) and the European (7 starts this year) Tours. He has a solid record this being the fifth consecutive year on the PGA TOUR- surely one of those guys that will break through with a big win sometime soon.

Tim did not have a good day starting off with a bunkered tee shot on No. 1 that led to a bogey. He came back with a birdie on No. 2 and had all pars the rest of the way with the exception of a bogey at No. 8 after bunkering his approach shot. Shooting a respectable 1-over par 71 without his A-game indicates he can play with the best of the pros minimizing the bad days and capitalizing on the good days. He hit only 8 fairways, 9 greens, and got it up-and-down 9 out of 12 times with 26 putts. Scrambling man! He had only 11 putts on the front nine successfully chip-putting it four times to pad the statistics.

After my group finished I went over to N. 16 to watch the action. Phil Mickelson in the last group with Vijay Singh hit his drive 363 yards and then from 260 yards out hit it onto the green but ended up in the back bunker. Phil got it up and down for birdie while Vijay used all the hole to sink his birdie putt. They were leading at 9-under. Vijay then bogeyed 17 while Phil bogeyed 18 after carelessly nipping one of those guardian trees. Lee Westwood birdied 17. The day ended with Phil, Vijay, and Lee tied at 8-under with Stuart Appleby one stroke behind at 7-under.

Sunday at the WGC Bridgestone was another perfect day for golf. In fact all four days of tournament competition have been outstanding weather and competition wise. My assignment today is Group No. 13, which consists of Paul Casey from England and Nick O’Hern from Australia. A WGC means an international field. Of the ten players I have spotted for this week only two have been Americans. I walk down No. 16 marveling in its creative design and beauty just as I have the previous three days. When oh when will I get a chance to play Firestone CC? It is an awesome course one which I would put at the same level of Augusta National, TPC Sawgrass, Pebble Beach, the Old Course at St. Andrews, and Carnoustie to mention a few.

Paul Casey is a world golfer. He is 31, turned pro in 2000, and has won eight times on the European PGA Tour. He seemed to have the look in his eye and to be in “the zone” from the get-go. He shot a bogey-free 5-under par round of 65 in a seemingly effortless manner. If some putts could have fallen it could easily have been a 60 or maybe even 59.  He missed putts of 25, 25, 30, 15, 12, 16, 15, 40, 26, 26, and 15 for birdie while making ones of 30, 26, 15, 4, and 7 feet. He hit 12 fairways, 15 greens, got it up-and-down three times with 29 putts. No other golfer matched his round of 65 on Sunday

Interestingly enough I was asked “to sell him” after his birdie on No. 12 got him to 6-under a few strokes behind the leader. I promptly did sharing that he had hit every green and every fairway up to that point. Of course I jinxed him as he missed the green on No. 13 and then the fairway on No. 14. It was an exciting round to watch!

Nick O’Hern- a product of the PGA Tour of Australia is 37 and turned pro in 1991. Only person to beat Tiger Woods in two professional matches (WGC-Accenture 2005 & 2007). He has won five times on the Australia tour but not yet on the European or US tours. Nick played like Tim Clark did yesterday- a scrappy, professional, post a score while not playing your best. He shot 1-over 71 with all pars except a birdie on No. 2 and two bogeys on Nos. 6 and 16. He hit 10 fairways, 10 greens, and got it up-and-down 6 out of 8 times with 30 putts.

It was an exciting Sunday finish at the WGC-Bridgestone at Firestone CC in Akron, Ohio. Moseying on over to my place in the shade at the 16^th green I was able to witness most of the drama. A 3-way tie at 10-under for Vijay, Phil, and Lee Westwood. Lee bogeys No. 14. Phil’s birdie putt at 16 hangs on the right lip- no birdie, no lead. Lee Westwood and Vijay Singh in the final group. Vijay lands approach at hole, one big bounce and zippers it back to three feet. Lee just misses his birdie attempt and it seems like he will be one stroke short just like at the US Open at Torrey Pines. But then Vijay lips his putt out. Mickelson bogeys 17 after bogeying 15 and not birdieing 16. Vijay stripes his drive up No. 17 fairway. Phil in left rough jail on No. 18 and finishes bogey-bogey to lose the tournament. Vijay hits a great drive in the fairway on No. 18. Lee Westwood guts it out with a solid iron shot into 18 green but misses the 15 footer to tie. Vijay finishes par-par and wins the tournament. Vijay first. Lee Westwood and Stuart Appleby tie for second. Phil Mickelson and Retief Goosen, the first round leader tie for fourth.

One final walk up the famed 16^th hole at Firestone CC and I am out of here heading to the PGA Championship at Oakland Hills CC outside of Detroit, Michigan.

Andy Reistetter is a freelance writer. In 2008 he followed the PGA TOUR volunteering for the tournaments and working part time as a spotter for NBC Sports, CBS Sports, and The Golf Channel. He resides in Ponte Vedra Beach where he is hoping to land a position in the golf business that allows him to pursue his passion for the game of golf and everything associated with it. He can be reached through his website www.MrHickoryGolf.net or by e-mailing to Andy@MrHickoryGolf.net.

The Travelers Championship has a storied history dating back to 1952 as the Insurance City Open. The modern era of the Travelers began in 2007 when the Travelers Companies took over title sponsorship. After Hunter Mahan won in 2007 and the Travelers purchased back the rights to the famous red umbrella in April 2008 I showed up to see a great tournament won by Stewart Cink. Since then Bubba Watson has won twice in 2010 and 2015 and in between won six other times including two Masters. Amazing holed bunker shot by Jordan Spieth to win a one-hole playoff over Daniel Berger in 2017.

After watching Tiger Woods beat Rocco Mediate in that Monday playoff at Torrey Pines I headed east to the Travelers. Always a fun and interesting tournament, 2008 was special in that Fred Funk and his wife Sharon along with Joe Theismann participated in a Men’s Health Clinic. I also met a guy after the pro-am who invited me along to the Mohegan Sun to see the Stevie Wonder concert. Quite amazing, especially when he performed with his daughter Aisha.

My memories of the 2008 Travelers in pictures:

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The par-5 13th hole on the South Course at Torrey Pines!

The historic 2008 United States Open was my first one as part of a golf broadcast team. Actually my golf career was less than six months in duration at the time. A quick synopsis of how I came to golf would be that it was time to embark on a second career in life, I had written two books, loved golf so I put the two together thinking I should become a golf writer! My destination in golf was Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Why? Because that is where I knew the PGA TOUR was headquartered and where THE PLAYERS Championship was played every year on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. I also knew there was a YMCA there and a nice lady, who I now consider my adopted Mom, offered me to stay as a guest in her home for two weeks so I could get the lay of the land. Looking back over the last eight years, I could not have made a better choice of a destination in golf. Today with The Golf Channel nearby in Orlando and the World Golf Hall of Fame nearby in St. Augustine, I consider Ponte Vedra Beach to be the modern capital of the Golf World.

Sitting in the bleachers watching golf and gazing out at the Pacific Ocean is the joy of Torrey Pines!

How did I come to be assisting in the golf broadcast of the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines? Very simply, my strategy of learning the golf business from the bottom up paid off and paid off quite quickly. From my corporate days I knew the best way to learn was to learn by doing so I volunteered to work the four tournaments of the 2008 Florida Swing as a marshal, Shotlink person, a car parker and even a corporate hospitality attendant. The most amazing thing was that even before I left Ponte Vedra Beach to work the Honda Classic, Erin from NBC Sports called and asked me to be a spotter. I didn’t know what that was so I asked her what is a spotter? Her reply was basically we assign you to a group, give you a radio so that you can report “player-shot” when asked, get to walk inside the ropes and get paid. Well I thought that was something really good, even something I would pay them to let me do so I signed up for all four of the Florida Swing tournaments and worked both for NBC Sports and as a volunteer for the tournaments.

The 2008 US Open was the first time I met 1955 US Open Champion Jack Fleck. The last visiting him in Fort Smith, AK on the “Journey to Olympic Golf.”

Fast forward a few months and there I was out in Southern California spotting for NBC Sports and witnessing up close and personable a memorable Major golf tournament. My two California golfing buddies Rich and Glenn also spotted for NBC that week. Lots of good times and two especially funny incidents with Glenn. In the early days I paid for my own travel and being freelance (which is basically unemployed) on a limited budget, Glenn and I shared a cheap hotel room not far from Torrey Pines. Funny thing is though when I went to take my shower I realized Glenn had mistaken the identity of my bath towel and used it as a floor mat after taking his shower. Good times staying with an old friend.

So the key to being a good spotter is being decisive and sharing only information known to be true with the person on the other end of the radio transmission. That person is in the hot seat feeding the player-shot information onto the producer and the on-air talent. Nobody wants to have to make a correction on air to re-inform viewers of having previously misinformed them. So Glenn is stationed on the tee at a par-3 to report the club used so that it can be passed along to the on-air talent and used in an onscreen graphic. After all, we all want to know what club a professional golfer uses and how much farther they hit it than us mere mortal golfers! Glenn gets the first call of the day and responds with “not really sure, it might have been a 7-iron.” Luckily, that was his worse call of the week and everyone after it was spot on which is a good thing for a spotter!

The memorable 2008 US Open…

Everyone knows the story of the 2008 US Open. Tiger Woods, playing on a broken leg drains a 25-footer on the last to get into a Monday playoff with Rocco Mediate. They tie after the 18 holes and Tiger wins the sudden death with a par to Rocco’s bogey on the second, actually 20th playoff hole. My brother Dave and I watched the playoff round inside the ropes which was quite the experience. My funniest memory was overhearing a conversation behind me which seemed to indicate he was hiding a bit not wanted to be caught on camera. So as I turned around I said “who are you hiding from, your boss or your wife?” I was surprised to see that the guy was my New York Yankees idol, none other than Reggie Jackson.

But who would have thought it would be Tiger’s last major for the next eight years?

Here are my memories of the 2008 US Open won by Tiger Woods in 96 pictures:

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Relive the Tiger Woods-Rocco Mediate 2008 US Open Playoff from Inside the Ropes

US Open Champion Tiger Woods with the trophy along with Rocco Mediate who was one stroke ahead on the tee at the last and lost with a bogey on the first sudden-death playoff hole after Tiger birdied the qq8th to tie. Dramatic for sure! Photo Credit: Golf Monthly UK

It’s been a great U.S. Open week for me already. Attending the Monday playoff round with my brother Dave is simply icing on the cake.

In fact, it has been a great trip out to California for the U.S. Open. I stretched it a little bit coming into LAX and staying in Hermosa Beach with my nephew David the Thursday before.

Nothing like beach volleyball and watching the Lakers-Celtics playoff game during a West Coast happy hour. It brings back memories of Monday Night Football, West Coast style.

I used to live out here in the early 1980s and got together with my best friends over the weekend. Much has changed over the years, as the oldest ones approach 50 and there are kids all around ranging in ages from kindergarten to college and beyond.

But our friendship hasn’t changed much and picks up where we left it off a few years back. We did manage to get out to play golf and of course the one guy takes us to a course the rest of us never played and manages to eke out a victory, at least in his mind. I still haven’t confessed to kicking his ball into the green side bunker at 18.

This week at the U.S. Open was especially wonderful since I enjoyed it with so many close friends and relatives. I was able to get a job for another friend working for NBC Sports as a spotter.

On Monday I checked out the course with my nephew David. Then on Wednesday my nephew Stephen came in with me. Today, for the playoff, it’s my brother Dave.

Some people have to show up to work on Monday morning, even when they are the bosses. Others like me at this point in my life have to show up at the golf course for work, or in reality potential work, since I am still basically unemployed yet will never admit to it. That’s unemployed, not unemployable.

Sorry, as it is difficult to concentrate right now. The playoff is over and I am sitting on the Sun Coaster train heading north to LA. Directly to my left outside the window is the beach, the Pacific Ocean with waves crashing onto the shore.

At the last station stop I was literally on the beach with the Fisherman’s Pier right there. What a beautiful sight to see.

This is a nice train with electrical outlets and wireless Internet so that I can do my “work” while transporting.

The ticket was all of $18. At $4 a gallon, I could not have driven to Anaheim for less than the cost of a ticket. Maybe I am adapting to being green as I also drive a motorcycle too. Back to golf…

This week NBC had me stationed at the 16th tee where my job was to find out which club each golfer used on the par 3 hole. It was fun, and I literally got to see all the golfers competing in the 108th rendition of the U.S. Open.

But I did miss being assigned to a group and walking the whole 18 holes with the golfers. With the Monday playoff, now is my chance to walk the full 18 with Rocco Mediate and Tiger Woods competing to become the 2008 U.S. Open champion.

This will be a memorable day for my brother and I. Surely one our father would rejoice in it, as he was an avid golfer and brought all three of his sons into the game of golf and the way of life it promotes.

Dad passed in 1993, and surely this is a wonderful way to acknowledge him and celebrate Father’s Day in his memory. I got up at 6:30 a.m. and drove in with my brother from his home in Spring Valley. Traffic was light, so we made it to the course a little after 8.

I showed Dave around the NBC compound a bit and then we headed to the far side of the course to see Tiger and Rocco warming up on the driving range and putting green. As we walk past the 12, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 18 holes, Dave recalls vividly the hole locations and shots from Sunday’s round.

He and his wife were out on the course Saturday and I think he watched all 8 hours of television coverage on Sunday. He was there at the 13th green when Tiger made that unconscionable putt for eagle.

We get there just as Rocco is leaving the driving range heading for the putting green. It’s a little weird seeing only one player on the putting green.

He was sort of knocking it around and didn’t seem to be putting all that well. I don’t know if it was because he was the only show in town to watch, so we saw all his misses, or he simply was not putting well.

I remember Steve Stricker getting some putting tips from his Wisconsin buddy Jerry Kelly on Wednesday. He was putting poorly so poorly that I couldn’t watch it anymore and had to leave. Then when he came through 16 on Thursday he was 3-under after only playing 6 holes and birdied it to go to 4-under.

By Friday, when he came through almost 27 holes later, he was not doing as well.  He did make the cut, whereas his buddy Jerry did not. Maybe that is what friendship is all about? Help out your buddy even though he may beat you.

We go over and watch Tiger hit a few on the driving range. He looked good as he always does. He left and headed to the pitching green to practice his chips a little. I wonder if Rocco went there before the driving range. Either way, they both ended up stroking a few more putts together on the putting green.

Rocco left first heading to the first tee, then Tiger. When we went around the corner, it was Tiger emerging first to the first tee. A matter of courtesy or maybe Rocco had to check out the restroom first. If he did it was a quick No. 1.

There we were above the first tee listening to the introductions for the playoff of the 2008 U.S. Open between Rocco Mediate and Tiger Woods. Rocco hit first on the par-4 first hole and hits a nice driver down the left side of the fairway.

Tiger hit driver, too, and looked to be heading for the right bunkers when the ball cleared everything and landed safely in the fairway if just barely.

Rocco hits an awful approach shot that luckily dies in the right front bunker. A dad behind me tells his son to watch Tiger hit it “stiff.” The son inquisitively asked what does hitting it “stiff” mean.

I thought to myself I really have no idea even though I used that terminology with my dad lots of time. I was interested in the father’s response.

When it came, I thought it was kind of lame. Stiff means hitting it close to the stiff flagstick? Does anybody have a better explanation than that? I am interested!

Tiger gets up and hits a decent shot but not “stiff” or exceptionally close to the flagstick or hole location. Rocco hits a decent sand shot but it releases and ends up 10 feet past the hole. He misses the side hill left-to-right putt.

Rocco bogeys the first hole. Tiger comfortably 2-putts from 25 feet. Tiger is one stroke ahead. Remember that this is a two-person medal playoff and not match play. Every stroke counts and the golfer with the lowest score at the end wins the U.S. Open trophy.

They both par the par-4 second hole. Tiger drives it into the left rough, misses the green short right, chips up and makes a 6-footer. Rocco hits the fairway but misses the green right and gets it up and down making a four-foot putt. Tiger still one stroke ahead.

Tiger hits first on the par-3 third hole and is inches short of carrying the front bunker. Instead of a birdie putt, he is confronted with a “fried-egg” lie in the bunker. Forced to severely blast it out of the sand, there is no spin on the ball and it rolls 15 feet past the hole.

Rocco hits a magnificent tee shot that almost goes in the hole stopping within tap-in range. Tiger misses his par putt. Two-stroke swing with Rocco birdieing the hole and Tiger bogeying it. Rocco has a one-stroke advantage.

The par-4 fourth hole magnificently follows the ridge of the cliffs above the Pacific Ocean. Rocco hits left of the fairway but with a decent lie and hits a nice shot right at the hole. It is short of the back hole location and he is left with a 40-foot uphill putt.

Tiger is longer but also left with a poor lie. He muscles a low shot out of the rough trying to run it up the opening to the green. It goes left stopping short of the bunker in the rough.

He chips up and has a gimme for par. Rocco two putts. Two pars. Rocco retains his one-stroke advantage. I hear a guy yell “Rocco, win one for the ages.” Rocco is 45 years old.

On the par-4 fifth, Rocco bunkers his driver tee shot to the right. Rocco is relaxed talking to a USGA official on the tee. Tiger backs off his tee shot, hoping the MetLife blimp will pass by. It does. He hits it in the fairway on the left side.

Rocco goes first and hits a left left shot ending up the hill about 40 yards from the hole. No lucky gallery bounce. Tiger irons to 20 feet and 2-putts for par. Rocco hits an amazing flop shot, which means he is left with a 12-foot chip-putt. His miss results in a bogey. Match is even with both golfers are one over par after 5 holes.

Tiger has the honor on the par-4 sixth hole and hits driver into the fairway and hits it close to 7 feet with his approach shot.

Rocco hits the fairway but is long on his approach. The hole is front left in a bowl, leaving Rocco to contend with a large ridge to navigate with his chip shot. He does so magnificently and makes the 6 footer saving par. Tiger knocks in his putt for birdie to regain his earlier one-stroke advantage.

As we approach the seventh tee, I can see the big scoreboard on 18. It is full of numbers from the week’s play. I am surprised they are not tracking the hole-by-hole score of the playoff contenders.

There is an update of the match on the smaller scoreboard to the right. I see the MetLife blimp overhead and wonder if it is out here today to advertise the “IF” in life, or rather the 2008 U.S. Open. Who will win when play concludes at No. 18 later this afternoon?

I also smile looking at my brother Dave realizing he is most certainly the only one “inside the ropes” wearing an Ely Park golf hat from the golf course in our hometown of Binghamton, N.Y. Sons are always thinking of their fathers.

Tiger takes it to Rocco again on the seventh hole. Drive in the fairway, nice iron shot carrying the bunkers and drains a 30-foot putt for birdie.

Rocco responds with a nice iron to 15 feet from the fairway but cannot hole the uphill putt. Woods is now 2 strokes ahead through 7 holes.

On the par-3 eighth hole, Tiger takes a huge divot. I think he hits it fat, but the ball winds up in the back bunker. He is not a happy camper. Rocco hits a nice shot and is just short right of the green.

Coming off the tee, he goes over to Isao Aoki who is doing the Japanese broadcast and chats with him for a few steps.   Tiger’s sand shot is heavy and the ball releases and runs off the front of the green quite close to Rocco’s approach shot.

I realize that although this playoff is not a match play situation there is indeed a mano-a-mano air to it like a chess match. Tiger is 2 strokes up, and it is as though Rocco has lost a significant piece like a rook or bishop, but not a queen.

They are both chipping from in front of the green, Rocco first, then Tiger. Rocco needs to seize the opportunity and capture back a stroke here.

Tiger has some powerful moves left, with three remaining reachable for Tiger par-5s. Whose king will remain in power after all is said and done this afternoon? Who will be hugging the U.S. Open trophy?

Both chip strongly past the hole, leaving downhill 5-footers. Tiger putts first and makes it, recording his second bogey of the day, ending his consecutive birdie initiative.

Now Rocco needs to follow suit to reduce Tiger’s lead to one. He does so. Woods is one stroke ahead.

As we cross the 18th fairway to get to the ninth tee at Torrey Pines, I glance down the fairway to the green and wonder what the final status of the playoff will be in a couple of hours.

Both Rocco and Tiger hit the fairway with their tee shots on the par-5 ninth hole. Rocco is talking away to Tiger as they come down the hill from the tee. Tiger is struggling to keep up with Rocco yet seems intent on continuing the verbal exchange.

I wonder if this is part of Rocco’s strategy. Is he playing fast trying to tire out Tiger and his defective knee?

I overhear a guy behind me saying something about hiding from someone, so I turn around and ask him if he is hiding from his boss or his wife. One doesn’t want to be caught on national television if one is not supposed to be there.

Before I could take the words back, I realize it is Reggie Jackson. I was a big Yankee fan growing up in New York and loved watching him play and win back-to-back World Series in the 70s.

I was also entertained with his off-the-field love-hate relationships with the media and George Steinbrenner. I assume he was really trying to hide from his fans, so he could enjoy the golf as a fan himself.

Rocco elects to lay up but ends up in the right rough. Tiger nails a 3-wood that has green written all over it but ends up in the front left bunker. Rocco’s approach is so-so leaving a 25 footer downhill for birdie. Surprisingly Tiger’s sand shot comes up short and finds the bunker closest to the green. Maybe he was overcompensating for the long bunker shot on the last hole?

He blasts out again and this time judges the distance fairly well. Tiger converts the 5 footer for par then Rocco misses a short one and ends up 3 putting for bogey.

When it looked like Tiger was going to give one to Rocco, Rocco ends up giving one to Tiger. Even though it looked like they would be tied after the ninth hole, Tiger is two strokes ahead.

Tiger’s stunningly beautiful wife Elin is in the gallery behind the 10th green escorted by his agent I presume. I notice they skip every other hole and appear out of nowhere behind the grandstand to watch as much of the match as possible without being a distraction to Tiger.

A photographer motions to my brother and I to move back so he can get a shot of her from the side. Success must come with a lot of benefits yet surely a few impositions when one is out in public.

The 10th hole at Torrey Pines is a straightaway 414-yard par-4. Tiger drives in the right rough and chunks one out of the heavy grass. Rocco is in the fairway but leaves his iron short.

Tiger pitches up and is about 20 feet from the hole in three shots. Rocco kind of chunks his chip leaving a 7-foot putt for par. Tiger magically chip putts it right into the hole and Rocco misses his par putt.

Rocco bogeys again when it looks like Tiger will make bogey. Tiger the magician is defying gravity on the last two holes, advancing when it looked like he would be falling behind! Tiger is now three strokes ahead and stands at even par to Rocco’s 3-over par.

I think to myself that even if Tiger applies a few more knockout blows to Rocco, it is still a medal match meaning it will go the full 18 holes no matter what. One never knows about an injury and Rocco may be able to knock out Tiger on the last hole.

This is as exciting as watching Reggie and the world champion Yankees in the mid-70s. You never know what will happen for sure until it happens!

A photographer goes up to Reggie Jackson, who is wearing a media credential, and comments that it looks like he gets along well with the media these days. Everyone who overheard it laughed out loud and Reggie shrugged his shoulders coordinated with a mischievous smile. I didn’t have the courage to ask him how it was going with George Steinbrenner these days.

On the 221-yard par-3 11th, Tiger hits first, misjudging the wind and ending up in the front left bunker. Rocco hits a good shot leaving him a 25-foot left-to-right downhill putt for a deuce. Tiger hits an aggressive sand shot, which stops 10 feet past the hole. Isao Aoki is right there at the back of the green reporting the action to television viewers back home in Japan.

Rocco two putts for par and Tiger Woods misses the 10 footer and bogeys the 11th hole, giving one back to Rocco. Tiger bogeyed both the par-3 eighth and 11th holes after his tee shots found a sand bunker instead of the green.

The 12th is one of the toughest holes on the course: a 504-yard par-4 playing into the predominant ocean breeze. Rocco finds the fairway while Tiger bunkers his tee shot to the right.

Rocco hits a magnificent shot, which hits softly, rolls right by the hole, and stops only 18 feet from the hole. “Golf shot,” I say out loud as I would to one of my playing buddies.

Tiger gets it out of the fairway sand bunker and leaves it short right. He has a good lie but an undulating green to navigate to the back hole location. He looks human and leaves it 15 feet short.

Rocco strokes his amazingly fast right-to-left putt and it continues to trickle four feet past the hole. Tiger misses his putt leaving himself a 3 footer and elects to putt out. He makes, as does his opponent. Rocco gets another one back and is trailing Tiger by only one shot after 12 holes. He is definitely back in the hunt for this U.S. Open title.

While watching the action at the 12th green, I overheard one NBC executive ask another if he saw the reported 2.4 rating from yesterday’s broadcast. Evidently that is huge, as were their matching smiles.

Tiger competing in a major on prime time television is evidently good for business. One photographer thanks another for pointing out Tiger’s wife Elin to him. He must not be a regular photographer on the golf beat.

Six holes to go in the playoff for the 2008 U.S. Open. I do some quick math and realize Tiger would be 2-Up if this was straight match play. Rocco beat him by two strokes on the fourth hole, and nine of the other 11 holes were decided by one stroke. They have matched scores on only two holes.

Tiger has recorded 2 birdies, 6 pars and 4 bogeys while Rocco has 1 birdie, 7 pars, and 4 bogeys of his own. This is a seesaw match with the latest exchange being Tiger winning the ninth and 10th holes, yet Rocco came back to win the 11th and 12th holes.

With the two reachable par-5s on holes 13 and 18 and the tee up on the drivable short par-4 14th,  it would seem the course favors a good Tiger finish. But only if he can control the accuracy of his tee shots.

Also, Rocco’s short game may be able to get the job done as in the end it is but how but how many! It is a medal match and Tiger stands at 2-over par one stroke better than Rocco’s 3-over par.

Today, the USGA has elected to use the new back tee on the 614-yard par-5 13th hole. There are marshals directing the media to the right down the fairway as they try to separate us from the players going left to the back tee.

Reggie burrows through to the left following the golfers. Nobody directs Reggie Jackson, not even that Steinbrenner character nowadays! The 13th is playing considerably downwind today and may be reachable in two shots.

Rocco hits a solid drive in the fairway and aggressively plays to reach the green in two hitting a 3-wood. It is barely short and finds the front left bunker. Tiger is in the first cut of rough left of the fairway and hits what looks like a 5-iron trajectory up the hill onto the elevated green.

The USGA’s use of graduated rough seems to have been a success this week. The further one is from the center of the fairway the more difficult the lie. Pretty simple, makes sense.

We hustle up the hill to get a nice resting-place on the slope behind the green. Rocco is not even visible in the front bunker but I do see his sand wedge at the apex of his swing.

He hits a great shot leaving a 6-footer for birdie while Tiger is lining up a 25-footer for eagle. Rocco must make his putt or likely be two down with five holes left.

Tiger’s eagle putt is downhill right to left and it looks like he plays it for about 3 feet of break. No heroics on this green like on Saturday. Tiger taps in for birdie and Rocco makes his for birdie also. Tiger still one stroke ahead.

The 435-yard, par-4 14th hole is shortened to 277 yards for the playoff as it was in Sunday’s round. Both golfers hit 3-woods with Rocco short of the green in the fairway and Tiger short right in the rough.

Rocco “stiffs” his chip and Tiger responds with a nice chip of his own. Rocco drains his 6-footer, while Tiger’s putt catches the hole but rims out. The medal match is all square with both players at 1-over par with four holes remaining.

The last four holes on any golf course are normally designed for excitement and to be a good test of golf to decide a golfing competition fairly. Torrey Pines is no exception.

The 15th is a long par-4 with a fairway tightened by large trees and an undulating green guarded by sand bunkers. The 16th is a difficult par-3 that projects back out towards the ocean and into its breezes.

The 17th is a dogleg left par-4 of reasonable length with reasonable birdie possibilities. The finishing hole is a reachable par-5 with disastrous possibilities if the water front left of the green is not carefully navigated.

Rocco has the honor and plays a solid tee shot driving the ball into the fairway on the 15th, a good start on this fairly straight 478-yard par-4 hole.

Tiger miss hits his tee shot way right finding a sand bunker on a hole where there are no fairway sand bunkers. He hit it so far right that he is in one of the long fairway bunkers on the par-5 ninth hole.

Since he is playing it in the opposite direction, his emerging sand shot does not have to contend with any lip of the bunker.

Rocco hits first and plays well into the center of the green leaving a 30-footer downhill putt for birdie. Tiger pulls another one out of his hat and hits an iron well inside Rocco to 12 feet.

Rocco’s long birdie putt finds the hole and the gallery around the 15th green goes crazy! Just before it is Tiger’s turn to putt, another roar is heard in the distance as Rocco’s birdie 3 and even par for the day is posted at the 18th green. Tiger misses and makes a sizeable putt coming back up the slope for par.

As Rocco walks past me down the slope to the 16th tee, I am thinking, “holy cow he could definitely win this thing and slay the dragon.” He has made three birdies in a row and beaten Tiger on three of the last five holes and definitely has the momentum.

He seems a little tighter than before when he was joking with Isao Aoki coming off the eighth tee but seems to have the composure and determination to win the golf tournament.

As he stands on the 16th tee, he is at even par and one stroke ahead of Tiger Woods with three holes remaining to be played on this beautiful afternoon in southern California with the magnificent Pacific Ocean lying beyond the 16th green.

Rocco’s iron shot is directly at the flagstick but short on the front fringe leaving him an 80-foot chip putt second shot on the 193-yard par-3 16th hole. Tiger backs off from his tee shot wondering if the wind direction has changed. Has the wind calmed down or maybe even switched to being behind him now?

It seems that Tiger is a little more isolated in his own world today and less interactive than normal with his caddy Steve Williams. Rocco on the other hand is constantly interacting with his caddy.

Tiger makes sure all is right before playing his shot, a good shot right on line but like Rocco far short of the hole location. Tiger is left with a 50-foot uphill putt. Neither player wanted to chance being long with a chip out of rough downhill with little green to work with.

Before the golfers play their next shot on the 16th hole, I notice a journeyman photographer just in front of me. The one that performed one of those random acts of kindness back on Tuesday that you never hear about.

Sergio Garcia was making his way from the practice putting green to the chipping green. A young boy wanting to get Sergio’s autograph on his hat literally got trampled by the crowd and was in tears crying to his father.

The photographer saw this and took his hat inside the ropes to Sergio who gladly provided the autograph for the boy.

I notice that this guy has duct tape on his large camera lens and wears knee guards to lessen the pain of being a photograph hiking and kneeling all over the place to get that one prized photograph. The prized mental photograph of him helping the little boy is etched in my mind forever.

Rocco hits a great chip shot and makes a par maintaining his even-par status, which may be good enough to win the U.S. Open.

Tiger perfectly navigates the direction to the hole but comes up painfully just short of making birdie to even the match. The putt loses too much speed at the end and veers slightly right of the hole.

Rocco dodged a swipe by the claw of the Tiger on the 16th hole and remains one stroke ahead with two holes to play.

Rocco hits a decent drive on the 441-yard par-4 17th hole, his 89th of the week at the 108th U.S. Open. It finds the first cut of the right rough.

Tiger hits a perfect 3-wood, bisecting the fairway. The crowd begins chanting “Let’s go, Rocco!” Two young drunks at the rope line shout out “you are going down, Tiger.” It’s early on a Monday afternoon at a U.S. Open in what is surely a playoff for the ages. Why would one want to see it in a drunken state? Surely it is something one would want to remember every detail about.

Tiger is definitely taking his time walking down the fairway. His limp is not as noticeable as it was at times earlier in the week.

I wonder what is going through Rocco’s mind: what is he thinking about? “What if I won the U.S. Open beating Tiger Woods in a playoff?” Holy crap, I would be petrified; wouldn’t you?

I am sure both professionals are focusing on the work at hand and mentally disciplined not to let their mind wander. No Sir Walter Hagen mind tricks here.

Oh, by the way Rocco, what will you do with all the money you are about to win? Money is meaningless to these two players. A win in the 2008 U.S. Open will define their careers.

Rocco goes up to his ball, which is 30 or so yards in front of Tiger and takes a practice swing without a club. Rocco is one stroke ahead, how will this end? Is Tiger Woods deliberately taking more time trying to ice Rocco like opponents do to a field goal kicker in football?

Tiger steps away; was there a wind shift? Steve brings the bag to him and Tiger switches clubs. Tiger hits a good shot and it bounces on the slightly elevated green. By the gallery’s reaction, I think it is a good shot but not great.

It’s Rocco’s turn now. There is a guy talking behind the gallery but Rocco hits anyway. It bounces on the green but has the same reaction by the gallery.

Rocco’s ball is 50 feet from the hole. He putts it decently, rolling it two feet by the hole. Tiger is only 18 feet from the hole. I had positioned myself directly behind him on line with the putt. It is slightly downhill left-to-right.

I was there when he chipped in on Saturday and then saw him make a 30 footer with 6 foot of break to eagle 18. Will today’s finish be as dramatic?

Tiger putts…it is on line but finishes short of the hole. A slaying of the Tiger is possible. Rocco Mediate is one stroke ahead in the 2008 U.S. Open with only the 18th hole left to play.

Rocco hits his drive on the 573-yard par-5 18th hole left into the sand bunker. This opens the door for Tiger, who responds like an experienced champion and drills a drive down the center of the fairway.

Rocco is forced to lay up and executes an excellent recovery shot out of the bunker into the fairway within 100 yards of the green. Tiger is ready to hit his iron shot into the 18th green when there is distracting noise coming from the right of the 18th, causing him to step away. The gallery and folks watching from the balconies of the lodge are a little too exuberant.

Tiger hits a solid iron onto the green of this now reached par-5 in two shots and has a 60-foot putt for eagle and an outright victory, unless Rocco holes his approach shot.

Rocco, the leader by one stroke, is still in the driver’s seat and can bring home the U.S. Open trophy with a wedge and one-putt. He hits a decent wedge and is left with a 15 foot birdie putt to ensure at least a tie again for the title of U.S. Open champion if Tiger should perform the dramatic feat once again of eagling the 18th hole.

I was there when he did it on Sunday to force the Monday playoff. I was there when he holed the 25-footer to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard at Bay Hill during the Florida Swing earlier this year.

If Tiger and Rocco make or Tiger two putts and Rocco misses this rendition of the U.S. Open will go to a sudden death playoff format. A playoff of the playoff, if you will.

Elin is at the edge of the tunnel with baby Sam in her arms. Tiger’s mom is front and center at the back edge of the green. All, including baby Sam are wearing Tiger red.

The numbers on the scoreboard are still all black today with Rocco at even par and Tiger at one-over through 17. The stage is set as Tiger calculates what is needed to make this 60-foot eagle putt.

He strokes it firmly and seemingly on line yet it goes beyond the hole without dropping the standard six inches and comes to rest with a 3-foot comebacker to tie should Rocco miss his birdie putt.

If Rocco makes his 15-foot putt, his number goes into the red at 1-under and he wins the 2008 U.S. Open. Tiger Woods is on ice, there is nothing he can do but watch as Rocco lines up his putt. Rocco’s caddy is all positive and comes away with clinched fists indicating he thinks his man is going to sink this putt.

Rocco pulls the trigger, fires, and rolls the golf ball the needed 15 feet but it misses just to the left of the hole. Now both golfers are left with must-have 3 footers to tie the U.S. Open playoff at even par and force a sudden death playoff.

There is absolute silence amongst the 18th grandstand as Tiger goes first in the ultimate mano-a-mano format of must have 3-footers to have a chance to win the U.S. Open.

The only exception is the flapping in the wind of the USGA flags ceremoniously flying high above the grandstands. The shadow of a seagull flying over the 18th green distracts Tiger and he steps back away from the putt.

Is this a sign from above from his father to reinforce another Father’s Day victory for his devoted son? Tiger strokes the ball into the cup for his second par-5 two-putt birdie on the back nine.

Now it is Rocco’s turn to seal the playoff tie with the world’s greatest golfer. He makes his putt to force sudden death. Rocco is still smiling, even though it is sudden death and his opponent is Tiger Woods. He is healthy and one of two people left standing competing for the U.S. Open championship. He should be happy.

I expect the playoff to be on the 18th hole where Tiger has gone eagle-birdie- birdie to force the 18-hole playoff and now the sudden death playoff.

Surprisingly, it is announced the first playoff hole will be the 461-yard par-4 dogleg right seventh hole. I am confused, as it seems to be a disservice to the well situated gallery at the 18th green.

Most will not be able to make the journey to the seventh, even though it is nearby. Did the USGA avoid the 18th since based on recent results it would be favorable to Tiger? Did they not choose the first hole for exactly the opposite reason?

Tiger did birdie the seventh earlier in the day with a 30-footer, while Rocco two-putted from 18 feet for par. For whatever reason, the decision was made and announced. We hustled as fast as we could to circumvent the 18th green and beeline it to the seventh tee.

Both players shot an even-par 70 to force the sudden death playoff. Each had four birdies and four bogeys to go along with 10 pars. Meaninglessly, Tiger would have won the playoff 1-Up if it had been a straight match play affair.

Tiger has the tee on the seventh hole. I am not sure if he picked number 1 out of a hat or his honors carried over from the 18th hole. Either way, it was suddenly do or die for both players. Whoever wins the first hole is the 2008 U.S. Open champion. It is truly match play now on a hole-by-hole basis.

Tiger hits a 3-wood dead solid perfect. Rocco pulls his driver left and it winds up in the front lobe of the sand bunker.

As I pass by it walking hurriedly up to the green, I see it is not a completely clean lie and the slope is considerably uphill yet side hill with the ball lower than your feet. This will not be an easy recovery shot.

With Tiger in excellent position, the advantage is definitely Tiger’s at this point. My brother and I find a position directly behind the green. This is as good a position as any to witness history.

Rocco makes good contact with his iron shot out of the sand bunker. The shot goes left and almost looks like it goes into the grandstand short left of the green. It reminded me of the poor iron shot he hit into the first green.

Maybe Rocco is nervous. I know I would be as the tension factor is riveted upwards now that it is sudden death.

No time or holes to recover from a poor start now. With the hole in the front center of the green guarded by a fairly deep sand bunker short left Rocco’s second recovery shot on the first sudden-death playoff hole will not be easy.

Tiger is ready to play from the right side of the fairway. He has to negotiate a sand bunker short right of the green and avoid swale areas left and long. He hits a great shot and the ball comes to a stop 20 feet below the hole. A huge advantage continues to be with Tiger after both players have played their second shots.

I overhear a USGA official speak into his radio that the players have signed their cards, the presentation will be here and carts will be needed to get the people back to the clubhouse afterwards.

The USGA is scrambling a bit. I wonder when the seventh hole playoff decision was made. This is the live version of life: it is what it is and one has to go with it.

Rocco gets a free drop from the grandstand. There is a drop zone circle designated so he drops his ball into the circle. It pops up and out of the drop area designated by white lines.

The USGA official with the radio confirms the call made is correct- i.e. if the dropped ball contacts the ground within the drop zone and goes outside the drop zone after the initial contact it is a legitimate drop and the ball is in play. Rocco’s ball is in play. Will he be after this first sudden-death playoff hole?

Rocco does his best and uses his “get out of jail” card playing a good pitch over the bunker and hitting the green short of the hole. The shot gets away from Rocco though due to the hard green and rolls 20 feet past the hole.

Steve Williams is quick to position himself at the hole to determine who is away, Tiger or Rocco. He determines Tiger will putt first and no one objects to his decision. Tiger is seemingly in the driver’s seat now after emerging from the back seat with a heroic birdie on No. 18.

Tiger Woods has a 20-foot putt to win the U.S. Open outright, no matter what Rocco does. Just the opposite situation when Rocco had the 18-footer to win it all back at the 18th green. Rocco went left twice on the No. 7 sudden-death playoff hole. He went left when the hole went right.

Tiger has his putt on line but did not hit it firmly enough and it is two inches short. Tiger taps in for par and forces Rocco to make his 20-footer to continue the playoff. Has Tiger done enough to win his 14th major championship?

After a chorus of “Let’s Go Rocco” chants, Rocco finalizes his preparation to stroke the putt of his golfing life. It is slightly downhill with a left-to-right break. He misses. Tiger Woods is the 2008 United States Open Champion. Steve Williams gets the flag.

There is a controlled celebration on the seventh green. Tiger and Steve hug and the shake of many hands indicate the contest was well orchestrated and well competed. An army of carts appear at the front of the green and it is obvious the awards presentation will occur back at the 18th green.

Dave and I hustle up the fairway and are like little kids chatting back and forth about the shots of the day that commingled together to produce the outcome we witnessed.

While golf tournaments like the U.S. Open is for the ages, golf itself is for all ages and sometimes it is hard to distinguish the ages of those involved with its pursuit. Rightly so.

The little scoreboard at the 18thgreen tells the final story: Woods 0; Mediate +1 thru 19. The outcome is fair but difficult. It was a playoff nobody deserved to lose.

The environment was absolutely fantastic. The match went back and forth, with Tiger taking the initial lead and Rocco taking it for himself with a birdie and two shot swing on the par-3 third hole.

Tiger then slowly built what peaked to be a three-shot lead through 10 holes. He then faltered with back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 11 and 12 and his lead evaporated fast.

Rocco’s strength surged with three straight birdies on Nos. 13, 14, and 15. The last to regain that one-stroke lead on the 16th tee 13 holes after the first and only other time he led Tiger in this match.

He was one shot ahead with three holes to go and as he said in the press conference he hit some pretty good shots and played the last three holes fairly well.

He had a putt to win it on 18, but Tiger birdied 18 to force sudden death and Rocco suddenly lost his chance to win the U.S. Open when he faltered and bogeyed the first and only sudden death playoff hole, the No. 7.

Did Tiger’s left knee injury come into play? Definitely. Though it did not stop him from winning the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, it was definitely a factor. Tiger’s perspective on that: “Glad I am done!”

Brent Musburger emceed the awards ceremony for both the fans at the 18th green and the television viewing audiences around the world. After 90 holes, it was all even and it took the 91st hole to determine the champion.

Tiger stated it was nice to see a healthy Rocco free from prior back injuries. Everyone knows that this is how well he can play even at age 45. It was an unbelievable gutsy performance from both golfers.

But in the end Tiger Woods was holding the U.S. Open trophy and concluding that it “was the greatest tournament I ever had.” I know it was certainly the greatest playoff I had ever seen in person. Truly a lifetime experience for me, my brother Dave, and Dad above.

(Originally published by Andy Reistetter on the Bleacher Report.)

My second tournament on tour was the 2008 World Golf Championship (WGC) at Doral and it was amazing!

Why?

China’s Liang Wen-Chong on the practice tee. Cool to see some international players play that I had never seen play before or even heard of.

Because all of the best players in the world were there at Doral competing in a 72-hole medal play tournament. All 79 of them with various qualification scenarios:Top 50 players from the Official World Golf Rankings; Top 30 from the previous year’s final PGA Tour FedEx Cup points list; Top 20 from the final 2007 European Tour Order of Merit; and the Top 3 from the prior year’s final Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour, PGA Tour of Australasia, and the Sunshine Tour Orders of Merit.

The last few criteria meaning several new players from around the world who had never previously played on the PGA TOUR in America!

In 2008 those players were guys like Japan’s Toru Taniguchi, Sweden’s Robert Karlsson, India’s SSP Chawrasia, South Africa’s Anton Haig, and China’s Liang Wen-Chong.

That was cool and exciting to me. Here were guys that grew up half way around the world and learned to play the same game as I did growing up!

Amazing graphic. Tiger had won six of the previous eight WGC-CAs. If it was a WGC, it was Tiger’s back then!

Looking at the picture of previous WGC champions and one quickly recalls how dominant Tiger Woods was back then.  A battle with Phil Mickelson before when Tiger was leading the Majors Battle 13-3.

Geoff Ogilvy validated his 2006 United States Open title with his second World Golf Championship winning nearly wire-to-wire with only Miguel Angel Jimemez managing to match his open round of 65.

But my memories are really in the pictures and here they are:

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With Ernie Els in 2008 at the Honda Classic.

The 2008 Honda Classic was my first event when I went out on tour!

Having written two books and with golf an inspiration throughout my life, I had decided to leave Corporate America and pursue a golf career. I chose Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida since the PGA TOUR was headquartered there and THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP was at TPC Sawgrass every year. It also fulfilled a childhood dream to live in Florida just like Doc Donlin. Plus it was the beach! Looking back I could not have made a better choice and consider this area, along with the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine and the PGA Merchandise Show and The Golf Channel in Orlando, the modern capital of golf.

My career transition plan was simple. Come to Ponte Vedra for two weeks to get the lay of the land and then volunteer for the four Florida Swing tournaments starting with the Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens. I wanted to learn the golf business from the bottom up. Did I know golf writing, golf travel and golf broadcasting would be where I ended? Not really but I did hope to land a job with the PGA TOUR. Looking back it amazes me the how my journey in golf evolved. A ‘No’ in one area turned into ‘YES’ in another and with nine seasons under my belt I can say I have enjoyed it all.

With Ernie Els at Oubaai in South Africa on December 30th, 2016.

Actually, the volunteering turned into a paid broadcasting assistant position before I even knew it or even traveled south for the Honda Classic. Erin from NBC Sports saw my name on a volunteer scorer list for the Innisbrook tournament and called me up to see if I wanted to be a “spotter.” I didn’t know what that was at the time and asked her what it was. “We assign you to a group, you walk inside the ropes and report by radio players and shots to sequence the broadcast and we will pay you.” That sounded like fun to me and I asked if they needed me at the Honda and she said yes.

So at that very first tournament I volunteered for the tournament as a Shotlink guy and also worked as a spotter for NBC. I did manage to take a few pictures early in the week and 57 of them are in the gallery below.

The 18th back in 2008…

The story of course that week was Ernie Els first tour victory in four years. I got to meet him and get a picture with him. As it turned out I would see him a few more times over the years, most recently in South Africa at his home course at Oubaai. No nicer guy on tour, big-hearted and definitely the “Big Easy!” He would go on to win again at 2010 WGC at Doral, the 2010 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill and of course, his fourth Major at the 2012 Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes.

So many beautiful memories and friendships made that continue today from that very first 2008 Honda Classic for me!

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