Hangin' with Tigger

While I was watching the British Open this past weekend, I realized that I didn't recap my amazing day at the Augusta National Golf Club, April 8, 2008. Grateful to the powers that be, I was somehow able to score tickets for the Tuesday Masters practice round. I have no idea how I got them (It was my first time applying for tickets) but hey, I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

With little to no sleep after all the excitement of my Jayhawks winning the national title, my buddy Sidis and I packed in the car before the sun rose to make the hour-and-a-half trek up I-20 from Atlanta to Augusta. The drive was made easier by the buzz that only a national title can give.

Part of the beauty of the practice rounds is that they allow patrons to bring cameras onto the grounds. Carrying our cameras and feeling very papparazzi-ish, one of our first celebrity sightings was of the man himself, Tiger Woods. Can this man leave his house without being the center of attention? Several hundred people surrounded the practice green, trapping him like a caged animal and there was not a sound to be heard. "Shhhhhh! You might hear him breathe". And "Oh, I think he looked at me. Did you see him look at me? He didn't look at you, he looked at me". I really thought the collective awe on display by the gallery was actually a little bit creepy. Yes, they were quiet to allow him his concentration but something was going on that didn't happen with any other golfer. It was almost like "Oh my gosh he's real".

Anyway, there were other golfers on the course, even if many spectators refused to recognize their existence. Here's a picture of Phil Mickelson making his club selection as he prepares to hit his tee shot at 12.

Looking back at all the photos, I found this one particularly intriguing. It's a shot of Gary Player imparting some wisdom to the eventual champion Trevor Immelman, while others in their group finished their practice putts on the 15th green.

Here's Fred Couples giving some love to the Big Event. Right back at you Freddie. Love your work.

When it was all said and done, perhaps the greatest 24 hours of my sports life. Wow.

Jumping the Shark

Greg Norman is nearly halfway through the final round of the British Open so we won't know the final outcome as of the time of this post. But I'd like to thank him for a glorious run (And march down memory lane) at this year's Open. Particularly since the delay in Tiger Woods' pursuit of Jack Nicklaus has made this an unusual tournament. He's really struggled today (4-over through seven holes and one shot behind Harrington) and things aren't looking good. With these conditions, anything can happen and he could still turn it around or witness a Harrington slippage (Oh how ironic that would be).



I've seen some comments about his snake-bitten luck coming to roost yet again but I think that's being a bit harsh. Yes, he's had some well-documented collapses and miracle shots go against him but, this time around, he's 53 years old and probably showing his age. Four rounds of golf against men half his age under immense pressure and extreme weather conditions is a lot for which to ask. There's a reason no one else has won a golf major past the age of 50.

Cut him some slack and raise a glass of his Pinot Noir to toast a fantastic tournament no matter the outcome. BTW, a belated congratulations are in order to Mr. Norman for the addition of Chris Evert to the trophy case. Well done sir.