PGA Tour
Honda Classic
March 2, 2011
Yesterday I spent the entire day at the PGA National Golf Club for the practice round of the Honda Classic. What a great experience this was!!!
I arrived at about 8am, heading straight to the practice range. Walking past the first tee, Jonathon Vegas and Bobby Gates were teeing off. Awesome!!!
I watched a heap of players go through their warm up routines on the range and putting green before following John Senden to the first tee. I followed him and his group, consisting of Chad Campbell and Tim Herron, for the entire round. It was a great way to see the whole course and watch the three of them as they went through their practice round routines.
It was a relaxed atmosphere, with cameras allowed only on the Tuesday practice round and being the only day spectators are allowed to ask the players for autographs ouside of the official autograph area behind the 18th green. As John walked from the first green to the second tee, I had the courage to say "G'day John"...a couple holes later he walked past again and asked where home was for me. I told him and we got talking after that, given we are both members at Royal Queensland. It was great.
At the conclusion of the round, John took some time to have another chat with me for about 10 minutes. We spoke about my plans this year, fitness, the travel and sacrifices this profession asks of you, and the importance to have a support team around you. John will be back in Australia late this year for the 3 majors and Presidents Cup. If I am back in town, which I should be, he has offered to have a round at RQ. Look forward to that.
I'm not really one to ask players for autographs. I didn't ask John or the others he played with, but when I saw David Duval on the 16th I couldn't help myself. He was #1 in the world when I started playing golf and he has been one of my favourites since. He a Davis Love III...got his autograph too. That's all though.
I spent some more time wathcing other players on the driving range in the afternoon. Watched Stuart Appleby with his dozen training aids; Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson, Davis Love III, Angel Cabrera, Jonathon Vegas, Jesper Parnevik, to name a few. The Florida skies opened up with a large front coming through, raining for all of 20 seconds. Just like that it was here and gone.
After this I stood at another of the putting greens where a sole player was working with his coach and caddy. It was Brandt Snedeker. Wow he putts it awesome. But I guess they all do. It was also very interesting to see all the different training aids and devices the players carry and use.
I feel I've learned a lot today. I have a better idea of how to go about a practice round, even watching the players practice on the range has helped. Just to see how they go about their business, how relaxed they are on the range...hit a shot, have a quick chat with their caddy or another player, then another shot. Switch on - switch off. No one was doing the old 'rapid fire', hitting ball after ball. There was always some sort of pause between shots. Just so great to watch this.
Here are some photos I took from the day. Tomorrow is my practice round for Friday's event at Links at Madison Green.
Josh
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