Fifteen Minutes Of Golf Fame Is Better Than No Fame At All
Real Fame Is For Guys Like Joe The Plumber
In the literal world there would be little doubt that, while pretty cool, this little piece of personal golf history would not count as my fifteen minutes of fame, something Andy Warhol predicted we would all experience at some point in our lives. But forgive me if I don't pay much attention to attaining real fame for myself, I could care less about that, having no desire to someday, out of the blue, gain instant celebrity – like what happened with Joe The Plumber during the Obama, McCain presidential election of 2008. (as of this writing we are only 15 days from the 2008 presidential election between Senator John McCain(Rep) and his rival Senator Barrack Obama (Dem) who was responsible for the Joe The Plumber media frenzy. One of my best buddies is a plumber but geez, enough already.
British Open Championship Here I Come
This particular golf experience that I am about to tell you about had the potential of attaining a perfect 10 on Golftrekker's golf trip meter from the moment I stepped off the plane in Edinburgh, Scotland. After all, I was there not only to play the Old Course at St. Andrews for the first time, but to also work as an on-course spotter for ABC sports for all four rounds of the 121st Open Championship at Muirfield. At the time I was working for the world-famous John Jacobs' Golf Schools and I had scheduled a round of golf and lunch with the legendary superstar teacher John Jacobs himself. From there on it totally blew away everything I had ever accomplished in my life (to that point) as a golfer. It was to become THE golf experience in a life of nearly 35 years in golf.
How Do You Top A Golf Fantasy That Becomes Real?
What could possibly top the other great moments I had experienced as a TV golf spotter and/or spectator, each one thought to be the creme de la creme of killer golf experiences as soon as they happened? Well, you tell me. Let me give you a few examples; how about a final round at the Masters Golf Tournament when there were almost no patrons to be found?, ringside seats on every green for those who were there (it was the 1983 Masters Tournament that was completed on a Monday after heavy rains washed out Friday's round – Seve Ballesteros ran away (as did the spectators) from the field for his 2nd green jacket – and I am saddened to hear of his current health problems – our prayers are with you Seve) or how about the day I met a very gracious Verne Linquist for the 1st time at the commissary in the CBS compound at the 1986 Masters – YES, SIR! – Jack Nicklaus won his record 6th Green Jacket that day at the ripe old age of 46. Or an early morning before the 3rd round at The Tradition at Desert Mountain one March when Arnold Palmer asked me to help with his alignment while putting! So many stories to tell but the 1992 Open Championship at Muirfield, that truly was the pinnacle for this golfer!
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