VIEWS FROM THE PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS INSPERITY INVITATIONAL

The Woodlands, Texas: Day one of the PGA Tour Champions Insperity Invitational was highlighted by one very low round, a golf course in perfect condition and characteristically southeast Texas heat and humidity.  I followed two groups and had the following observations.

John Daly at the 14th hole

John Daly: In Wednesday’s pro-am, I had a brief conversation with the defending champion and his caddy, Peter VanDerriet. Daly, when I asked him how he was hitting it, remarked “Fair to middling”. The comment came after he had come about a foot from making a double eagle two at the par five 15th hole. The former PGA and Open Championship winner is still nursing a knee injury sustained at the Masters Tournament when his bus was hit by another vehicle while parked near Washington Road in Augusta and he pushed one of his party out of the way. As I followed Daly on Friday, it appeared that the knee was bothering him but at least he had the benefit of riding in a golf cart rather than having to walk  18 holes. Adorned in a bright green shirt and his patented patterned pants, he battled a balky putter most of the round and struggled to an even par 72.

 

 

Entrance to the Caddie Tent at the Insperity Invitational

Unsung Team Members: Wayne Gilmore has been caddying on the PGA Tour Champions since 1982 when he carried the bag for Art Wall. In the ensuing 36 years, he’s also caddied for Al Geiberger, Don Bies and at least 35 other players. He was on the bag for Bies when he won the 1992 PaineWebber Invitational in Charlotte, North Carolina. I was able to chat with Wayne for a few minutes during our short ride from The Woodlands Country Club to Lot B, where our cars were parked. I mentioned to him that no one seems to pay much attention to the caddies, unless it’s one of the well known ones such as Fluff Cowan, Bones McCay or Fanny Sunesson. Gilmore remarked with “Yeah, we’re the rodeo clowns of sports.” There wasn’t much more for me to add to that.

 

Tom Lehman Teeing Off at the 15th Hole

Premier pairing: Walking down the fairway behind John Daly, Colin Montgomery and Tom Lehman felt more like a late 1990’s British Open than it did the 2018 Insperity Invitational. Montgomery came out hot with four consecutive birdies to start the round. An ugly double bogey on the par three 14th derailed him, but a bounce back birdie on the par five 15th allowed him to post a four under par 68, five shots behind Bernhard Langer, who is three shots clear of the field. Tom Lehman was the best of the group, making birdie on the final hole for a bogey-free, five under par 67. He looks every bit as fit as when he was winning five PGA Tour events, including the 1996 Open Championship. He has also won 10 times on the PGA Tour , including three majors. Tom is the most recent recipient of the Dave Marr Award, presented annually to individuals who exemplify “sportsmanship, honesty, character, integrity and a passion for the game of golf.”

David Toms, Michael Bradley and Mike Goodes

David Toms: From a short distance away, the 51 year-old 2001 PGA Champion looks like the kid a retired group of guys brings in as a ringer to finally win a Saturday morning match. Toms was paired with Michael Bradley, who is the same age as him, and 61 year-old Mike Goodes, but looked like the junior member of the group. He was followed by a fairly substantial gallery, most sporting the purple and gold of Toms’ alma mater, LSU. Toms had a little trouble with his accuracy off the tee on the front nine and managed four birdies and two bogeys on his way to a two-under par 70. Both of his playing partners were a couple of shots better.