Thursday's post

I'm finding it easier to do the day before's post the next morning. We're starting to get into a routine - I head out around 8 AM to Peets Coffee (the company that was the origin to Starbucks) about two blocks from our lime green Travel Lodge. I grab some coffee and a paper and then settle in for the day's post. Margaret joins me around 9 AM and we map out our day.

Yesterday, the first day of the tournament, I worked the 5 - 9 PM shift. I wanted to get there a little early to watch some of the tournament. So after our lunch (see picture below) Margaret dropped me off at the volunteer shuttle lot and off I went. From 2 - 5 I parked myself inside the ropes on the side of the 13th fairway where the spectators weren't allowed. This gave me an unobstructed view of the players as they played the hole. And, yes Tiger, Westwood and Els all came through. From my spot at the 13th I could see part's of the 8th, most of the 9th and 10th. You could tell where Tiger, Westwood, Els group was by watching the sea of people move in unison like a swarm of bees has the group progressed through each hole. As they neared the 13th the first sign of their approaching was in increase in media people, then security, then spotters, then USGA officials and then the swarm started forming on the other side of the 13th fairway. After they completed the 13th it was like a evacuation siren went off suddenly no crowd.

My job for the day was to collect the bids from the caddies as they came to the 9th hole scoring tent with their player. This turned out to be a very interesting assignment. The 9th hole scoring tent was positioned on the 13th fairway away from the spectators. These were the groups that started their rounds on 10 and finished on 9. So, about every 15 to 20 minutes three players, their caddies, and their "player guests" would head to the scorer's tent. We would collect the bibs from the caddies, who would hang around until the player's came out of the tent. Then the players and caddies would gather their group and ask us how to get back to the player's hospitality area. So we were "up close and personal" with this entire group that included Tom Watson, Kenny Perry, Davis Love III, Vijay Singh, Ryan Moore, Aaron Baddeley, etc. Tiger started on 1, so the bib collectors working 18 get to see him.

Today - I'm taking a day off from the tournament. We're going to take a sail boat tour on Monterey Bay this afternoon and then back to Spanish Bay for dinner.






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Location:Peet's Coffee Monetrey