It's fun to go on pro-am day. Lots fewer fans and some of the pros are really nice. I walked with Tom Watson's group on pro am day at the Nelson back in 97 and it was amazing. He chatted, took pics and signed for fans between holes even. One of the holes had a huge green that was probably 90 feet back to front. The hole was at the very bottom and the worst amateur was on the back fringe. 90 footer with about 5 breaks. Watson looks over it, walks to a spot about a third of the way down the hill, puts his putter down and says "hit it here, and barely hit it". The guy gets up there, I mean he is overweight, knee braces, old blade putter, the works. He says "OK" and dinks it down to where Watson told him to hit it. The putt gathers speed, breaks left , then right, then back, and dies right in the middle of the hole. Gallery, players, Watson go nuts. Great memory for that guy I am sure.
Ditto on Price- while waiting for Watson's group, watched Price and the Faldo go off with their groups. Price acts like everybody is his best friend. Faldo..he shook hands with his guys and then never said another word to them.
Talking about pro-ams, I think the older guys that came up in the 70's really "get it" about pro ams. They came up in a time where they made good money but got the importance of sponsor relations, fans, etc. There was more camraderie on tour and overall. Today's guys make so much money right away, and they have all been coached to have their blinders on and not talk to anybody.
I went to a senior tour event in Florida a couple years ago...those guys make it fun and constantly talk to the fans. Fuzzy, Jacobsen, Price, etc.
[This message has been edited by Prexy's Moon (edited 4/12/2010 10:24a).]