2018 Memorial Pro-Am at Muirfield Golf Club
My son Tyler made the comment almost in passing, “I’m going to play in the Pro-Am at Jack Nicklaus’ Memorial Tournament in Columbus, Ohio.” The tournament sponsor, Nationwide Insurance, had extended an invitation to our agency and Tyler would be playing. “Maybe I should go along and caddie,” I said.
I’ve spent a lifetime being involved with unique, fun events. I knew this would be another, caddying for my son in a PGA Tour pro-am.
I have had the good fortune to be around Jack Nicklaus several times. No one in the game today commands more respect than Jack Nicklaus. There have been a few people in the game with enough influence to shape the game. Bobby Jones and Arnold Palmer come to mind. Jack Nicklaus is one of those few people. Everything about the tournament would have Jack’s stamp on it. I wondered what I would see in the conditioning and design changes of the course from my only other visit in the early ‘80s.
Plans took shape quickly. We would fly to Columbus on Tuesday, with Tyler learning who his PGA Tour player partner would be Tuesday night at the draw party. The Memorial Pro-Am is a limited field event with only 27 teams. Annually the Memorial draws one of the strongest fields on tour, another tribute to Jack. Word was that Jack hand picked each of the tour pros to play in the pro-am. And when Jack asks you to play, you play. The list of PGA pros was the who’s who of the tour.
This was a different PGA Tour pro-am. To start with Nationwide Insurance invitees filled the field. Everyone playing was invited by Nationwide. There was no entry fee. It is the only PGA Tour pro-am like it. Then there was only one wave of players. At most tournaments the pro-am is a revenue source, with two tournaments, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. This event had starting times in the morning only. Next, the groups had three amateurs and a pro, instead of the usual four amateurs per group. Play would move more quickly and be more enjoyable as the professional would have more time with each amateur.
The Memorial is an “almost” major. The leaders of the game both on and off the course show up. I spent an enjoyable time talking with friend, Mike Davis, Executive Director of the USGA. Again, testimony to the respect for Jack in the game. Exiting the van from the hotel, the first player we saw was Tiger Woods who walked past us on his way to the practice tee. The big names were all there.
It is surreal to see players whom you have seen on TV, in person. Phil Michelson, Jim Furyk, Ricky Fowler all right in front of us. One thing is apparent, the TV adds weight. Players that looka bit heavy on TV all look thinner in person. For example, Patrick Reed looks a like he could stand to lose a few pounds when I see him on TV. In person Patrick Reed looks fine. In addition, players such as Henrik Stenson are not as tall as they appear while Rory is quite short in person.
I retrieve Tyler’s bag and we head to the practice tee. Before long we are meeting our PGA Tour pro partner Jason Dufner, the defending champion of the Memorial. Announcing that he did not keep score, I took the scorecard. Our group makes a successful exit from the first tee and we are off. By the time we have played two holes it is apparent Muirfield will be a very difficult golf course. Plentiful rains in the spring have made the three and a half inch rough brutally thick. The speed of the greens is estimated over 13’ on the stempmeter and are “faster than the Masters” according to Dufner. With the tight fairways, Muirfield was going to be a big challenge for the amateurs. Tyler, displaying nerves of steel, played three under par, net, the first five holes.
The advance word on Jason was that he was a nice guy, but quiet. Quiet he was. Explaining that he normally played on Wednesday in the afternoon, for nearly half the round he only spoke when spoken to, responding in brief statements.
One of the more laid back people I have ever come across, Dufner walked slowly, talked slowly, was nearly always non-committal and seldom smiled. Jason is not a fan of pro ams. “Is this one of your favorite courses?” I asked him.
“Well, maybe,” he responded.
“Where would you rather be playing?” I followed.
“I’d rather be home.”
Playing golf in this pro-am was his job. The PGA Tour has eliminated the purse for the pros in the Wednesday pro-am. The rationale was, with nothing to play for, the professional would interact more with the amateurs and focus less on their score. I don’t I agree as the amateurs want to see what score the pros shoot. As a result, Dufner failed to complete three holes, picking up his ball or failing to hole out.
He seemed to engage more when he realized our team was leading the event after nine holes or maybe it was the time of day he would normally wake up. On the back nine, he warmed and interacted much better. Not to the point where he seemed to be enjoying play, but he did broaden out answers to the many questions the group had about life on tour.
The group completed play with two net eagles on holes 17 and 18, we shook hands and Dufner went his separate way. After the great start, Tyler held his own, scoring in the mid 80’s on the incredibly difficult course. We had an enjoyable time with a PGA Tour player. However, there was no excitement with the play or the team score. Nobody talked about how we did or what we shot. Jason Dufner simply asked me for the scorecard, to review and turn in. An hour later word filtered back to us our team had won.
Like all tournaments, players check the scoreboard for the winners. Several of the tour players knew Jason Dufner’s group won. Later in the afternoon in a conversation with Ernie Els, he knew we had won and congratulated us. However an hour later as Dufner walked by our table, we stopped him and told him we won. “We did?” he said, then turned and walked away.
“He doesn’t get it,” said Neil Hughes one of the members of Dufner’s winning team.
While enjoying the famous Muirfield milkshakes we sat soaking up the atmosphere in the grill room. The players sat chatting, having a bite to eat and enjoying their own milkshake. Rory McElroy and Justin Rose sat at an adjacent table engaged in conversation. Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson and Tiger Woods all made appearances.
There is the sense the players are enjoying the moment as much as the wannabes. They know how lucky they are to be there, have the talent to earn playing privileges on tour and, as a result, appreciate every minute. They know they are possibly one season away from being on the outside looking in. They are friendly and open. Jordan Spieth went through the buffet line and walked over to a table where I heard him say, “Hey guys, what’s happening? May I sit here?”
Amateur players in the pro-am have free run of the facility, just like the professionals. With no one stopping me and dressed like a player, I roamed freely. My next stop was out to where Tyler had found friend Lance Ten Broeck, Ernie Els’ caddie. Shortly Ernie showed up and made his way to the practice area, with us in tow. The Big Easy has been a premier player for several decades and watching him hit balls, talk about equipment and life, was a joy. It’s hard not to pull for Ernie Els.
We wandered back to the putting green which overlooks the course. Muirfield is nothing short of a magnificent course. It’s ranking at number fifteen in the “Top 100 in America” is well deserved. The topography is stunning, running up and down hills and valleys with a beautiful creek flowing through it. It is rare and special. The flow of the holes is brilliant. The green design is challenging, fun and rewarding; the bunkering spectacular. Every hole is different and memorable.
To see a great course like Muirfield all shined up, dressed up in her best, is a thrill. I walked around admiring every hole. And oh, is it difficult, but is it fair! Hit good shots and birdies can be made. The amateurs in our group made five natural birdies.
I’m certain Jack Nicklaus is proud of what he has built. I hope the fact that the greatest players in the world come to Columbus, Ohio and shoot ridiculously low scores doesn’t bother him. He used to do it when he was in his prime.
With friendly volunteers, a great facility and field, Jack Nicklaus has a tournament players and fans want to attend. ‘On the bag’ for Tyler at the Memorial, was a highlight in A Life In Golf.
