No Explosive

Devices, Please!

 

By Kim J. Harmon

CROMWELL – The Canon Greater Hartford Open (GHO) had another spectacular finish last week as Phil Mickelson became the first golfer to repeat as champion.

And watching the last four holes unfold was thrilling – as Mickelson, David Love III, Jonathan Kaye and Scott Verplank, all at 12-under, wrestled for the top spot. But the whole tournament was a fun experience for anyone who walked the TPC at River Highlands.

Some observations:

+ + +

I can understand a sign that warns people not to bring cell phones or pagers onto the course, but do you really have to tell me that NO EXPLOSIVE DEVICES OF ANY KIND are allowed on the course? I’d like to meet the person who might think it’s okay to bring an explosive device onto the course. Can you imagine some guy reading the sign on the way to the parking lot and saying, “Dang, now I have to leave my suitcase bomb in the trunk!”

+ + +

On Sunday, we thought we were going to have a little fun watching Sergio Garcia waggle his club around for 30 seconds – like he did at Bethpage Black for the U.S. Open a couple weeks ago – but the guy came up and waggled for about five seconds and then blistered a beautiful shot down the fairway. Man, what a ripoff.

+ + +

Who was that guy on the hill at the 17th tee shouting, “Boo-yah!” after every drive? Probably the same obnoxious guy who was shouting, “You the man!” in the background during tournaments a couple of years ago.

+ + +

It was kind of funny, during the Pro-Am last Wednesday, to see the volunteers waving their QUIET signs towards the fairway whenever the pro teed off and then towards the right or left whenever an amateur hit.

+ + +

There was some 40 people from CANON USA playing in the Pro-Am last Wednesday. So, who was minding the store?

+ + +

When Phil Mickelson dropping in that birdie putt on the treacherous par-4 14th hole, a lot of people lining the green thought he may have locked up the tournament. When he slipped his par putt past the hole on the magnificent par-4, 17th hole, a lot of those same people thought he had blown the tournament. Well, he showed them.

+ + +

After Mickelson missed his par putt on the 17th, we decided to wait for Davis Love III and Jonathan Kaye to come through. After Love had missed a birdie putt and Kaye was approaching the green, a tremendous roar came from behind us and we realized then that Mickelson had birdied the 18th and taken the tournament right back. We also realized we should have followed him onto the 18th.

+ + +

Sitting up on hill behind the 16th green and 17th tee, we could see – far in the distance – the bowl surrounding the 18th green. What a tremendous sight to see some 40,000 people already there waiting for the thrilling finish to this great tournament.

+ + +

Isn’t it amazing that with 80,000 people on the TPC at River Highlands, you can still manage to bump into relatives and friends?