The day I held up Fred Couples and Davis Love III

[Libre]

True story.
I was at the Buick Open at the Westchester CC in Harrison NY (as a spectator, of course). This was in the early 90's sometime. I have a few memories of the tournament that really stand out.
If you've only watched the pros on TV but have never seen them live, well, the difference is like night and day. As good as they seem, you can't tell how good they REALLY are on the tube.
I recall watching the late, great Payne Stewart hit a shot into a green and the ball finished a foot or two by the hole.
At one point, I wanted to get away from the throngs and realized I could get real close to an elevated tee box and stand right behind it. That's because the twosome due on the tee weren't premiere players - everyone was following the big names. Well these 2 weren't exactly duffers. One was Jim Thorpe and the other, I can't remember his name, but I can visualize him. Fairly well known player. Both way past their primes, shoulders a little stooped, postures a little crooked, neither contending in the tournament, they were just playing golf. As I said, nobody - or I should say, very few spectators were at this particular tee. First the nameless player (who was smoking a cigarette which he dropped by the side of the tee) got up on the tee and hit, followed by Thorpe. No hooplah, no practice swings, no nothing. Each just teed up the ball, walked a few feet behind it for a moment to line up, then addressed and hit. Each of them hit a huge, booming drive straight down the middle. And then they just walked off.
I left that tee and sort of meandered around a bit - I don't know this course - first time I'd ever been on it. I was sort of standing on a path deciding where to walk next, when all of a sudden a marshall started waving at me furiously (for a marshall). I couldn't figure out why - I wasn't doing anything wrong that I knew about. Then I looked over to my right and saw Fred Couples and Davis Love III on a tee about 20 feet from me, and I was directly in their line! They were on the 9th tee, waiting for me to get out of the way so they could hit! The hole is a par 5 up hill all the way, back to the clubhouse. Needless to say, I hurried out of the way pronto. Then I watched them both hit. FC hit a huuuuuggge shot - but it hooked over the trees on the left to an adjacent fw. DLIII also hit a huuuuuuugggge shot - and his was straight down the middle. Everyone walked up the right side of the fw following DLIII, while FC walked over to the fw on the left, out of sight because of the big trees all the way up, separating the fairways.
We stopped at DLIII's drive - I don't remember exactly how far from the tee it was, but it was really long. But, it was a pro's par 5 and was still a long way from the green, and uphill all the way. DLIII took out an iron (don't know what iron) and hit the longest, straightest iron shot I've ever seen in my life. Interesting to note, by the way, he was of totally normal stature - if anything on the slight side. I guess I expected him to be abnormally big - but he isn't. It always surprises me when I see famous people, that they are just ... people.
So, anyway, we all then continued on up the hill to the green - still no sign of Feddy. Once we got to the green, we saw that Davis' shot had gone over the green to the back fringe. Still no sign of Freddie. We all waited, wondering when Freddie would show up, when all of a sudden, out of nowhere, from over the very tall trees on the left, a ball came sailing out of the sky and came floating down like a kleenex, landing softly, bouncing once and stopping, inches from the hole - with Freddie following a few moments later. DLIII missed his eagle chip but tapped in for the bird. FC also tapped in - I don't know if it was for bird or par, but it was probably bird (drive over trees, presumably 2nd up adjacent fairway, pitch back over trees, tap in for 4).
An experience I'll never forget, as long as I live.

[warbirdlover]

I got a first taste of a tourney this summer and like you say, it's amazing how good these guys are. I wrote up something in the tourney forum.

[VtDivot]

Originally Posted by Libre

DLIII took out an iron (don't know what iron) and hit the longest, straightest iron shot I've ever seen in my life. Interesting to note, by the way, he was of totally normal stature - if anything on the slight side. I guess I expected him to be abnormally big - but he isn't. It always surprises me when I see famous people, that they are just ... people.

Very interesting story!!

DL3 is like 6'3" so he is huge, just not 220 like Ernie

[Wi-Golfer]

Originally Posted by VtDivot

Very interesting story!!

DL3 is like 6'3" so he is huge, just not 220 like Ernie

Don't know about 6'3" being huge, hell that's my height & I weigh 227 & certainly don't feel "huge".

[DVS]

I got to watch the Canadian Open this year as the course is minutes from my house.

I followed Mike Wier and VJ around the first couple of days.

You are right when you say that TV doesn't do justice to how well these guys can play the game. I stood behind Wier on a Par5 tee box. It was a dog leg left with water running all the way on the left. WHen he was lining up, i found it strange what line he was taking. When I got fully behind him, i realised he was going OVER the water!! Not even in my wildest dreams could I imagine someone could possibly go over that water. It wasn't even an option in my sight. Yet Weir tee'ed it up and let'er rip! The ball faded (since Mike is a lefty) along the edge of the fairway for a while, then sailed over the water, hit the fairway on the leg and bounced pass the rough!! And this is Mike Weir we are talking about....not even the biggest hitter in the game!

...and don't even get me going about thier short game! wow, the things that they can do with that golf ball in close range!

-DVS