Shell Houston Open

[twelvegage]

I wasn't sure where to put this, so I figured I'd put it here.

I plan on going to the Shell Houston Open w/ my granddad when it comes here to Houston in April. My issue is that I can only afford to go to maybe 2 days of the tournament. Which two should I go to? I've never gone to one before and I'd like to be able to experience as much of it as I can in two days, while still getting to see some good action.

I was thinking Thursday and Sunday, is that no good?

[lilhellmaker17]

I would go Tuesday and Sunday. Tuesday so you can see more of the course, get awesome bag pics, and the pros will be more laid back, good for autographs. and for sunday...well its sunday of a golf tournament...enough said.

[twelvegage]

Oh wow, I honestly didn't even know Tuesdays were an option, lol. That sounds like a good idea though. And I pretty much anticipated on going Sunday unless you guys told me that it was not as fun or something crazy =P

It's my understanding that Rory, Phil, Camillo and Adam Scott are all gonna be there, I'm pretty excited.

[Adam Pettman]

Definately Sunday just for the atmosphere, tuesday is a good idea if you want to get closer to the players.

[BigJim13]

Definately Sunday just for the atmosphere, tuesday is a good idea if you want to get closer to the players.

And if you want to be able to take any pictures. The tournaments, from what I have heard, only allow cameras on the grounds from specatators during practice rounds.

[floggerrushmd]

These are the best days to go view a tourney if you can only see two days. This is what I did for the US Open at Pinehurst, and it was awesome. On Tuesday the players were joking with fans, and Sergio Garcia actually got talked into hitting driver on the third tee (a drivable par four) by the taunting of the fans saying that Daly drove the green earlier. It is the way to see the pros as human beings rather than the supermen that their games imply.

[figjam]

I've never gone to a trounament live but have gone to practice days and they are awesome. You get to see all the players without the crowds, and you get to watch them do different things around the greens. Sometimes they will play different shots from the same spot to see how the ball reacts. It would obviously be good to soak up the atmosphere on Sunday, but you will earn more from a practice day. And practice days are free to get in over here.

[twelvegage]

Ok, well it's only days away now! I wasn't able to get Sunday off from work (I'm a waiter) but I was able to negotiate Tuesday and Thursday.

What time should I get there on Tuesday for the practice rounds? I'm going to borrow my sisters DSLR camera, so hopefully I'll be able to get some good pics. I'm super stoked about this, I got a Cobra hat just like the one Camillo wins so that I can hopefully get him to autograph it.

[SCGolfer]

Twelve you will enjoy thursday better than sunday. Sunday rounds for me are a onetime experience....the crowds suck around the last groups and pretty much by the end of the day you can't see anything unless you just go and sit on 18 all day which sucks worse. Go to a sunday round sometime for the experience but if you want to see some golf stick to a practice round and thursday/friday rounds.


Jason

[Hackin_Away]

Yea def gotta go sunday, dont forget to yell "GET IN THE HOOOOLEE!" the split second it leaves Phils putter face for me....LOL

[twelvegage]

Just got back from the practice round. (Had to come home early to watch the baby while the wife's at work =\ ) Freaking AWESOME!

I've been to many sporting events before (baseball, football, basketball) but never something so fan friendly as this. Something where I'm standing directly next to them, you know? Great suggestion for going today!

I bought a flag and got a few autographs. The only autograph I didn't get that I wanted was Camillo, but when we were forced inside to the clubhouse due to rain I ended up sitting 5 feet from him (he was getting a belt buckle custom made). I almost bumped into Paddy Harrington as he was hopping the guard rail after getting some BBQ.

While standing at the crosswalk from the clubhouse to the range the friendliest were Paddy who was almost flirting with some girls that knew entirely too much about him (were fans, not groupies, lol). He signed every autograph that was requested. Alvaro Quiros was the other that really stood out. I got his autograph and then when about my business and maybe 5 minutes later I looked back and was surprised that he was still there signing autographs and taking pictures.

I was very surprised when K.J. Choi walked right past and signed maybe two autographs, he lives maybe 30 minutes from Redstone. I was ready to thank him in Korean, but got walked right past =\ Doesn't change how I feel about him, still like him, just surprised. Sergio only signed a couple while walking past, which I can understand I guess, but when he came out there weren't that many people.

The only negative I have to say is that I wish I would've been warned about the "dealers" that are trying to get autographs strictly for selling. That cheapens it so much, and they were the pushiest of everyone. Justin Leonard told one of them, by name, "not so close" when the guy nearly shoved the picture in his face.

I'll have the pics up by tomorrow, and will be going on Thursday for the opening round =]

I can't stop smiling right now.

Oh, didn't see Phil or Vijay.

[twelvegage]

FREAKING WIND! I got there and waited through the rain delay and waited for maybe another 2 and a half hours for the wind delay, and then it's freaking called. I work the rest of the tourney and can't get off either =[

Was freaking awesome for the 9 holes that I saw though.

[sssmokin]

C'MON FREDDIE !!!!! Looks like Phil is ready for the Masters...............LOL. Lookin' good.

[Wi-Golfer]

No kidding, did Phil suck or what?
He better get it together quick or it's going to be a fast exit from the Masters.

[twelvegage]

Yeah. I was standing by the 17th green on Thursday on Thursday as him Leonard and Howard III were coming through. They were just laughing b/c when Leonard placed his ball it started rolling. I think Phil was only 3 over at that point.

I ended up getting to go back on Friday after work, my Thursday ticket was still good. I followed Camilo, Dustin Johnson, and Calcavechia. Dustin Johnson plays FAST, and I mean FAAAASSSST! I missed his shots a couple of times he was so fast, as soon as the person before him shot, he already had his practice swing out of the way and he was going. Their ball landed, he swings. Camilo was pretty intense getting on himself and stuff when he'd miss a putt or whatnot, but Johnson was a much more relaxed golfer, kinda rolled with the punches. Real cool guy, was shooting the breeze a little with us while walking to his ball and stuff.

Half way through the round Camilo gave his water bottle to this really good looking girl. At the end when the vans came to pick the players/caddies up due to darkness he told that chick "You can ride with us, come on." And bam, she was riding with him.