Torrey Pines 2012

TORREY PINES, 2012 “It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over”
by Dennis Ginoza

I was at the Farmer’s Insurance Golf Tournament for my second time. Saturday, January 21, at our marshal’s meeting, I got my red jacket, hat, ID, packet, and my assignment—the 18th green.

This year I was not the new kid on the block. I had worked the ropes, on the tee, the fairway, and on the green. Last year, I watched Bubba Watson finish the course with a victory. Phil Mikelson made his challenge but came out short. It was an exciting moment to see. I also watched the movement of the crowd as Tiger Woods got ready to tee off at the 18th. The crowds filled the course, from the tee, down the fairway, to the green. It was an ocean of people moving with anticipation and excitement. That was last year.

A woman named Jenny, a golf instructor, told me, “The crowd is way down this year.” Where was Tiger? He was lured to Dubai for $1.7 million. John Daly, last year had an entourage following him. This year, he was not there. On Friday, we had a disappointment. Phil Mikelson missed the cut. He had much on his mind. His ten year old daughter Sophia fainted and had a small seizure on January 20. Phil is a favorite of the San Diego crowd.

As one spectator told me, “It’s good to see these young players competing.”

The Union Tribune, each day, would print a story of some of the golfers to watch. Bubba Watson’s father surely thought Bubba was going to be a pro baseball player. Then when he was six, Hiram Cook, a pro golfer from San Diego, a left hander enthralled Bubba. At 12 he had shot 62. Once he won a junior tournament by 46 shots. At Torrey Pines, Bubba was back.

Tod Leonard, sportswriter, wrote about how a young 20 year old, Ryo Ishikawa from Japan, was a true competitor. He won a tournament at 15. In 2009 he was the youngest player to reach the top 50 in world rankings. When I was marshalling at the 18th green north, a large group of followers, including reporters with cameras, were watching his every move.

When these pro golfers drive the ball, it is an incredible thing to watch. They make it look easy. When they drive the ball over 300 yards, it disappears from the eye into the blue sky. Then you recapture the ball as it bounces on the fairway. It is then, one realizes why these golfers are pros.

Geoff Ogilvy who is a native of Australia is a seven time PGA winner at the age of 34. On Wednesday at the Pro-Am, a pro with four amateurs who paid for the right to play, had a day of fun. Of the pros that day, Ogilvy had one of the best drives. It went straight, good height, with a distance even a pro would be happy with. He looked content.

The Saturday Union Tribute had this headline about Kyle Stanley, a 23 year old from Gig Harbor, Washington: “Out of Nowhere.” At the end of the day on Saturday, Stanley was 18 under. Tim Sullivan says that the most recent measurement of his drive traveled as fast as 176 miles per hour. Ah, that explains why the ball just disappears from normal vision until it lands on the green. Excitement began to surround this golfer, one “not well known outside the PGA,” says Tod Leonard.

As the tournament proceeded, Brandt Snedeker began to make his mark. As a PGA rookie in 2007, he tied the course of 61 on Torrey Pines North Course. Snedeker can be known as a “comeback kid.” On November 1, he had surgery on his right hip. He was on crutches for five weeks and couldn’t practice fully until New Year’s Day. In 2008 he had a heart break with a Master’s loss. On Friday he had 5 under 67 on the South Course, “the best score in the field, “ writes Todd Leonard.

For five days, the golf pros met the challenge. By Friday, of 158 golfers, 73 made the cut. The rest went their way.

As marshals, we did our job. Keep the crowd controlled and quiet at the time the golfer is making his move, driving, chipping and putting. We are told not to speak to the golfers unless spoken to first. As I opened the ropes for the one the golfers moving from the 17th to the 18th green north, he acknowledged with a, “Thank you.” My response, “You’re welcome.”

To improve the service, the new director of the Tournament said, “We have now 22 concessions for food.” That was a help. Each morning we are given a meal ticket for lunch. For a quick lunch and a break, a concession nearby is a big help.

Sunday, the last day. The field was cut in half so we didn’t have to arrive so early. As the day proceeded, it looked like Kyle Stanley had it wrapped up. At one point he was at 21 under. Those closest to him were trailing by five strokes.

At the 18th green south, Stanley was three strokes ahead of the next player. At 520 yards and par five, all he needed was a 7 stroke round and he would have won. It looked like an easy win for Stanley. The Century Club members were at the green ready for the ending celebration. Kyle Stanley’s name was on the $1,080,000 check.

Brandt Snedeker had already conceded the win. As marshals we were waiting for the victory shout from the crowd and the raised fist from the winning golfer. It didn’t come. Stanley ended up in the waterway. Then he chipped into the upper deck of the green. What we all couldn’t believe was that Stanley triple bogeyed the 18th. It called for play-off on the 18th. The sudden death ended with another tie.

This called for another play-off at the 16th hole. The hundreds of spectators hurried to watch how this drama was going to unfold. Stanley missed his five foot putt ending his chance for victory. Snedeker was the winner and he felt bad for Stanley. He told Stanley, “I’m sorry.”

In the Union Tribune Tod Leonard entitled his story on Monday: “On Top to Flop.” Nick Canepa wrote: “As heartbreakers go, Stanley’s was a doozy.” Hats off to Stanley, he stayed for the media interview. Twice he broke down with tears. His purse was $648,000, not quite the million for Snedeker.

Those of us who watch the best of the best, we are awed by their power, finesse, and precision. But, we also see that they are human. Golf is as much a mental game. It also rides on the emotion.

We also learn that in failure, if we wait long enough, golf as in every game of life, has a silver lining. Just yesterday, February 5, Kyle Stanley won the Phoenix open. Just a week later, he overcame a a major disappointment. The Associated Press headline read: “Tearful Stanley Bounces Back to Claim the Phoenix Open.” Stanley’s last words: “I’m speechless.” A lesson for all of us: tomorrow is another day!