Rd. 2 Blog: AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am  PGATOUR.COM Contributor • Round 1 Blog | • Tournament Coverage Editor's note: Brett Avery, PGATOUR.com's Fantasy Insider, is going to do a live blog direct from the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am this week. Check back frequently throughout the day for his next entry. Have a question or comment for Brett? Send it to him at brettavery@aol.com. All times are pacific.  Bill Murray is one of many celebrities playing in this event. (Cohen/WireImage)
4:04 p.m. Enough of Romano and James. Murray was right: funeral. They may be laugh riots in scripted shows but these two are giving the gallery zero love. Besides, the sky is growing dark yet again and the BlackBerry battery is down toward empty. Time to skip the last two, walk a few hundred yards to the clubhouse and try to beat the rush back to Pebble. As with the Hopez this blog experience has been a treat. The one-to-one relationship between pro and amateur gives everyone time to bond -- plenty of time during six-hour-plus rounds. It's no surprise so many of these pairings remain intact for years. Enjoy the weekend telecasts. And thanks for reading along these past few days. 3:57 p.m. Romano hits fairway-wood off the tee at the seventh. Clampett, seeing James with a similar club, waves him over and talks him into driver. Mighty swing, big clod of dirt flies up from six inches behind the ball. The ball dribbles 40 yards and dives into a pond. James puts another ball on a tee, Clampett says something while making a loose hands at the top gesture. James nods. And hits this one 50 yards, barely avoiding the pond. Mr. Clampett obviously is not aware of the commentator's oath: First, speak no harm. 3:44 p.m. No blog from Pebble would be complete without at least one full hole with Kevin James and Ray Romano. Playing behind the crowd trailing Murray they have a fraction of the following -- but Romano is nearly guaranteed tons of airtime in Saturday's telecast. James, 8 under. Pro Bobby Clampett is even. Romano, 2 under. Pro Scott Gutschewski is 3 over. This group is one of the funerals Murray cracked wise about on the same green 15 minutes ago. James barely gets his tee shot airborne, half gouges his 20-yard pitch and nearly holes a 50-footer. Romano runs a 45-footer three yards by and curls the comebacker into the cup. "Don't stroke on the hole," he says glumly. PS: Don't believe that camera-adds-10-pounds stuff where James is concerned. More like it takes off 20. He's got the girth of a Jerome Bettis. 3:32 p.m. Murray, over the back left of the sixth green, tells the gallery, "there are only a few more funerals behind us." Standing at his ball, he asks whether anyone has some rum. A man offers his beer but Murray's face brightens when a woman standing nearby produces a silver flask. He takes a long pull, waits about five seconds and then another pull. Life is good this late in the day. 3:22 p.m. Peeked inside Murray's bag while they wait for the green to clear at the sixth. Mizuno blades! Half the guys on TOUR don't play forged irons, for cryin' out loud. Mickelson's team ends the day 22 under, six ahead of at least three teams (Mallinger, Owen and Lehman). No one at Poppy Hills is on the pro-am board (although it only shows four slots). 3:18 p.m. Murray, grinding at 7 under and about 15 or 16 out of the pro-am lead, is trying to make birdie at the par-4 fifth. He spends about two minutes reading a 20-footer with Simpson only to hit a left-edge putt three feet wide. Walking off the green he turns to the gallery. "Are you the lady with the morphine?" 2:55 p.m. Here's somethibng from that last rain burst. Michael Bamberger of Sports Illustrated -- he's the writer involved in the Michelle Wie drop brouhaha last year -- walks up to the fourth tee trailing Murray. Murray is not pleased. "Who are you?" Murray demands as partner Scott Simpson stands over his teed ball. Bamberger looks as if he's trying to gauge Murray's comedic temperature. "I'm a writer with Sports Illustrated," Bamberger says. "Are you allowed in here? Shouldn't you be outside the ropes?" By now he's fingering Bamberger's credentials, hanging around his neck on a lanyard. Murray is not convinced. "Yes," Bamberger says, looking around as if sensing a security guard is about to grab him by the collar. "How long have you been following me?" Murray demands. "Two days." Murray waits two beats and turns as Jeff Sluman hits his drive. "You don't know what it's like to have the blood sucked out of you." 2:52 p.m. And clear again. In fact, the sun is trying its best to break through for the first time all day. 2:36 p.m. Rain's back to Level 2. Heartbreaking. Murray in the next group, shirtsleeves and cigar. 2:29 p.m. Saw a leaderboard. Mickelson and Furyk at 11 under, Mickelson-You at 20 under and four clear. Pity the fool who wrote in his fantasy column that when it came to Mickelson he was So. Over. Him. 2:16 p.m. Third hole, Costner drives down a ravine into trees, somehow hits out to the fairway beside Trahan. Costner wants to hit wedge, Trahan has 9-iron in his hands, the caddie wants Costner to hit 7-iron but he pulls the 8. Two practice swings and Costner turns to the gallery. "Watch this." He comes up a club short, on the front half of the green. Seriously, how did this guy come within one full swing of winning an Open? 2:07 p.m. Rain again? Wasn't the forecast for something like 70-percent chance of rain by this late in the afternoon? 1:59 p.m. For those of you who followed the Hopez blog, a comparison between Alice Cooper's gallery in Palm Springs and the Costner following here: fewer calf-high leather boots, fewer skin-tight jeans, fewer plunging necklines (although the weather might have something to do with that) and more golf claps. 1:52 p.m. Costner, no headcovers on the three woods. What gives? Never saw that on the bag of a guy who nearly won the U.S. Open. 1:45 p.m. Q: What identifying mark does Costner use on his golf balls? A: An autograph. That's what a woman at the first green discovered when he picked up after his fifth shot and threw the ball toward the ropes. Sheesh. 1:32 p.m. The Kevin Costner group is falling behind, which is unbelievable in a six-hour-plus round. Part of the reason is that the catcalls from the women in the gallery are increasing (as are the pleas for autographs that he's heeding). Of course, the fact that the celebs are being waylaid for a TV interview at the 18th green doesn't help. The other three players are nearly to their tee shots when Costner breaks away from the clamor of women and breaks into a trot to catch up. Have to say, today's outfit is nearly identical to yesterday's: chocolate button sweater-vest, white oxford shirt with unbuttoned cuffs and pushed-up sleeves, light brown slacks and a brown tie. Do you think he never made it to the cleaners in time to pick up the rest of his wardrobe for this week? 1:25 p.m. Re pro partner of Rush Limbaugh: despite what you're hearing from the sub on his radio show, he's not in the pairings. Perhaps his jet is still refueling. 1:19 p.m. Little boy, about 10, runs up to his mother after emerging from the autograph scrums along the rope lines between the 18th green and first tee. "Who did you get?" she asks. He points out the scrawls on the cover of his pairing sheet. "I got Carson Daly, George Lopez, Andy Garcia ... " Then he turns and motions toward the tee. "And that guy." Peter Gallagher. Couldn't pick him out of a "Law & Order" lineup, either. 12:54 p.m. According to the board behind the 18th green, both Lopez and Garcia are in the pro-am top 10. Phil Mickelson and Harry You, an 18 handicap who is CEO of BearingPoint, the company on Mickelson's visor, are 17 under through 10 holes at Pebble. Mickelson is two under for the day and co-leader with Jim Furyk at 9 under. Time for lunch. And in celebration of the improving weather, al fresco. Back in a bit. 12:46 p.m. Two couples sitting on a blanket left of the 18th fairway. One of the guys is giving a detailed recitation of Stankowski's accomplishments. Nationwide Tour guy, knows how to win, blah, blah, blah. He is oblivious to the fact that the women are riveted by the presence of Andy Garcia, 25 feet away. 12:33 p.m. Now it's within about 20 seconds of the sun breaking through. A few minutes ago it was pouring. Off, on, off, on. For the entire morning. How the heck do mothers in this area figure out how to dress their kids for school? 12:27 p.m. Lopez's ball is headed waaaaay right at the short 17th but glances off the branches of a tall cypress and ricochets into a bunker. His escape from a blind lie flies at least 75 yards, still rising as it passes the gallery on the other side of the green. Garcia cuts the tension: "One less club." 12:20 p.m. George Lopez is 12 under, not bad considering partner Parnevik is three under. But Garcia is 11 under despite Stankowski being five over. Improving your pro by 16 shots in the first 25 holes? That's nuts. 12:11 p.m. And suddenly the skies brighten and the rain stops, just as George Lopez, who has hit his layup second near a drain beside the cart path left of the 16th, prepares to hit his third from 101 yards. Once on the green, the ball keeps tracking toward the hole and grazes the cup. He practically runs to the green, acknowledging the gallery's hearty cheer, and his caddie must run him down to hand over the putter. Before he makes par, though, he makes a dramatic show of peeling off his rain jacket like a burlesque dancer. Into every Crosby round a little sunshine must fall. 12:03 p.m. Woman just walked past wearing two-inch, open-toed heels. At least she has her priorities straight: She's staying to the cart path during the pouring rain. 11:48 a.m. Level 2.5 again on the rain meter. Most of the gallery seems to have scattered (or just plain stayed home). But Jesper Parnevik (George Lopez) and Paul Stankowski (Andy Garcia) have a vocal, dogged crowd of about 150 trooping along. The entourage should be entertaining at the 15th and 16th, before jumping into the clubhouse. Didn't see more than two or three swings by Lopez at what he calls "The Hopez" because his caddie was writing a daily piece for this site. Lopez said before that tournament that he'd put a lot of effort into his game to represent Bob Hope's event in the best possible way. What you see on television of Lopez and Bill Murray, the two biggest clowns, are the antics. What TV doesn't adequately portray is that they're pretty good golfers. It's not easy thinking up an endless stream of wisecracks (or in Murray's case pratfalls, too) without intruding on the level of concentration the pros need to do their jobs. Heck, to not disrupt their own game, too. So when Lopez knocks it close at the par-3 15th and then rolls home the putt it shows the hard work is worth it. Even if it doesn't show on the telecast. 11:30 a.m. Walker, short and right of the green. Won't be telling the story about this year's shot come next. Although the bump-and-run to 18 inches sure was pretty. (The lip-out for par, not so much.) 11:24 a.m. While standing at the 15th tee, Clay Walker is telling Jeff Overton about how he nearly aced here last year. "Never had one," Overton admits. "As stiff as you hit it?" Walker asks. "Nope." Another way that there's hope for us all. 11:16 a.m. Poppy has almost zero ocean views despite being about a mile from the Pacific as the seagull flies. There's a gap in the cypress trees right of the 14th fairway where you can look down the hill and see Seal Rock and Bird Rock. On a clear day, that is. Today it's a fuzzy view, although every few seconds the mist and rain drifts off and gives a better glimpse. For about two or three seconds. The blimp is droning overhead, arriving at the scene. It's up there somewhere , not high enough to be visible above the trees and apparently not low enough to duck below the low clouds. 11:14 a.m. Regarding the WD by Fred Couples: Minutes before heading to the first tee he injured his back making some twisting move. Seriously, if you have a back that's about as strong as wet gauze, should you ever make some twisting motion? 11:10 a.m. Regarding the question on pro-am scores: posted all day at http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/2007/r005/alt2.html 11:07 a.m. Regarding a rain intensity scale question: A four equals a nice, hot meal in the fine Poppy Hills clubhouse. For now a spot at the back of the snack tent beside the 14th must suffice. 10:53 a.m. All clear. Just in time for Clay Walker's group. Not a country music guy, couldn't pick him out of a lineup on a "Law & Order" rerun. Son process of elimination: Not the older guy who is a lefty. That's Glenn Frey. Not the heavy guy. That's Kevin Stadler. Not the tall guy. That's Jeff Overton. That leaves the guy who has hit it into the right trees twice at the uphill 13th. That, girls and boys, is Clay Walker. And now a low burner from the brush into a bunker. Time to put it in the pocket and head to the next ... but first he'll try one from the sand. And hit it 35 feet past the hole. Still not pocket time. Although it is when Overton lags a 40-footer for birdie to 18 inches. Nope, even then, with Frey lining up a 12-footer for par, Walker takes a half-hearted run at double. Overton taps in and the rain kicks up a notch. Welcome to the Crosby. 10:40 a.m. Ducked into a port-a-john for a moment to escape Level 2.5 but there are only two this far out on the course so sitting inside for 15 minutes is out of the question. This ranks up with the time, early in the career, covering a big Friday night high school football game with playoff implications (at a field with no press box), I wound up writing 14 inches of copy while sitting on the hood of the idling car, parked beneath a bank drive-thru to escape the snowflakes. 10:33 a.m. Harder still. Level 2 and rising. 10:29 a.m. On again. 10:18 a.m. Here's another unexpected tidbit: Kelly Slater used an interlocking grip. Combine that with a grip that half points his right palm toward the sky and it takes the right side of the course out of play. Still, for a 3 he's not showing the best course management, and that relates to his right-to-left game. At the par-5 12th, he has about 225 from a hanging lie, double-crosses it and watches it sail OB. He puts a second ball in play, tinkers with the lie before placing it just so (remember: lift, clean and place) and then hammers that one deeper into the forest. Good thing Perez is in good shape. Someone's got to watch his back. Time to find another group. For the moment the on-again, off-again rain is off. 10:07 a.m. Kelly Slater has this funky cross-handed, left hand low thing that looks strange being used by a guy of his age. At the short 11th, his tee shot winds up about four feet in front of the putting surface, leaving about 28 feet of wet turf of three different heights. The first putt zooms more than four feet past, so it's a surprise when he announces he'll finish. One brief read, over the ball, slams it home. How Crenshawesque. 9:43 a.m. Tons of testosterone in this group: Jason Gore with the sneaky-long Daly, Kelly Slater with Pat Perez. There aren't many safe par-5s today. If Slater's two full swings at the 10th are any indication his game is full of towering, looping draws. Gunning for the green at the reachable par-5 he blisters a utility wood over the green and onto the cart path beside the 11th tee. We're not talking a big guy, folks. He's about 5-foot-8, which is small by today's standards for professional golfers, but despite the formless rainshirt it's obvious the guy has muscles to spare. Around the greens, he displays a delicate touch. He totally plays to that 3 handicap. The rain returns as the group holes out, from nothing to level 1.5 in 30 seconds. But there are only so many times you can watch an eight-time world champion. At least one more hole hunched over the PDA. 9:35 a.m. Famous last words: The rain has stopped so heading out on the course. Heading out with Kelly Slater and Daly for a few. 9:10 a.m. Almost everyone's in rain gear and some flavor of hat while hiding beneath an umbrella. Carson Daly is wearing a knit cap with the tournament logo but his rain suit has a Bob Hope Chrysler Classic logo. Can that be right? Does the Hope, played in cushy Palm Springs, give out full rain suits while here you get a cap? How about a choice between a knit cap or one of those mini-umbrella-as-headwear jobbers? 8:25 a.m. Singh stops hitting balls for a minute to shake hands with Thomas Gibson and praise him on his drama series. Unfortunately, Singh mangles the name of the program, calling it Dangerous Minds (It's actually Criminal Minds). Gibson acknowledges he's had comments from a lot of players (who probably didn't get the same vibes in his Dharma and Greg days). "But none (of the players) have been as enthusiastic as Vijay," Gibson says with a wry smile. Heck, the fact he stopped hitting balls for 60 seconds is enough praise. 8:17 a.m. No names or numbers, to protect the innocent. Pro and caddie in serious whisper mode, discussing their amateur's boundless enthusiasm on a dark morning, thanks to being in contention for the pro-am title. "I keep telling him he doesn't want to win this thing in his first year," pro says, shaking his head. "That guarantees you won't be invited back again" 8:03 a.m. There were a few raindrops on the windshield of the shuttle heading from Pebble Beach to Poppy Hills but for the moment the multitude of rain suits on the practice tee and greens are precautionary measures. Expect that to change shortly. Darker, lower clouds are approaching and everyone knows this day will turn ugly without much prompting. BTW, the range balls are distributed in those pyramid-on-a-base things and Vijay Singh, at the far left of the tee, is ready for a refill. Craig T. Nelson, who is in the spot to his left, probably could learn more about how to play in 10 minutes of turning around to watch Singh than in trying to his his own balls. We all could, for that matter. 7:04 a.m. Late start this morning, chalked up to general avoidance of what's outside the hotel room door. Ronald Reagan used the "trust but verify" line a few times in his career so perhaps it's best deployed here. The weather forecast is for heavy rain through the day and right now it's feeling a lot colder outside than 54 degrees. There's a sense of impending rain even though there are spots of blue visible through the clouds. (OK, I went outside long enough to ransack the continental breakfast in the lobby and raise a moistened finger to the skies. Grabbed a few extra energy bars for the backpack, just in case.) Where the "trust but verify" part comes in is that for this hour, there's a 90-percent chance of precipitation and it hits 100 percent for the next two hours. Delicious. At least the wind isn't supposed to howl. These are the conditions the PGA TOUR field staff anticipated when they moved some of the hole locations to higher spots on the greens and instituted preferred lies (lift, clean and place in the fairways) for the first three rounds. If we get a deluge today -- and every indication is that we will -- the 180 pros and 180 amateurs will have to slug through as best they can. The caddies? Oh, they love this stuff. Really. Live for it, in fact. Nice job by Phil Mickelson late yesterday squeezing into a tie for lead at seven-under 65 with John Mallinger and Nick Watney. Mickelson and Watney, who played Poppy Hills yesterday, get Pebble Beach today. Mallinger, who tamed Pebble in spectacular fashion (incoming nine of 31!) goes to Spyglass Hill. The celebrities are at Poppy Hills today, site of Mickelson's only loss in the NCAA Championships (1991). As someone who covered that tournament when the course was relatively young, it'll be interesting to see how it has matured. It'll also be interesting to see how everyone handles the weather. Gotta jump in the car and head to the course. Back soon. |
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