First trip to Open isn't all about golf for Williamson

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Jay Williamson didn't make the trip to Royal Birkdale just to play in the Open -- he also took in the sights.

What will you remember about the 2008 season? That was the simple question we asked PGATOUR.COM staffers and freelance contributors, who responded with a series of short essays that we will post during November (click here for the archive link).

My fondest memory from the 2008 season is a rather simple one. And it doesn't involve a whole lot of golf, believe it or not.

MORE MEMORIES

Shedloski: Sergios' great year
Awtrey: Johnson-mania
Gutterman: Big shots
Ross: A star is born
Lovell: Boo is Boo
2008 Year in Review archive
Staff essay archive

WATCH

Video: Williamson on playoff

The moment happened in Southport, England, during the week of the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. It was Tuesday, two days before the tournament teed off.

My assignment for the day was to track down Jay Williamson, who had just earned a spot in his first Open Championship by virtue of his runner-up finish to Kenny Perry in a playoff at the John Deere Classic.

Williamson was slightly disappointed to lose in that playoff, but the silver lining was that Perry had already decided he would not be making the trip to the Open Championship. This meant that the next-best finisher at the John Deere Classic would lock up the final spot in the field at Royal Birkdale.

Williamson actually tied for second with Brad Adamonis, who also made the playoff, but the tiebreak was determined by giving the spot to the player with the lower final-round score. Williamson shot a 2-under 69, while Adamonis turned in a 1-under 70.

It was only Tuesday, but it was already a crazy week for Williamson. He flew on a chartered flight to England right after the win and went straight to the course on Monday. Late in the afternoon, I stood behind the 18th green at Royal Birkdale awaiting Williamson for a "last-guy-to-get-in-the-field" piece.

It was freezing. We were both bundled up. But the smile never left Williamson's face.

We did our interview; I scurried back for the warmth of the media center to file my story.

About two hours later, roughly 9 p.m., I was walking through the streets of Southport desperately trying to find a fish 'n chips stand to get an oh-so nutritious meal before turning it in for the night.

Finally, I found my spot and woofed my food. As I walked back to my rental car -- a Mercedes-Benz, believe it or not -- I saw Williamson walking around, by himself, with an ice cream cone. That in itself was strange, because did I mention it was freezing?

Anyway, he was wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. I walked over to find out what the heck he was doing. Wasn't he tired after a transatlantic flight and two agonizingly long practice rounds?

We shot the breeze for a few minutes and Williamson explained that this was his first trip to the other side of the pond and he wanted to take it all in.

He said that it was an honor to be playing in the Open, an experience he'd never forget and he wanted to savor every minute of it.

To me, that was just so cool. The guy has made millions of dollars playing golf, but this particular experience, for him, was priceless. I'm sure it made the ice cream taste all that much sweeter.

T.J. Auclair, an Interactive Producer for PGATOUR.COM, likes to conquer the ski slopes near his Rhode Island home when he's not driving around in a rented Mercedes.