D.J.'s blog: Following Micheel in Palm Desert

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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. -- Welcome to the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic hosted by George Lopez. This 90-hole event is a very unique and special week on the PGA TOUR where professionals play with amateurs and celebrities for the first four days. This tournament uses a four course rotation; Silver Rock Resort, La Quinta Country Club, PGA West Arnold Palmer Private Course and The Classic Club, which is the host course.

D.J. Gregory

This week, I had the opportunity to spend time with Shaun Micheel. Shaun is the type of person who will do anything for anybody, even if he does not know you. The perfect example of what I mean is this -- when Shaun was playing in a tournament on the T.C. Jordan Tour in New Bern, N.C., he helped save two people from a sinking car. Shaun provided me with a great amount of detail about this situation, and one thing he said that struck me the most was: "It was one of those moments in your life where you make a split-second decision, and you hope it's the right thing to do. It was. It was the only thing to do." To me, this shows that no matter what the situation is, or how challenging the situation could be, Shaun will always lend a helping hand and be there for others.

Shaun is also very involved with charity, and he hosts his own tournament to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation each year. "Leave the world a better place than you found it," he said. I believe this quote really exemplifies the type of person Shaun Micheel is -- a person who is looking out for the better of others. Shaun is also a person who really enjoys spending time with his family. Shaun has a 4-year-old son, and a daughter who will turn 1 in a few weeks. "In the summertime, they come out (on TOUR) just about every week, and it's a joy to have them out there," he said. "Not many things I would skip practice for, but my family's one of them." As you can see, family is very important to Shaun Micheel.

Besides spending time with his family, Shaun enjoys playing the guitar. "I've got six guitars, which is five more than my wife would rather me have. I enjoy it, I really do." Shaun is also good friends with KISS lead guitarist Tommy Thayer (whom I had the opportunity to meet as Tommy followed Shaun during the second round of the tournament). Shaun also has his pilot's license. Asked what his career would be if he were not a professional golfer, he says, "I'd be a pilot. So that's definitely what I'd be, and I enjoy it." Shaun's dad was one of the first pilots for FedEx.

D.J. Gregory shares a moment with Shaun Micheel.

By the numbers

D.J.'s week and season

Stat Weekly Total YTD Falls 2 4 Sodas 7 18 Bottles Of Water 13 33 Miles Walked 25 65 Miles Traveled 2,891 8,596

I also found it interesting that Shaun has a great memory when it comes to things that happen on the golf course. When talking about the 72nd hole at the 2003 PGA Championship, Shaun said; "I just remember my caddie, who never talked to the ball, incidentally, and who always knew that was kind of a no-no with me -- he's the one on the video you can hear, "Be right!" Everybody thinks it was me saying that. It was not; it was Bob, and I just remember thinking in that split second, 'I cannot believe he's talking to my ball!' It goes through your mind. I mean people ask me, "What was going through your mind?", and what was going through my mind is that: 'Why is he talking to my golf ball?' As if it's going to answer. But you know how we are in golf. We're not superstitious." The PGA of America sent Shaun a DVD of the 2003 PGA Championship, and Shaun said: "I watch it often. It goes with me everywhere I go, and when I need a pick-me-up, I watch it."

Shaun played in the Celebrity division at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. Over the course of four days, Shaun played with comedian Tom Dreesen, baseball legend Yogi Berra, Olympian Toby Dawson, football star Sterling Sharpe and legendary sportscaster Keith Jackson. I found it interesting to see the crowd level that each one of these celebrities attracted.

As for walking the golf courses, I believe the easiest course to walk was La Quinta, and the most difficult course to walk was The Classic Club, which was the host course. The Classic Club course is a long course, but I think the most difficult part of the course was the distance between greens and tees on some holes. Silver Rock Resort had five holes closed to the fans, making it the least "fan friendly" course on the tournament rotation.

I would like to thank Andrea, David, Richard and Ed for their assistance this week. These people were the walking marshals with Shaun Micheel all week. One interesting piece of information I learned this week was that a golf ball travels 5.25 inches in one revolution.

As I close the week at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic hosted by George Lopez, I would like to express my deep appreciation to Shaun Micheel for his kindness and generosity throughout the entire week. I truly appreciate it. I would also like to say thank you to all of the fans who approached me this week to say that I am an inspiration. Special thanks to Tony and Marlene Cucci for their hospitality this week.

I have been asked many times if I will be publishing a book at the end of my journey, and the answer is yes! The book will include all of the information gained during my journey. Thank you to all of those who have sent e-mails, I appreciate your support. Please continue to send your comments and questions.

See you next week at the Buick Invitational in San Diego, where I will be following Bob Tway.