2018 Ft Worth Invitational: Day I_A Pro-am

Arriving late Tuesday evening after a final walk-thru securing the casa, I was tired and ready to get things underway. As always no issues sleeping here as the ac is set much lower than at the fortress on Pecan Hill and the darkness and quiet combine for the deepest sleep conditions. When first awaking in the night, it takes moments longer to gather & gain bearings as in ‘where am I’ ?

About all I know is that I am in the 13th group off tee #1 at 8:50 am.

I unpack, shower and quickly retire after setting my alarm watch to get up, to the shuttle and then on to the course.

I am up with no problem, do the quick 10 minute-exercise workout/routine before getting dressed and notice the phone LED flashing just as I am about to get out of the door.

It is the head of the standard bearer committee and I missed him by a minute. The vmm light comes on so I call him while panicking.

We chat a minute before & ax what’s wrong or maybe it was ‘what’s up?’

Nothing the intent was but to inform me that my group would include last years champion Kevin Kisner, the 2016 winner Chris Kirk and Bill Murray. I think he said something like ‘marquis pairing’ or signature group but it didn’t or doesn’t matter.

One of the amateurs was Rob Hood, member at CCC and THEE Tournament director. ‘Be on your best behavior AND be on time.’

Gulp. BIG GULP. Instant PRESSURE.

I got to the shuttle ground with time to spare but they seemed to be in no hurry so I sent a quick text I was on the bus but it wasn’t moving and when it finally did, I had to beat feet to get to the Volunteer center to get geared up.

Configuring the sign, I checked the apron for the numbers and walked up to the first tee box to begin the adventure and the journey.

I ran into my buddy Rich and he told me they were running about 10 minutes behind and their group was right in front of us so still all good.

My scorer was Gail whom I had been with before and she was not fun. Kind of sour and had a bad habit of mumbling IOW speaking low and in quiet tones. So low and so often I stopped paying CLOSE attention or didn’t even ask her to repeat herself or what she said. most of the tim Even or especially when someone was hitting violating a cardinal rule.

It was aggravating however at this stage of my life living and dealing with such annoyances is second nature so one simply takes it in stride and presses forward.

The group members all finally show up and Mr Murray is animated, comical and entertaining the large gallery before we start. He is in costume with an orange shirt with some kind of green print design by one William Murray, centered upper back, a burnt sienna belt and navy blue shorts. SHORTS !!

Two golf gloves; one green the other gray and a black pork-pie hat with a red stripe inside a wider white band.

On the fourth (4th) hole, a lady outside the ropes asked me what Murray’s handicap was and I told her guessing 10-12 but later finding out from Kevin Kisner’s caddie he (Murray) was given a 20 for the event.

He did hit some good shots and he has a nice, fluid and easy swing very similar to my own. He does however CONSISTENTLY take the club back beyond horizontal but I didn't say anything to him in the line of a tip or pointer, The difference between Bill (Murray) and Phil (Mickelson) is Phil LISTENS. Amateur v professional.

NOTES AS THE DAY WORE ON …

Gail finally said that he (Murray) was hitting into a lot of bunkers and we agreed on that. He got out of most of them fairly well but NOT all of them for sure. She seemed to delight in the negativity and such commentary.

I noticed that early on Mr Murray was raucous and cutting up with nearly all of the fans. In his defense, he began shying away from older males requesting signatures on flags, pictures, golf balls and one repulsive dude in a cubs cap tried to hand him a baseball to sign & Murray replied that would be ‘bad luck’. Good for him I thought to self.

Then he started gravitating to youngsters and engaged in frivolous banter with the young fans signing flags, balls, programs and caps mostly at the urging of parents.

But the time we finished 17, walking from the green to 18 tee, he was flat out ignoring most requests for autographs but he did stop on occasion to speak with a hot babe.

I mentioned to Chairman Chris afterward when he axed how it went that Murray simply wore down, got tired and the constant bombardment by fans had taken its toll and he was done.

On 18, Gail & I planned and plotted how we would make an attempt to get a picture with The Man and agreed to take one each with the others phonecam. Perfect.

But when we reached 18 green, what was a circus had become a true CIRCUS. Can you say Disney on parade? How about Disney on steroids ?

The adoring fans were all about themselves, fighting to get close enough for 15 nanoseconds of fame, being truly obnoxious for a autograph, self-photo or a ‘remember when … ‘ moment being disrespectful to Mr Murray who was most gracious but with little regard to others as well.

Murray kept moving, fans kept creeping in suffocating and Gail didn’t have the ambition, drive or energy to literally fight the crowd to get close enough. I told her to go & get inside the scoring area which we were able to do but once inside and away from the hoi polloi Murray was clearly done and in no mood for one or two more pictures. We were IOW out of luck.

So we got skunked on ‘selfies’ or pictures with the Man but I was able to snap a few along the way to prove it DID happen.

After witnessing the price of fame & notoriety that it involves AND extracts, I think I am fine, quite content and actually happy with the levels of both that I have been dealt.

My goal quickly became getting back to the room, take a shower to remove the dust, grit, grime & sunscreen and relax. I brought a black bellied plover and the Emperor angelfish to paint which is next after this posting and game 7 Bolts v Caps at 7:00. Right here in the room !!

On my OWN PRIVATE telly !!

Which means I do NOT have to go out, contend or deal with the derunks, dispicables and deplorables and can watch the game, have a beer or two here in my night cloths and sleep in tomorrow.

Tomorrow is my day off so I MAY go over briefly as G Sanchez and do a live report from the course but while I am here I also want to do some shipping.

WHAT ? SHOPPING? LIKE WHAT ??

Yes. You know. My favorite shopping place of ALL TIME the Pottery Barn has a BIG STORE here not far from the course. They might have that white coral so awesome & amazing with tropical fish carvings.

And there is a large Barnes & Noble book store, an ACTUAL brick & mortar BOOKSTORE on the TCU campus which is ALWAYS a treat to venture in to for a look see.

There will be some kind of entry to report tomorrow as the horses all burst from the gate.

Your NOT going to want to miss any of the action from the 2018 Fort Worth Invitational from Colonial CC.