Last Thursday at the John Deere Classic, I bumped into an old friend, D.J. Gregory. Remember the guy with Cerebral Palsy who walked every hole of the 2008 PGA Tour? He was featured in every local newspaper on tour, ESPN, and too many local stations to mention. He never missed a hole and is still walking PGA courses in 2010. Now he has a Walking for Kids Foundation and he’s raising money for disabled kids through his weekly treks.

Every week, any number of golfers sign up and donate any amount of money per birdie made. D.J. follows each one, cheers them on and collects his money for the kids.

Check out his website - walkingforkids.com - make a donation, and cheer him on. Follow his journey through his blog and pictures. All is for a good cause and a very good person.

When D.J. is standing by the ropes the players come to him. They want to know how he’s doing or how they can help. They have to take a number for dinner reservations with him. He’s an inspiration to everyone out here, a lovely story, and a fantastic cause for a contribution. Let him know you’re behind him.

My brother Dan, caddying for Tamie Durdin this week, moaned about the greens, rough and weather. The long hitter "Durds" was struggling in the practice rounds, but fired a two over opener and made the cut tied for 36th.

"There’s no reason for the standard bearers to carry any red numbers after the first day" he said. "Absolutely the toughest U.S. Open track I've ever been on in his 25+ caddy years, someone could hurt themselves out here."

A course like Oakmont you can’t quite prepare for, you only have to survive it. Get your lines off the tee and keep it below the hole - even if you’re putting a five footer. The greens aren’t fair, but you still have to play them and they are running three feet faster than the last Women’s Open. Diabolical, confounding, unrewarding. You play your ass off, hit a good shot and it might suck back 30+ yards from the pin after landing close. I’m not quite sure how members enjoy playing this track every day.

Oakmont has held numerous USGA events, right up there with Merion, Baltustrol and Pinehurst. They keep coming back punishing our finest golfers.  Thank God they removed the trees. Numbers one and ten may be the toughest starting holes in all of golf with the course bunkering just plain penal. At least the scoreboard is laced with a lot of names we can pronounce. For some reason, the Asian contingent skipped this week.

It’s golf in a penal way. Firing away from pins and lagging ten footers isn’t really my idea of golf. But, you marry Oakmont with the USGA and the fireworks begin. Thankfully it only lasts a week. Watching cameras zoom in on trickling putts waiting for them to stop doesn’t raise the TV ratings. Balls should stay on the green after they lip out. Dan said Tammie three putted the par fives Thursday, quite frustrating for a long hitter.

It’s a plodders week, it won’t be exciting golf but the ladies at the top of the board will definitely earn their paycheck. The four to five inches betweeen the ears will be very important. As the third round gets underway there is only one E on top. Standard bearers lighten your load leave the red numbers at volunteer headquarters

Notes:

• Hopefully the "caderros" found Bob’s Garage in nearby Blaunox. A local haunt so dark you’re eyes never adjust, cold beer and air, plus a holiday decor next to none. The locals only recognize each by the bar stool they’re sitting in; it’s too dark for faces. A wonderful place to retreat from the heat, quench a thirst and pick up a beauty, until you get home. You can definitely forget about Oakmont here, nobody knows much about golf making it a great respite for caddies.
• Michelle Wie - prodded by mother - came in a month ago for practice rounds then called her caddy two Tuesdays ago, wanting him at Oakmont on Friday for their first official practice session. Her mom wore her out again and she faded quickly the first round. Hopefully, one of these days they’ll realize a little rest helps preparation a bunch. Didn’t Michelle play really well at the Solheim Cup without th "Hawk" shadowing her around the practice area.

Another week off but a lot going on and I tried to follow the Tiger parade through Augusta as much as possible. The cabin was still intact, Zach chased a few critters from the shed, and when we left on Thursday snow was collecting on the deck. Everywhere I went folks wanted to know my thoughts about Tiger. How would he finish at the Masters? What was going on in his personal life? Would Stevie keep his job? What did you think about the press conference on Monday?

I've always been in Tiger's corner, his indiscretions confused and bothered me tremendously, but Tiger has always been my favorite and there wasn't much time for Phil. This week proved me wrong. For the last four to five months we should have been focusing on Phil's family struggles, Amy's battle with cancer, and his supportive efforts. It kept him from playing world class golf but it moved him to number one in my book.

The phony has left Phil and family takes precedent over golf, the way it should be. Coming into Augusta there was only one top ten and he was way below the radar but should have made headlines. I apologize for some of the thoughts I've held about Phil over the years. Last week I believe my statement was "I've forgotten about Phil and so should you." We never should have taken the Mickelson family from our thoughts and prayers; they deserve much more attention than Mr. Woods.

Driving to Florida over the weekend the old van finally collapsed and it screwed up my schedule for watching the Masters. The whole trip was planned with the Masters in mind and sitting along I-57 Saturday afternoon I missed what experts are calling the greatest half hour of golf. Eagle, eagle, birdie from Phil's bag. Hopefully Amy witnessed the barrage from her Augusta bed because she has been the inspiration this week. Phil has placed his family first, now was his time, and like Jim Nance stated after the last birdie, "a win for the family." There has been a focus on a family for awhile just the wrong one.

Sunday afternoon I found a cheap room in Valdosta, GA just in time to grab a rack of ribs, a cold beverage, and an afternoon of solitude watching the final round. Only my thoughts broke the solitude, embarrassing as they were. All these years I've bad mouthed Phil and now I was watching everything that is good about golf, family, and people. Phil and his family have been dealt a difficult hand, bringing nothing on themselves through reprehensible behavior, and like Phil dealt with the bad break on the second green they have handled it with a smile, a nod to the crowd, and moved on to the next challenge.

You've never heard cursing, there's always time for autographs, and Phil always has time for charitable contributions as like most PGA players, he just likes to tell you about it a bit more. Phil's tour friendships and admirers have grown the last few years, the FIGJAM moniker is melting, and he's shedding that forced "look at me I'm a nice guy persona" he portrays to the galleries. It seems to be all natural these days, really, I've become a Phil fan.

His moment in the trees on thirteen Sunday was exciting for this caddy. I was screaming at the TV hoping "Bones" would talk some sense into him. Phil would have none of it, faced the challenge head on and hit the shot of his life, though he may have pulled it a touch. There was a subtle fist pump and when he missed the four-foot eagle putt there was a little disgust but he went about his business. Tom Watson would have been proud of the behavior maybe not the decision to go for broke.

Phil has won me over. The man, the golfer, and the person are what golf needs these days. Hopefully all goes well at home and Phil is able to play his best competitive golf for awhile. He and his family deserve a few more Majors.

When Arnie and Jack hit the ceremonial first drives Thursday morning at Augusta National,  hopefully all of the Tiger trash will be over. The Monday press conference could drag into Tuesday morning and nobody is worried about the golf yet. A lot of the players are gearing up for the press onslaught.

The new practice facility, which Geoff Ogilvy calls the best he's ever seen, will give them a place to hide and work on their game. It's been an unspoken sore spot with the players for a long time and the Green Jackets finally acquiesced bringing Augusta's practice area into present times. Only a few years ago certain players weren't allowed to hit drivers - the driving range was that short.

Tiger officially arrived at 1:38 p.m. to clicking telescopic cameras sequestered in the practice area. I pity the photographers this week, their back packs will weigh more than any caddy's golf bag, and they will be exploring areas nobody has seen before to get that exclusive shot of El Tigre. He talked with Paul Casey outside the clubhouse, saw Jim Furyk on the practice tee, and played the back nine with '98 champion Mark O'Meara, his best friend he hasn't seen since the British Open. Too bad we're not talking about golf the Sunday before the Masters.

Augusta tweaks - no, it completely overhauls - the course every year. Some changes are unnoticeable, others drastic and completely alter Bobby Jones and Alistair MacKenzie's original concepts. Augusta was always a risk-reward golf course with a lot of birdies available while a bogey lurked close. These days it is a strategic, almost penal course, lulling the roars on the back nine. Zach Johnson won his Masters in '07 despite never going for a par five in two, while Jack used to play the par fives twelve to thirteen under in his day. Sunday afternoon at Augusta just ain't what it used to be but they are trying to bring it back.

This year, of course, Tiger is the favorite. He's well rested, his legs should be strong, and once he steps inside the ropes all thoughts will be on winning his fifteenth major. It's a good year for the Grand Slam, the courses are all aligned for Tiger.

Ernie is another favorite but having an inexperienced caddy on the bag may hinder him. I picked AK last week and he came through but that injured thumb and his swashbuckling style doesn't cut it here. I wish Furyk was a little longer off the tee because his putting touch could tame the quick, undulating greens. Many folks like Paul Casey but he's nursing an injury, Tom Watson is a sentimental favorite and will probably make his first cut in awhile, Vijay doesn't have it any more, and Sergio whines too much to earn a major victory. Oh, I forgot about Phil and probably everyone else should also.

My favorites this week are Steve Stricker, J.B. Holmes, Retief Goosen, Matt Kuchar, and long shot first timer Charl Schwartzel. Only Fuzzy and Gene Sarazen won their inaugural Masters so he's a definite long shot even though playing well at the moment. Sticker has been specifically practicing for Augusta; he has the length, touch on the greens, and temperament to survive Augusta's rolling hills.

In fact all my favorites portray similar traits except J.B.  His extreme length, if he tempers it at times keeping the ball in the fairway, should bring the par fives tumbling and make it easier to play the difficult threes and fours. If he'd take a local Augusta caddy who can read the greens I'd make him my hands on favorite. The local knowledge around this tract is better than any first time tour caddy or friend could offer a pro.

Once we get past the Tiger circus it should be a great week. Augusta is often plagued with inclement weather but this year's forecast is good making for a lot of roars on the back nine Sunday afternoon.

If you want more behind the scenes stories about the Masters go to MarksKaddyKorner.com and dip into the April 2009 archives.

I was supposed to work for Willie Wood at the Nationwide Tour's event in Chattanooga, Tenn., but he withdrew so he could watch his son's last golf tournament of the year. Standing on the Black Creek CC practice tee late Wednesday morning unemployed, my chances for a job were waning, and I was hoping to line up something for the next week. My phone rang; I didn't recognize the number, but for some reason I decided to answer.

"Hello, Mark, this is Tom Watson. Can you work for me next week in Houston? Ox can't make it."

I recognized his deep, direct voice, and asked, "When do want me there? Is Ox OK?"

Neil Oxman, Watson's longtime friend and odd-year caddie when he's not organizing Democratic campaigns, was having trouble getting some of his candidates elected and needed time to put out a few fires with the Democrat populace. The last time I worked for Tom, Ox had some health issues; this time, I think Tom actually got a kick out of Ox's predicament.

The phone conversation had been brief and my smile was long as I walked from the practice area heading for the parking lot; it was time to leave the Nationwide Tour because I had a job with a legend. A few fellow caddies asked whether I had found work. I explained the situation, but I'm not sure they believed me. There are many tall tales told in the parking lot among unemployed caddies.

Tom said he was flying in Tuesday at noon. I drove in Monday night from northern Illinois, got a good night's sleep and walked the Woodlands CC early Tuesday morning. I'd been on this course many times but wanted to be well prepared.

For more from Mark about caddying for Tom Watson, read after the jump.

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 My Tiger Take        

He's coming back, not when I thought, but at a place that will provide all the protection he needs. Augusta National, once you step behind the clubhouse, is off limits to press, photographers, and paparazzi. There may be an occasional discreet interview on the lawn under the oak and the Masters allows their networks limited access to the players but once a player leaves the driving range or parking lot, passes through the clubhouse and walks to the putting greens, he is off limits to the patrons. There are no autographs behind the clubhouse only golf.

The Pinkertons will be out en masse watching for unruly patrons, who will be few because they fear losing their treasured credentials. Some of the weekly passes have been passed on for generations, Augusta National controls who owns a weekly badge and will discontinue any passes of disruptive spectators. You don't see anyone running at Augusta National let alone shouting something idiotic at a player. Just as he likes it Tiger will be cocooned as he goes about his business, remember it's all about him.

Quite frankly I think Tiger is taking the easy route and is being a bit discourteous - John Maguinnes PGA Tour golf commentator called it cowardly - to the Masters and its participants. Any tournament he shows up at will have a circus atmosphere but out of respect for the hallowed grounds and the first major making his initial start should have been someplace else, like Bayhill. Tiger is still controlling everything and making it easy on himself, not explaining what is going on and apologizing to the golf fans. Hopefully his Tuesday press appearance, if there is one, will be a mea culpa to the general public.

His personal life is his business but when his squeaky clean image is used for commercial purposes, and his persona has been used to extract hefty sums of cash from the general public, we deserve an explanation, at the very least an apology. What was portrayed in advertisements wasn't accurate, there was a fleecing going on and those high end corporate sponsors, Tiger included, had no concern for the fans only the almighty corporate profit at our expense. False advertising is against the law but I don't think there will be any charges pressed so maybe an apology would suffice.

Once the golf starts gradually his antics will be forgotten but his pedestal needs to be lowered. Tiger will need to step down, mingle with the masses a bit more and disperse his bodyguards surrounding his every move. There needs to be a reconnection; I'm not sure he owes us this much but it would be nice. Arnold, Jack, Tom, Lee, and Phil all try to connect with the gallery. Tiger has always kept them at a distance only letting them "ohh and ahh" over his golf with never so much as a gaze into the crowd. Now is the time to establish some rapport, be a little human, and appreciate your fans. Hopefully this will be high on Ari Fleisher's recommendation list.

Tiger, with a little genuine effort, will be forgiven over time and all things will be forgotten. We are very forgiving of our sports heroes especially if they come forth and honestly deal with the issue.

There will be no TMZ, Insider Tonight, or other tabloid news reporters anywhere near Augusta National unless they are in the trees surrounding the property. Stevie said he had a dozen news trucks parked outside his New Zealand home when the news broke and they followed his family's every move. At the Masters you won't find anyone but credentialed, long time golf news reporters from around the world, and any interviews will probably be controlled by Billy Payne himself. Any suspect questions will be immediately scratched and they will move on to the next reporter as the perpetrator is escorted from the hallowed press room.

It's time to get back to golf, I think we're all tired of the "Tiger Watch". A good friend of mine, who happens to be a golf writer, told me awhile back he learned that our sports figures should never be our heroes. Our heroes should be closer to home, people we know from everyday life, and folks we are completely sure about in every way. Parents, teachers, friends, and relatives should be the ones we admire.

Talented sports figures are athletically gifted not necessarily morally dignified, and with all their entitlements temptations are lurking constantly. I'm not sure a lot of us could live in Tiger's world and walk through unscathed; it's not as easy as it looks. Maybe we should cut him some slack. I think I will but only after he reconnects with his fans, conducts himself in a gentlemanly manner on the course as Tom Watson suggested, and mixes with the masses a bit more.

We have to remember Tiger's lifelong goals were based only around golf, this family thing came along recently and he'll need to balance his act like Jack did for so many years. The Masters starts a year of majors at sites where Tiger has a pretty good history. There have been wins at Pebble, St. Andrews, and a good showing at Whistling Straits so the Grand Slam is feasible.

Hopefully his golf won't disrupt his therapy schedule and he can slide back into his family life while he's tracking down Bobby Jones' and Jack's legend. They put their family life before their golf, maybe there's more we can learn from golf legends than just golf. Take a look Tiger and see how your heroes conducted themselves. Bobby learned how to control an awful temper and during tournaments Jack often flew home for family activities, he wasn't out carousing the Perkin's parking lots. Take a few notes, you've learned a lot about golf from them, maybe there are a few other lessons on life.  

The Transitions Championship (a few other sponsors also) has been coming to Innisbrook since 2000 and prior to that the Mixed Team PGA/LPGA was held here in the late 80's and early 90's. It was a lot of fun back then, still challenging, but it was the off season and a chance to make a little Christmas money. Now the course has been redesigned (1999), lengthened, and toughened up enough that a major could be staged here.

During the Mixed Team we were gathered around VCR's watching a Jerry Springer show depicting the first professional caddy ever to undergo a sex change operation, how appropriate for that event. We also had to bail a couple of players out of jail but we won't go there either. Today the boys are grinding, trying to make Augusta if not already in, and looking to conquer the ninth most difficult course on tour. This is the first week in Florida caddies will use their range finder's elevation change mechanism, Innisbrook looks like it should be in the Carolinas. There are 100 foot elevation changes throughout the course, something very unusual for a Florida tract.

If the USGA wanted they could host an Open here, the course is that difficult, and with the swirling winds it gets downright ugly in the afternoon sometimes. A couple years ago we walked off the eighteenth Friday morning wondering if we made the cut, by the end of the day we were tied for 32nd. The wind howled and we moved up over forty spots while sitting at Hooters, one of the original seven, across from the main entrance. Bring the fairways in a bit, manufacture some rough, up the stimp reading, convert a par five to a four, and par would be a good Copperhead score.  

Innisbrook with 72 holes of all types of golf is a great vacation spot, corporate getaway, or family weekend. There are lodges, condos, cabins, and rooms stretching throughout the complex and if you want to get away to old Florida drive about thirty minutes north on 17, you'll directly in farm country. The Gulf Coast provides all sorts of activities if you want time away from golf but you really don't need to leave the resort.

With the difficulty of the course look for someone who has patience, long and straight off the tee, and a good par putter. That usually works at any course but especially here. Also, if you can flight the ball below the tree line that takes the wind out of the ballgame, a distinct advantage, so look for a veteran ball striker this week.

Steve Stricker, my favorite and probably everyone's this week, is ready for a win and he's played well here in the past. A couple of hot guys at the moment and maybe a bit under the radar are Jason Dufner, a great ball striker and wind player, plus Chris Dimarco the straightest driver on tour. Retief Goosen is defending champion and always plays well on Open like courses, throw him in the mix, and beware of Dustin Johnson if the driver isn't erratic.

It's a strong field, there are about forty guys who could win and this course doesn't favor any particular type of player. There are a variety of past champions and this week there will be a bunch of great golfers gathered at the top of the leader board still in single digits. It's the toughest Florida swing stop watch out for a four or five man playoff on Sunday.  

In the late 80's dirt roads surrounded the small party at TPC. Back then you could hear the coyotes yipping and roadrunners skittered across the fairways. The wildlife has changed, the golf has almost become secondary to the party, and the attendance rose drastically. The tournament the Thunderbirds reluctantly took over in 1939 under Bob Goldwater's tutelage now claims bragging rights as the PGA Tour's largest party and has contributed $65,000,000 to local charities.

The Thunderbirds, majestically roaming the course in pants only Ian Poulter can appreciate, have created a social event everyone wants to attend. Raucous ASU students, corporate execs, sorority coeds, cowboys, and families are all golf fans this week. When Johnny Miller was destroying Phoenix Country Club and Evel Knievel parked his "Chuckles" eighteen wheeler by the lake it was all about golf. In fact, now, the tables are turned and we spend a lot of time watching the gallery between shots. Players and caddies don't talk, watch, or think much about golf this week, they focus on the fans; the stories in the caddy wagon and locker room are mostly about the goings on outside the ropes.

To hear more from Mark about his experiences at the Phoenix Open, check out after the jump.

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The strong field this week reflects the strength of the course. Riviera, one of George Thomas' greatest creations, is in everyone's top five courses on the PGA Tour. The sign of a good course to me is how well one remembers the holes.

If you play a mediocre track, many holes go unnoticed.  At Riviera, you pick a number for player or caddy and they will immediately draw the perfect picture of that hole. Eighteen is - bar none - the best inland finishing hole. The variety of holes challenges every club in the bag while creating decisions which dare the mind.

Tom Fazio's 2008 redesign lengthen the course a bit making it just over 7,200 yards - still short by Tour standards. The heavy air blowing off the Pacific makes the course play much longer, though. The eucalyptus-tinged breezes knock down shots, and balls don't bounce when they land on the brushed kikuyugrass fronting the greens. The course has a unique collection of par threes, including number six which has a bunker in the middle of the green. The gently bending tight fairways and the spongy poanua greens will keep scores fairly low this week. A couple under every day will find you in the hunt Sunday.

For more info from Mark about this week's Tour stop, check out after the jump.

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Tiger is tucked away in Hattiesburg, MS trying to get his shaft under control. Over the years we've watched him trying to control many wayward drives. Your driver shaft's flex often determines how well you control your tee shots. Tiger's recent flex point control issue has more serious implications on his life, children, and marriage. Who knew two months ago we would be waiting his return while he regained flex point control at Pine Grove Institute instead of a golf testing center in Carlsbad, CA?

He's maintaining, "Sex addiction". Isn't that the celebrity cover-up for cheating on the side? If we pled "sex addiction" when our flex point landed in the wrong fairway too many times I think we would be politely escorted from the course without any mulligans. Supposedly men think about sex every seven seconds, aren't we all a bit obsessed with the subject? Control is the operative word, something Tiger has always espoused on the course, but apparently not in his personal life. When he returns, the week will need to be all about control, and there aren't many places on tour capable of handling the media onslaught.

Augusta, many folks believe these hallowed grounds will be his mea culpa week. The membership is guarded, avoiding publicity whenever possible, and only wants recognition for their course and tournament. They could definitely protect him but do they want too? Tiger, I'm sure, wants to play the Masters because it's the first step toward a possible Grand Slam. The venues this year offer a great opportunity for Tiger, accomplishing Bobby Jones' singular feat definitely crosses his mind.

The Augusta press room would be the idyllic setting, and most of the world's press is already here, but the green jackets don't like circuses. It's very prim and proper on the old tree nursery grounds, stoic may be a better word, and this will be a fiasco. Uh-Uh, not here as the first tournament back in the spotlight, maybe the second or third.

Between now and then, what is there about eight or nine tournaments? He doesn't play many events on the West Coast, and after AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-am significantly shortened the field hoping to get Tiger, he was supposed to be on the Monterrey Peninsula. The paparazzi, celebrities, and circus atmosphere is already present, it would be perfect, plus one of his sponsors, AT&T, could run interference. He not only screwed those fourteen women, Tiger left about thirty pros and sixty amateurs without a tee time in a tournament they've been playing in for years.

Thanks Tiger. He won't be here either to explain his sex addiction then play a little golf. They bent ass over backwards for him, just for an appearance, and told the other dedicated players, "Thanks for your support over the years, we don't need you this year, Tiger's coming in your place." No he's not; he has mandatory tee times at Pine Grove therapy sessions.

Let's see, Phoenix, nope. Already moved boulders (loose impediments) and aced the sixteenth, creating the loudest applause ever heard at a PGA event. He doesn't need them anymore, and hasn't been there since 1997, I think. 

Speaking of thinking let me see if I can step in Tiger's brain while he evaluates his potential return date.

Accenture dropped me so the World Match Play tournament doesn't need require an appearance, nor do they want me right now. Ties have been severed no reason to reopen wounds while there's a tournament going on. Let the boys knock each other around at an event I usually dominate then send me the TV ratings and let me know what you think. It's a five day event; I'd have to be there Monday or Tuesday for the press conferences. Sorry I don't think I can spend all week at a tournament not labeled a Major.

Moving to Florida Tampa is out; Doral is a possibility since it's no longer a Ford event infringing on my Buick ties. Oh, that's right Buick isn't around anymore either. Where have all my sponsors gone? Why aren't they supporting me during my fight with this terrible, life shattering, addiction? Don't folks usually help a person fight physical or psychological addictions? Why is nobody in my corner?

Arnie, I need you Arnie? Bayhill is a bastion and AP controls everything. This might make a little sense here. It's close to home; I can knock off press conferences a little bit each day. Maybe Arnie can transport me back and forth in his helicopter? Sympathetic, Arnold, quite the swashbuckler in his day without the media attention, may understand my "sex addiction" and help me through this ordeal.

Okay, here's the setup for the week at Bayhill. Early Monday morning I'll have a press conference, 7:00am would be ideal because the media doesn't keep early hours. A highly structured, controlled hour where I read from a prepared statement, no questions from anyone, then leave my doctors and therapists at the podium discussing the progress I made at Pine Grove. I can sneak out the back while the press is sequestered.

TW: "Hey Arnie, can I hitch a ride home. I've done enough for the public today."

Hibernating at home inside Isleworth's gates is about as protected as it gets.

TW: "Hey Arnie, how, about getting those news helicopters out of the air?"

AP: "Sorry, Tiger there's only so much I can do."

Tuesday let's have another press conference like the politicians. You know, one of those town hall settings where Obama only answers scripted questions from the audience. They ask questions our camp prepares and I already have the answers. This should make me look real good, poised, relaxed, like I'm ready to get on with my life. I'll look adoring to the public again; maybe have Mom sitting by my side, Elin won't be ready for that seat yet.

I should be out of there by eight and back to Isleworth for some practice. This first tournament back at Bayhill is looking good, making me look good, and I really don't have to divulge that much to the public. I'm still protecting my life, not letting anyone in, but opening up just enough. Maybe the sponsors will filter back.

Wednesday the pro-am will be set up as usual, teeing off first with the top corporate sponsors but the sea of volunteer guards will separate the gallery from Tiger wherever he walks. Any trite remarks from a spectator will result in immediate expulsion from the tournament. Security will be presidential Secret Service level with the pro-am guests sworn to conversations about sports, politics, religion, business, etc., not the normal stuff guys talk about while playing golf. Remember, I'm rehabilitating and can't talk about those things for awhile.

Wow, that was fun being Tiger's brain for a bit. Now if I could crawl inside his.........never mind.  

Yep, Bayhill looks like the best spot. It's two weeks before the Masters and provides all the control Tiger needs. Control is going to be the operative word the rest of his life. Not only controlling his shots on the course, but the shots from the gallery, the press, the kids, and his adoring public. The sooner he handles the shots from outside the ropes, I think, the better off everyone will be.

With Arnold by his side at Bayhill, a grandfatherly, highly respected sports celebrity everyone recognizes and appreciates, Tiger will get through that first week. He'll take some body blows but with Arnold in his corner the bruising won't be bad. Hopefully Arnold's down home charm and charisma rubs off a bit, Tiger taking a few lessons from the King, learning a bit more about life and how to treat people. Golf fans need you and you need us. None of us are bulletproof Tiger, you'll be better off once you accept this.

Hey all,

The crew is cruising the West Coast without me but I've been trying to keep in touch with a few of my buddies. Without El Tigre the tour has had to create some more excitement and they aren't doing it on the course.

Coming down the stretch the last three weeks with a chance to win the tournament three non-winners Bubba Watson, Tim Clark, and Michael Sim all chose to lay up on par fives essentially playing for second and the money, not the win. Phil or Tiger wouldn't have given a thought to the lay up area. Thanks for some boring golf and yesterday's winner Ben Crane didn't even know he won the tournament, his caddy had to tell him. Don't know about you guys but I love that spontaneous celebration when the putt drops.

The only excitement has been off the course, kind of like what NASCAR does to draw attention to their sport. It seems like some driver is always bad mouthing another about rules infractions so the PGA Tour thought they'd try it. Scott McCarron, a member of the Tour Policy Board, publicly accused Phil of cheating, using wedges that are technically legal but not within the spirit of the game. It's gone back and forth with the media stirring the pot almost antagonizing Phil to action. Hopefully we'll get back to some exciting golf inside the ropes soon.

I'm not going to try to explain the groove controversy, why certain wedges are illegal and the others have been grandfathered in, because I don't quite understand the process and implications myself. This mudslinging may alienate an already edgy golfing public who has been pounced on the last few months. The caddies I've talked to definitely indicate the crowds are down, the excitement isn't there, and they don't see it getting better soon. As much as every body hates to admit it the PGA Tour isn't going to be the same without you know who.

This week the tour is at Riviera with the strongest field of the year and a small cramped locker room. McCarron and Mickelson share the same row of lockers, watch out for some fireworks. Remember Scott carries a long putter -- hmm, didn't players insinuate that was stretching the rules years ago -- and may have to use it in self defense if Lefty gets feisty. Hopefully NASCAR won't be that big of influence, but maybe a fight in the locker room is just what the tour needs to get the blood flowing again.

I'm heading for Florida and the Champions Tour next week for some sun, networking, and job hunting. Not much else going on but did Tweet a bit with Daly. He's kind of a lost soul at the moment, I offered my services, and he said he'd keep in touch. Many players have lost weight and had trouble regaining their form, give John time he'll be fine.


Mark's Kaddy Korner

San Diego may be a top tourist destination with Torrey Pines perched high on the public course list but it's not a favorite stop for caddies. Over the years it's been a tough walk in sloppy conditions and the temperature can be 40 degrees with howling winds along the South course coast while sunny and warm on the North course. It's a tough place to pull a club and find a sprinkler head, they never bothered putting numbers on the heads and the circling winds, heavy air, and subtle elevation changes leave many Titleists great distances from the target.

Foreign caddies often skipped this venue because the INS agents would visit Torrey Pine checking work visas and a few loopers lacking proper papers spent some time at the CrossBar Motel. Rumor has it some disgruntled local caddies phoned immigration prior to the tournament.

Two courses mean an extra day of work for most caddies and flying in was always a problem. It's one of the worst airport for landings with a steep descent over the city and quick sharply braking stop on a short runway. A few times planes loaded with players and caddies have come in "hot" with pillow tucked between their legs, head buried in the pillow, and emergency equipment greeting them. If they had to fly in some guys would skip this event.

The course prior to the U.S. Open was usually in suspect shape at best, creating some unsightly fairway lies and more angst among the caddie ranks. It's tough enough to pull a club in pristine conditions but when you factor in the winds, temperature, heavy air, elevation change, questionable yardage markers and then your ball is sitting in a rut, you are SOL. Watch this week you'll see a lot of balls over the green or falling way short, many more than your average tour stop.

Solano Beach just north is caddie habitat area but heavy hearts will be roaming the streets and the fairways. A couple years ago Steve Duplantis, a.k.a. Teflon, one of the true caddy personalities, walked off a curb and was immediately struck and killed by a local cab. The boys will be toasting "Teflon", telling his zany stories when he worked for Furyk and Rich Beem, and wishing they were half the caddy he was without the extreme night life. Steve always left his yardage book and visor in the bag because he never knew where he'd end up that night, or if he'd make the next day's tee time. Showing up on the second or third hole, he'd take the bag from the substitute caddy, keep his job and no misbehavior ever stuck, thus the nickname. Here's to ya, you were a legend!

After the jump, see Mark's tournament predictions for this week!

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Boers and Bernstein, or as my college educated daughter calls them "Boring and Beefcakes," were bad-mouthing Brett Favre earlier this week. Listening for ten or fifteen minutes (because that’s all I can handle), I realized their opinion was probably based on media hype, anti-Packer/Viking sentiment, a tinge of jealousy, and the jaded view from their soapbox because they never step down among us. Their opinion is all that matters, they love to hear themselves talk.

Someone – you all know that someone—once said, "You can learn a lot about a man’s personality during a round of golf."  Apparently, they haven’t played much golf with Brett, and I’m hazarding a guess they never will. I’ve been in Brett’s foursome many times over the years.  A Bears fan when we first met, I told him so on the first tee and he put his arm around me as we walked down the fairway.

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They wouldn't let John Daly in the Sony Open pro-am party on Tuesday night because nobody recognized him. He's lost over a hundred pounds and rededicated himself.  Hopefully John sticks to it.   He's on his last leg, and at 44 years old his competitive years are not many.

Watching the Hawaiian Open's first two rounds made me realize what a draw JD is.

The Golf Channel treated him like royalty while promoting their new show "Being John Daly." They followed every shot Friday afternoon and intertwined some revealing interviews with Frank Nobilo. Too bad there were no shots to follow over the weekend.

John Daly is an enigma. He's like a NASCAR driver looking for a crash. He puzzles friends, family, fellow PGA Tour members, corporate sponsors, and tournament officials. Since 1991, he's never made a splash - it's always been a tidal wave. The press usually blows his personal life out of proportion, but John picks up the pieces and moves on.

We have so many different and contrasting memories of John: the 1991 PGA, him shivering and then walking off the course during the U.S. Open at Pinehurst, and the myriad of stories, pictures, and exaggerations about his off-course exploits.

Caddying on the PGA Tour for twenty years gave me an inside look at John Daly, the human being. He's likeable, moody, charismatic, self-destructive, talented, obsessive-compulsive, and fascinating.  He's a combination of traits occupying opposite ends of the spectrum.  There's not much in the middle.

For more on John Daly, including the REAL story behind his week at the '08 Bay Hill Invitational, check out the rest of the story after the jump.

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