Arrived at 5:45am after a blistering three and half hour nap... (I knew about this going in but you're never totally prepared). My shoulders ached a little still from being pummeled by the fence on Monday, but not enough to seek treatment...(I have a chiropractor appointment on March 2). I was assigned to Zach Johnson, a touring pro hailing from Cedar Rapids, Iowa... (That Iowa connection--can't seem to get away from it--nor do I want to--love ALL my cousins). He was playing in the Pro-Am with a group of local businessmen and my job was to keep the fans from misbehaving... the pros would sign autographs all day, so I stayed close to keep the fans from over stepping the boundaries. I would meet him and his caddy at the clubhouse, walk him to the driving range, wait while he warmed up, escort him to the putting green, wait while he practiced and then escort him to the first tee and walk the course while he played the practice round. I have never met so many people from Iowa before as his fans followed him around the course...(Arizona is to the Midwest as Florida is to the East Coast). Everyone announced their town or city in Iowa after each hole as Zach signed a few autographs. Nothing out of the ordinary happened and I enjoyed the walking tour of the course and the relaxed atmosphere of the Pro-Am round. Tomorrow was game face day when the pros went to work and the autograph seekers would have to wait until after the round.
When he finished the practice round he went back to the range and putting green for a while and I stayed with him...(we were told to stay with the pro until he was ready to leave the golf course). Then I walked him back to the clubhouse and told him I would be there Thursday. I asked his caddy when I should be there and he told me an hour before tee time. He was scheduled to tee off at 9:30 am on Thursday. He left and I walked the course ("roamed" in security speak) answering questions and giving directions and enjoying watching the fans until around 5pm when we went to the concession stands and helped clear them of patrons ("sweeping" in security speak). Went fairly quickly as all the golf was done, it was getting dusk and it was time to go... Again no incidents... (loving it). I actually got out of there at 6pm (only 12 hours) but again sat in mad traffic on the way home. Hot tub, hot food and in bed early. Showtime starts tomorrow... Trivia of the day--it was Zach Johnson's birthday Wednesday (34) and the Thunderbirds and fans made a fuss...(don't remember my 34th year--still way under the influence with no light at the end of the tunnel yet). But I wished him happy birthday just the same.
P.S. When walking with him he asked me where I was from and I told him New Jersey and I mentioned my cousins from Iowa as a common thread between him and I. Just the kind of guy I am, cousins...
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