Tour Championship Recap

Fun day at the Tour Championship. Left the house before 7:15 and stopped by Taco Bell to fuel up for the day. Fought rush hour traffic down 75 and picked up Will shortly after eight. Found a penny in his parking lot, though it was tails side up. Made the drive down Howell Mill and Northside to the shuttle parking at the Congress Center.

We were one of the first dozen or so cars in the parking lot, around 8:45. The shuttles were supposed to start running at nine. Gates opened at ten. The first attendant said the shuttles wouldn't start until 9:45. Another attendant said 9:30. There was a whole parking lot full of busses ready to go. We were numbers 9 and 10 in line. Then a third attendant came up and said they would get the busses running soon. A bus pulled on and we got on. And waited. The attendants and drivers weren't rushed, they kept repeating "The gates don't open until ten." Didn't pull out until 9:30.  As did three other busses full of fans. You'd think they'd have wanted to get the busses back to pick up more riders. 

Of course it was after ten before we arrived. Fortunately there were not throngs of folk waiting to get in. We walked right in, well before it was packed. This allowed us to walk around and get our bearings. Circled back to the gift shop and other booths. I made a putt to win a golf towel. So did Will. Later we watched players warm up. Missed the opening ceremony where Bobby Jones IV hit the first shot. Did see the first twosome hit their first two shots on one.

In the second group Louis Oosthazen found trouble on his first two shots, and we were right there to see him pitch out. We walked the course, watching play on one, two, three, four, five, and six. Forgot to stop at the 2nd hole marker commemorating Bobby Jones' hole in one.

After his group would finish a hole, Kevin Kisner's caddie Duane Bock would hand Kisner his driver, then trudge down the side of the next fairway ahead of the golfers. Never seen that before. Could be due to a broken toe that hasn't healed quickly. Bock is famous for his huge calves. My coworker Jessica, who we saw at the tourney, noticed them. Ironically, earlier this year Bock injured one of his calves. 

https://www.golfchannel.com/news/kisner-cards-70-replacement-looper-after-normal-caddie-injures-giant-calf 

https://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/08/kevin-kisner-caddie-legs-calves-picture-video 

https://www.onlineathens.com/sports/20190413/caddies-fight-pains-to-stand-with-golfers 

By then it was after 1 pm. We walked back past the 6th tee and 5th green as Justin Rose and Brandt Snedaker were finishing. We got something to drink, and watched action on the 8th fairway. Walked 9, 10, 12, and 13, stopping at fairways and greens to watch the action.

The 13 green is near the tee boxes for 14 and 17, and also 16 green, all at the top of a hill. While we were there Justin Rose hit his approach to 16 into the stands. We walked down for a closer look. Rose apologized to the fans in the stands for the inconvenience. A rules official showed Rose where to drop – right in front of us. A TV camera had to be moved, so Will and other fan helped out. I was right behind Rose, so I snapped pictures of the entire event. After all the hubbub, Rose's tough pitch rolled far past the hole.

Next we walked down the 14 fairway, and watched action on the par three 15. We went up to the top of the stands behind 15 green, but couldn't see the tee shots. We could look out the back, as we overlooked the 16 tee box (as well as the lake, clubhouse, and 8th fairway). As we left the stands Matt Kuchar and Xander were walking to the green, doling out fist bumps. 

We walked over to the 18 fairway, not far from the green. Paul Casey hit a wayward shot so we walked over to watch his approach. Later we walked around and took up a position right next to the green, near where the players walked off. Good spot to see the approach shots into the par five green, but we were looking west into the sun so the ball flight was hard to see. Saw the last ten groups finish (there were only 15 twosomes). 

Saw all 30 players hit shots. Took photos of 17 players: Oosthazen, DeChambeau, Corey Conners, Sungjau Im, Leishman, Fleetwood, Fowler, Rose, Snedeker, Matsuyama, Casey, Webb Simpson, Ancer, Rory, Rahm, Koepka, and Patrick Reed. After finishing and hitting extra balls at the range, Rickie Fowler signed autographs and posed for pictures, mostly for kids. There were probably more, but we also saw Rory and DeChambeau signing autographs. 

Former Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed, who was just inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, was hanging out at 18 green. Dressed in all white, several fans mingled with him. Also saw East Cobb Baseball founder Gary Baldwin stalking the course. Danny Morris was also there, but we never saw him.

All day I alternated between sunglasses and my regular glasses. I tried to stay off my phone except to take pictures. Most people wore shorts, but I went with lightweight long pants. Shorts on 98% of others. Wore matching Nikes that performed okay. Should've worn a completely different outfit. Didn't wear a golf shirt and looked out of place. Represented in my home Braves cap, which I thought would be easy to spot on TV or print. Saw a couple of other home caps, and several road caps. Most wore golf caps. Will sported his Masters cap. 

As the final group Justin Thomas and Patrick Cantlay putted out on 18, we made our long trek back to the shuttle busses. Right before we walked out the gate a lady handed us cold bottles of water. I probably looked like I needed it. There were signs for water stations on the course but it took us a while to finally find one, the old fashioned cooler inside a small wood structure like on most golf courses. Cold water. Later we found a newfangled water station near the 18 green that spat out warm water. Between the Taco Bell breakfast and the heat my stomach was feeling weird, so I didn't risk eating anything else.

I was scared we'd have to wait in a line for a bus, but there was a line of busses waiting on we. We were able to walk right on to the first bus in line, shortly after 6 pm. Arrived back at the Congress Center before 6:30, cutting through heavy traffic arriving for the Falcons Redskins game. I was tired, but it was a good kind of tired. Took 15134 steps / 7.2 miles over eight hours in the 94 degree heat.

Thought I'd cap off the day by swinging by Fuddruckers for my birthday burger. But the Windy Hill location had shut down. Decided to go all in and drive up to the Fudds on Barrett Parkway. It had closed as well. I was near the Varsity but decided to try a nearby Cook Out on Chastain. Finding it busy, I decided to go further up 575 to Stevie B's in Woodstock. Bad idea, but it ate.