[bambam]

I was run over by a guy jumping a hedge to get an autograph from Tiger in the 2001 US Open! You had to leap frog 6 holes at a time to get premium viewing...it sucked! Plus it was a squillion degrees! So, I watched them warm-up...went home watched the action...came back and watched the post-play practice! You gotta do what works for you right?! I just went to the practice rounds for the 2007 PGA. This is bit cynical but I have heard that British golf fans have a better understanding of the game, especially the Scots (if they will permit me to refer to them as British) so you probably will not have to fend off an inebriated ten ton Timmy barely wearing an ill-fitted autographed Dale Earnhardt Jnr cut-off t-shirt (they guy who jumped the hedge if you are wondering!) That simply would not be cricket, old bean!

Sunday at this year's Masters was much like that as Tiger and Phil were in the same group. You couldn't get a good view of that pairing without jumping many holes ahead. We saw them play #2, #17 and tee off on #18, and in both cases were in the bleachers on those holes an hour or so before that pairing showed up. The bleachers and good standing spots were all taken 20-30 minutes before they were on a hole. Once they arrived, there were people everywhere jockeying for some kind of view, most of which couldn't see anything. Can't imagine playing in a group with Tiger; the fans are noisy, rude, and distracting. The rest of the day we followed other groups, sat far away from the mass of humanity, and had choice views, saw fantastic golf, including the leaders and eventual winner with virtually no crowds to fight (on the course and in the beer lines!).