I don’t know what it was about this event that made it so difficult to cover.  I guess it was the wind.  I had forgotten how easily the wind can dehydrate / exhaust you, and at times it seemed like it didn’t matter how many cups of coffee I had—I was going to fall asleep regardless.

The media center at Doral was gorgeous.  The media staff running the center even created a “Universal Golf Magazine” desk sign for me, which was a nice touch.  The food was luxurious as well, but because of the small field of players, there were a couple of days where finding an appropriate time to eat was difficult, as they seemed to close down the dining area before you were able to get off of the course.

I titled this e-book “Jekyll and Hyde Golf” for a few reasons, the most prevalent being the 18th hole at the Blue Monster, which is pictured on the cover.  I never thought the difficulty of a single hole could be changed so much based on wind direction.  I suppose the scores on many Florida courses are dictated by the wind, but the 18th here almost seems bi-polar.  When the wind was in the players’ faces, the scoring average was over 4.6.  With a tailwind? It was almost an easy birdie hole, as many players found themselves with a 140-yard approach shot into the green. 

But overall, a terrific experience, especially with my efforts to get a few quotes from Robert Karlsson.  At least I finally know what “Playing like a Muppet” means. 

The highlights:

1.       The incredibly logical and comfortable roads around Doral

2.       Meeting Jim McLean and Butch Harmon

3.       Learning more fun facts about Tim Clark from his brother Raymond

4.       Interview(s) with Robert Karlsson, the clean-shaven Swedish Bigfoot

5.       The drama / wrestling match around Schwartzel’s ball on 17 on Sunday

You can purchase the e-book here. 

Thanks so much for the support, and tell your friends if you’re enjoying what you’re reading.  And, as always, if you find yourself at a PGA Tour event soon, drop me a line.

Cheers.