Another big dose of Tigermania
By DENNE H. FREEMAN / AP Sports Writer
IRVING, Texas (AP) - Early morning. Saturday.
The 9:02 group with Justin Leonard approaches the first tee.
Leonard is from Dallas and the University of Texas. He grew up
playing at Royal Oaks Country Club where Randy Smith turned him
into one of the best players on the PGA Tour.
A crowd lines the left fairway of the 380-yard Par-4. A crowd
lines the right fairway from tee to green. A crowd surrounds the
tee box. A crowd surrounds the first green.
But it's not for Leonard, a very popular player locally.
It's for Tiger Woods who tees off some two hours later.
"I've never seen crowds like this at the Nelson and I've
been coming a long, long time," said Smith. "I was here
Thursday and never saw such huge crowds. I was here Friday and
never saw anything like it."
Instead of being jealous of Woods, many players like Leonard
realize how good he is for the game.
"The more people who become interested in golf, the better
it is for the industry," Leonard said. "I welcome Tiger.
Now, I just want to raise the level of my game to his."
Woods' success has forced a lot of players on the PGA Tour
to examine their games.
Leonard, who won the Buick Open last year, has changed his
equipment. A golf traditionalist, Leonard has been using a wood
driver (persimmon). He hit it 260-yards and straight as a yardstick.
He finished in the top 10 in the Masters using the club.
But Leonard knew he had to hit it longer. So he's the last
of the PGA professionals to junk his wooden-head driver and go
to heavy metal. He now has an experimental titanium Titleist driver
and he's hitting the ball 20 yards longer. And straighter.
"It's making a big difference in Justin's game,"
Smith said. "He was so hardheaded about that persimmon driver.
Now, maybe because of Tiger, he's decided to join the technology
revolution."
Crowds at the GTE Byron Nelson were double what they usually
were. On Thursday it was an estimated 30,000. On Friday it went
to 60,000. On Saturday it went to 80,000. On Sunday it went to
100,000.
"We've never seen anything like it," said Mark Herron,
manager of the Las Colinas Four Seasons Resort and Club. "The
crowds that swarmed our facility all week were amazing. A lot
of people showed up who had never been on a golf course before.
I think you can assume Tiger had something to do with it. This
is great for golf and golf course destinations like ours."
Wherever Tiger goes the golf money flows.
"Everywhere you go people have a smile on their faces,"
Herron said. "From the corporate tents to the concessions
stands to the golf shops, the golf business is humming. Long live
Tiger."
It's 10 minutes now before Woods tees off and the crowd surges
toward the putting green.
Little kids follow along. Some are almost trampled by over
eager and impolite adults. Tiger politely refuses autograph requests.
He's in his business office now and his game-face trance begins.
He's putting one-handed now, getting a flow going. He hits
a 70-footer and the putt grazes the hole.
The crowd around the green oohs and aahs.
And Tiger hasn't even started his round yet.
Finally, he begins with a sea of people trailing along.
Golf will never be the same. And for the better, most say.
"You had to be there to believe it," Herron said.
"It was an event. And every time Tiger plays it will be an
event from now on."
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