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By Greg Hardwig
Naples Daily News
November 10, 2004
Riding in his helicopter, Greg Norman knows how to make an entrance. The tournament host for The Franklin Templeton Shootout knows how to do the same for the players in the field.
The players arrived in Southwest Florida throughout the day and evening on Tuesday, most of them by airplane. And then they arrived at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, usually via limousine.
For Steve Flesch and Bill Haas, two of the six playing in their first Shootout, it's just a sign of what's to come this week. Norman and his wife, Laura, are known for treating the players and their significant others right during their stay.
| Merrill Lynch Shootout | | Schedule |
| Wed | Pro-am, shamble format, tee times 8:30 a.m.-10:20 a.m. off Nos. 1 and 10; Gates open, 7:30 a.m. |
| Thu | Pro-am, best-ball format, tee times 8:30 a.m.-10:20 a.m. off Nos. 1 and 10; Gates open, 7:30 a.m. |
| Fri | First round, modified alternate shot, tee times 9:35 a.m.- 10:25 a.m.; TV: USA Network, 4-6 p.m. (tape delayed); Family Golf Clinic hosted by Greg Norman, 3:30 p.m.; Gates open, 8:30 a.m. |
| Sat | Second round, better ball, tee times 9:40 a.m.-10:30 a.m.; TV: CBS, 1-3 p.m. (live); Gates open, 8:30 a.m. |
| Sun | Final round, scramble, tee times 8:50 a.m.-9:40 a.m.; TV: CBS, 1-3 p.m. or 4-6 p.m.; Gates open, 8 a.m. |
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That's one reason the Shootout has become harder and harder to get into since it moved to the Greg Norman-designed Tiburón Golf Club in 2001. Norman said over 40 players had expressed an interest in playing, and that was a more difficult year than most to notify those who didn't make it.
"It's a tough invite," said Flesch, a lefty from Kentucky who finished 18th on the money list this year. "I've been trying to get in this event for three years now. I guess, fortunately, I had a good enough year where I got invited.
"I like playing one or two offseason events, and this one I love because my in-laws have a place down here in Bonita (Springs).
They're not here now, but I've played out here before. I just like the Naples area. It's nice to come down here after the season ends, unwind, and enjoy a good event like this."
Flesch, Haas, Nick Faldo, Chris Riley, Loren Roberts and Rory Sabbatini will make their debuts during the pro-am today and Thursday. Tournament play begins on Friday and goes through Sunday.
Haas, who will be playing with his father, Jay, realizes that he may not be in the field necessarily for the year he had on the course -- albeit it was a pretty good one considering he just turned professional during the summer. He made the cut in the U.S. Open, finishing 40th, secured his first top-10 finish at the Deutsche Bank Championship, and had his first unofficial win -- teaming with his dad to win the CVS Charity Classic in late June.
"This is such a cool deal for me, just to be asked," Haas said, as he waited for his lost luggage to arrive. "Half of it is my dad and the father-son deal. It's a good story, but just to be asked ... I'm honored to be here.
"I've watched it on TV in the past and then to be part of it is pretty neat for me."
Flesch's career has been pretty neat in and of itself.
The Cincinnati native started playing the game right-handed before switching to his natural left side. He played mostly on the Nationwide Tour, breaking through in 1997 with his first professional win -- the season-end ing Nationwide Tour Championship -- to jump up high enough to earn his PGA Tour card by finishing fourth on the tour's money list.
While Flesch may not carry the name of some of the players in the field or the most popular on tour, he and Sabbatini are the top two on the money list in the field; Sabbatini was 16th.
"It just shows you the depth of the tour anymore," said Flesch, who will play with former British Open champion Justin Leonard this week. "There's so many guys that can play well. Obviously, you're rewarded if you play well, but there are so many guys on tour anymore that can flat play."
Flesch has shown he can flat play over the past seven years.
| Merrill Lynch Shootout | | Tickets |
"A Taste of WCI" includes four golf vouchers for 10 South Florida courses for just $100. That includes all five days of the Shootout. Those who purchase the package can play the courses for cart fee only.
Other tickets are: weekly pass, Wednesday through Sunday, $60; Daily grounds ticket, $20; Reserved seat on the 18th hole, $50. Children 12 and under will be admitted free with a ticketed adult.
Spectators may also bring a $25 receipt from Red Lobster and buy one ticket and get one free. Daily ticket prices go up $5 when purchased at the gate for that day's round.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call 888-66-SHARK (74275). |
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He's been 35th or higher four times over that span and finally secured his first tour win last year at the HP Classic of New Orleans, sinking a 30-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole. He followed that up this year by winning the Bank of America Colonial, edging Chad Campbell -- also in the field this week -- by a stroke.
But perhaps his highlight was making the cut at the Masters.
And he did more than that, closing with a 69 to tie for 17th.
"I have three goals each year: I want to win, obviously. I want to get to the Tour Championship, and I want to play Augusta," he said. "Not to discount any of the other majors, but that one just has the mystique, the aura."
This year, Flesch also contributed some of the best quotes of the tournament, mostly concerning that mystique of Augusta. For example, he searched and searched for a broken tee to tee his ball up on a par-3. No dice.
"You're walking around thinking it's like Disney World," Flesch said back in April.
"There's got to be substructure underneath here with tunnels and escape hatches."
Maybe so, but it also happens to have become a nice spot for lefties. Mike Weir won the green jacket in 2003, and Phil Mickelson grabbed his first major title at Augusta this year.
Um, Steve...
"I know," he said. "I've heard it's my year coming up. I achieved the first part, getting in for next year again."
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