Inside the Ropes: Saucon Valley's McCool volunteers at Phoenix Open
Part II of III

  Saucon Valley CC's Robin McCool, a member of the Association's Executive Committee, volunteered for the Golf Channel at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, held Feb. 22-28 at the Tournament Players Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. He recalls his experience in this "Inside the Ropes" series. Here is the second of three installments.

Robin McCool

  Steve hands me my clipboard. I look at the pairing sheet on top, and the Fred Couples, J.B. Holmes, and Ryan Palmer group is circled. This group started on No. 10 and has already been on the course for a little over two hours. This meant two things: I would catch up with them at the turn (in this case the front nine), and since this would be their final nine holes of the day, it would be an early finish for me. I was a little disappointed I wasn’t going to see the back nine and the infamous 16th hole.

  With my assignment in hand, I make my way through the main entrance onto the golf course. I must look official with the headset, radio, and large “TV” sticker on my jacket because at every checkpoint, the ropes are lowered as they see me coming. I now find myself among the spectators, and navigation is a little more challenging. I spot a fellow in a cart and ask if he can give me a ride to the first tee. He agrees, and although we don’t move much faster, it’s an easier trip.

  Out on the course

  I make my way to the first tee just inside the ropes. As the group arrives, I spot the official scorer and get updates on each player’s position. I wait for the players to hit and proceed down the right side of the fairway. I repeat the routine of waiting for the group to putt-out, update the information on my worksheet, and carefully make my way a “half shot ahead” on each hole.

  Although the galleries are sparse compared to the holes on the back nine, they are still engaged with the action. As Fred Couples walks each fairway, he is repeatedly greeted with chants of “Freddie, Freddie.” Couples hits his second shot to the 5th green. As he walks ahead with the club casually draped over his shoulder, I pass behind him. I notice the club he used was a pitching wedge.

  J. B. Holmes still hasn’t hit his second shot. He is up ahead in the desert left of the fairway. This hole is 453 yards long. Couples had a little over 100 yards left, and Holmes was preparing to hit a 70 yard shot. On No. 6, a 436-yard par 4, Couples rips a long drive right down the middle, only to have Holmes outdrive him by 81 yards. Holmes didn’t have more than a lob wedge into that green.

  The next day

  The sky is dark Sunday morning. It’s colder and has been raining on and off. I get an e-mail update indicating our start time today will be around 11 a.m. I put on my rain suit and head to the tournament. Steve arrives at our table in the lunch tent at 10:30 a.m. He goes through the same routine, and I receive my assignment. Today, it’s the Skip Kendall, John Merrick and Jimmy Walker group. I notice my group has teed-off on No. 1 about 30 minutes earlier. I’m ecstatic. I’ll be able to walk with this group for rest of the round, and yes, to experience the 16th hole.

  I catch up with my group on the No. 2 green. The official scorer, Pat, informs me all three guys have bogeyed the first hole. After parring No. 2, Kendall proceeds to birdie the next two. He chips in for birdie on the par 5 third hole. The group moves onto the par 3 fourth hole. Kendall proceeds to hit his tee shot two feet away from the flagstick. Sure enough, through my headset, I hear Steve call out my name. “Yes, go ahead,” I say. “Is that Kendall close on (No.) 4?” he says. “Yes, very close,” I reply. Well, Walker hits it close also, and Steve wants to know who’s putting first. Their balls are probably six inches apart and I honestly can’t tell, so I reply “I don’t know.” Steve had told us to never guess. “If you don’t know, just say so,” he said in our briefing. “OK,” he responds. Both Kendall and Walker make their birdies.

  All three players make par on No. 5 and on number six Kendall makes another birdie. Kendall is now 3 under through six, 13 under for the tournament and close to the lead. Kendall and Walker both bogey the par-4 eighth. As we make the turn, Fowler and Mahan begin to dominate the radio chatter. Kendall bogies Nos. 11, 12, and 14. Merrick also bogies No. 12 and hits it into the water on the par-5 13th, making another bogey. Walker, on the other hand, starts to find his stride with birdies on Nos. 13 and 14. He is only 9-under-par for the tournament.

  Once on the 13th green, we are at that point farthest from the clubhouse. We are also a good distance from the 16th, and unlike some of the holes on the front nine, you can’t really hear the sounds. It now feels like a different place far removed from the bustle. Merrick goes for the par-5 15th in two and hits into the left greenside bunker. As Walker and Kendall wedge their third shots onto the green, the stadium hole — No. 16 — looms in front of us — behind and just to the right of the 15th green.