2009 Matchplay

Monday Practice Round

Watching Mike Weir chip.

Walter Hagen Tent.

13th Green with room to run.

Camilo Villegas from Columbia.

Watching Trevor Immelman hit the long irons. Picture by Joel Gurvine.

Friday Summary - I picked up some leftover tickets from Jay Hoobler for Friday the 27th of February and tried to give them away to clients to use. No one was available to go so I called Ruth about 12:30 PM to see if Jonathan wanted to go with his Dad. I went earlier in the week with some clients and later with a friend of mine in town from Utah and Jonathan cried when he could not go with me. So I called Ruth when I got a chance on her cell and he was at the park with Blaine McGill. He said yes so I had Mom get him set up with a hat and his basketball shoes and a bottle of water. He was ready when I got home and we quickly hurried to drive up to Tangerine and the freeway to park the car. We caught the bus that takes you to the main entrance at the Ritz Carlton Golf Course in Dove Mountain. The weather was perfect. We got their so late that some of the matches were already finished. We checked the board and found out that Phil was 2 down on the 13th so we hurried to try and catch him on the 15th green. As we walked up the 17th fairway we could see him teeing off on the 14th tee box with Stuart Cink. I knew if we skipped, ran in the grass, dodged cactus and threw enough rocks we could get to the 15th green in time to see them tee off. The 15th hole is a 343 yard par 4 and most of the big hitters can drive the green. We parked on the right side of the green and saw Phil hit his ball in the desert. Anyway, we followed the match to the 18th green with Jonathan on his Dad's shoulders most of the way back. We sat behind the green where the players come off the green and have interviews. I thought we might have a good chance at an autograph from Phil if we left right after they putted. Phil Mickelson lost but was kind enough to stay and sign autographs after. I knew he wouldn't stay for long so I got into the corner of the crowd where he had an interview with the Golf Channel and KGUN 9. When Phil started signing autographs I could tell he wouldn't sign very many so I put Jonathan on my shoulders again and had him hold his hat out over the rail up high. Just when I thought Phil was done signing he looked up at Jonathan and smiled. He came over and grabbed his hat and signed it. I had Jonathan say "Thanks Phil" and he smiled again at Jonathan. What a good guy to single out my little man and give him and his Dad a great memory. I took Tia and Jonathan earlier on Monday during the practice round and Tia had her pink visor signed by Camilo Villegas and a ball by Anthony Kim. We enjoyed the Walter Hagen Club tent on Monday courtesy of Janthan DeBake from the Mahoney Group.


This picture was taken during the Tuesday practice round when you could take a camera on the golf course. We happened to follow Phil that day because Tiger played early in the morning on Tuesday. Steve Low, Aaron Laduke and I went up there in the afternoon after I picked up Steve from the airport. All three of us were in the MTC together and served our missions in Holland. Dustin Johnson, Hunter Mahan were playing with Phil on Tuesday.

Jonathan looking at his ticket from Friday to see who's picture is on it.

Jonathan showing Mom who Tiger Woods is. He would point out Tiger every time he saw a picture of him at the tournament or on the golf channel. "Dad that's the guy on TV". We also went to In N Out Burger on Saturday while I was doing pavers at the Shiflet's house and happened to sit next to Justin Leonard. He lost to Ross Fisher I believe in the quarter finals. I had no idea that professional golfers liked In N Out burger. :) We took a picture of him on the camera phone and on the way out he waved to Jonathan and Tia.

JTs Old Navy baseball hat signed by Phil Mickelson.

I am thinking of putting this stuff in a shadow box for little buddy so he can say he was there and watched some of the best golfers in the world play at Dove Mountain.