Daily Log - Saturday
4:48 AM
Wake up to my dog licking my hand and snorting. She’s been on guard all night due to the storms that have rolled through the area and is telling me to go open the door so she can take a water break.
9:14 AM
Off the shuttle and into the cool, crisp air of the Media Center. TJ is already here - must be that front-row parking pass he has.
9:25 AM
Breakfast sandwich and cappuccino. Spencer should be here any minute.
10:00 AM
Spencer should be here any minute.
10:19 AM
Spencer is here with his wife, Meagan.
10:25 AM
We head out to the range as participants are filing in to warm up. There are already a lot of people here.
11:20 AM
The sun is out, the music is bumping and people are having a lively time. Two different people have recognized the RDGC bison on my ball cap, which is pretty awesome.
NOON
The area between No. 1 and No. 18 is stuffed with people. Frog X is parachuting out of the sky. One parachutist carries the LIV Golf flag and another dons a much larger American flag.
12:15 PM
I watch the trio of Jason Kokrak, Danny Lee and James Piot tee off No. 10, then head back to the Media Center. By the time I walk in, Harold Varner is already -2 on the day. With more than an inch of rain falling overnight, conditions are SOFT and guys are firing right at pins.
2:30 PM
Abe Ancer has a nice sand save on No. 10. Talor Gooch drops a shot out of the same bunker. The crowds are large today.
3:05 PM
I wind through the expansive Fan Village. There are a dozen or so fan activations located here (between No. 1 and No. 18u fairway), plus food trucks, bean bags, Adirondack chairs and more.
3:56 PM
It is TOASTY. TJ is sunburnt. Spencer and Meagan stop by the Media Center, for snack time. DJ leads the pack at -13 with three holes to play. I’ll need to head to flash interviews soon.
4:45 PM
In the interview tent. DJ just missed his par putt on 18, which will make tomorrow much more interesting. He eventually makes his way to the interview scrum alongside Branden Grace, who is two strokes behind in second place.
4:58 PM
Bubba is next in the interview tent. He seems candid and insightful.
5:05 PM
Our final interview is Bryson DeChambeau. I ask him about the effect of starting on a random hole on the golf course. He basically says there is no negative or positive effect. Speak for yourself, bud.
5:30 PM
Back to the interview tent. TJ is scrambling to get ready for the 6 PM broadcast on KTUL. I am waiting on transcripts and writing. Also enjoying a nice charcuterie box.
5:55 PM
Just before the 6 PM broadcast, it begins to dump rain on the Media Center. I can only imagine how TJ and Michelle are faring outside, waiting to go live.
6:02 PM
Write in the rain.