Daily Log - Friday
4:00 AM - Spencer
Retire to the bed - reliever of my baby shift.
5:32 AM - Jared
Spill coffee all over my polo and shorts as I’m leaving the house. No time to change.
5:57 AM - Jared
Run to the shuttle bus. Meet Grant Hall from Fayetteville, and we chat about Nolan Richardson, Eddie Sutton and the glory days of college basketball.
6:28 AM - Spencer
Leave Oklahoma City to make the commute. The Turner Turnpike is lovely this time of day.
6:30 AM - Jared
Breakfast in the Media Center. Yogurt. Strawberries and grapes. Chocolate donut.
6:55 AM - Jared
Head down to the first tee grandstand to watch Oklahoma Talor Gooch tee off in the shadow of the Southern Hills clubhouse. As I type this two hours later, he’s already had a handful of nice sand saves and has worked his way into the Top 10.
7:20 AM - Jared
From the first tee grandstand, I wander down the cart path heading west, toward the iconic pink clocktower. I find World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler putting alone. So alone, in fact, that I’m afraid I may startle him. As I unsuccessfully try to hide my gut behind a young tree, I watch the way he methodically works his way around the hole. There’s zero chance he knows I’m here. He’s locked in.
7:45 AM - Jared
Down to the range. The sun is just peeking over the giant oak trees. Rahm, JT, Morikawa, Rickie and Lowry are there. So is Scheffler. Didn’t I…nevermind. Already hearing a few interesting comments about the wind. Something tells me they’re not used to it blowing this hard, this early.
8:02 AM - Spencer
I park in the media lot at the Renaissance Hotel and board the shuttle bus scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Now we wait.
8:25 AM - Spencer
Our driver finally fires up the bus. Overheard - “Who’s gonna have the advantage today in the wind?”
“Bogey.”
True that.
8:36 AM - Spencer
We pass a Kum & Go. Seems a bit blasphemous in QuikTrip country.
8:40 AM - Jared
Back to the Media Center. Spencer is on his way and he wants a waffle.
8:50 AM - Spencer
Still on the bus, I inform a fellow media member of his incoming I-35 woes on the way to Colonial.
“Do you only deliver bad news?” he replied.
I am dejected.
9:10 AM - Spencer
Breakfast in the Media Center. Waffle. Coffee. Fruit.
Fuel.
9:20 AM - Spencer
Time to head to the back nine and follow fellow Oklahoman Talor Gooch.
9:46 AM - Jared
The Tulsa Mesonet site is recording sustained winds of 22 MPH with gusts as high as 40 MPH. Experts are saying it should calm down a bit in the afternoon.
10:00 AM - Spencer
Run into friends of the brand, Jessica and Corey. Chop it up.
10:20 AM - Jared
I cannot express how great everyone is around here. From Bryan Karns to the media relations and communications teams operating the interviews and Media Center, it has been an absolute first-class operation all week long.
10:21 AM - Spencer
Roger Steele is on the range. Chop and selfie it up.
11:00 AM - Spencer
Stumble into friends of the brand, Matt and Brett. Chopping continues.
11:20 AM - Spencer
I find some old coworkers - Parker, Evan and Robert. More chopping, but with a transfusion this time.
11:30 AM - Jared
I meet up with Spencer and find David Jones near the eighth hole. We’re chatting with him about his experience on the grounds crew this week, which has been beefed up to nearly 120 people. More on him here.
12:45 PM - Jared
We climb Grandstand Everest for the first time today. I can’t overstate how much of a feat this is. Seventy-seven metal steps atop the highest ridge on the property. Next time I’ll take a selfie.
1:00 PM - Jared
Lunch. Roast beef, assorted sandwiches and a sliver of chocolate chip brownie.
1:00 PM - Spencer
Also lunch. Beef and rice with a buffalo chicken sandwich. Lemon bar to finish it off.
1:10 PM - Jared
Spencer meets my row mate, Brendan Quinn of The Athletic. We’re getting a little better at explaining what RDGC is – but not much. The topic turns to college basketball, and one fateful game in 2004 that still harbors intense feelings. Spencer and I gleefully recount John Lucas’ left-wing three-pointer with 6.9 seconds remaining in the East Rutherford final to take a two-point lead over St. Joseph’s. Quinn – a 2005 St. Joe’s grad – recounts his experience, who was at the game and watched Jameer Nelson’s shot at the buzzer fall off the front iron, sending the Pokes to the Final Four. While his pain was our elation, the fact remains that no one was beating Emeka Okafor and UCONN that season.
1:15 PM - Spencer
I head down to the practice area to catch Tiger. While there, I chat with Gary Woodland and watch Bubba Watson putt. It’s been a good day.
1:45 PM - Spencer
One quick pass through the PGA Shop to grab a Nike polo. The temptation of the Footjoy section lured me in, but I walked away unscathed - this time. While I’m down here, I sign up for a free “swing analysis.” Didn’t learn much, but I came out with two free Pro V1s. All is not lost.
2:30 PM - Spencer
Starting back toward the media tent, I stop to watch Viktor Hovland, Cam Smith and Will Zalatoris. Tiger’s grouping is just behind them. Following them is a monstrosity of fandom.
3:00 PM - Spencer
One more pass through the dessert bar, crush a water and catch my breath.
4:00 PM - Spencer
I wanted to catch Tiger at the turn, but the shuttle bus doesn’t wait. On the bus, I cautiously look at my stats: 14,178 steps. 6.68 miles. That’s enough for me today.
4:00 PM - Jared
Back to the top of Grandstand Everest to watch the Woods / McIlroy / Spieth group make the turn. While I’m waiting, Kuchar has a fine birdie on 18. More than one group of patrons summits the mountain grandstand only to find that the backside is restricted to media, Southern Hills members and other premium ticket holders.
5:30 PM - Jared
Hearty afternoon snacks. Coney, pretzels and pimento cheese. Back to F2 to write.
6:30 PM - Jared
Tiger just finished. Looks like he’ll make the weekend. The crowds should be epic. Can’t wait.