Daily Log - Thursday

6:19 AM

I arrive at the media lot 11 minutes early. Proud of myself, I careless craft a self-serving observation in the direction of the shuttle coordinator (in good fun).

“You might want your credential if you think you’re getting on this bus.”

Damn. Defeated, I trudge back to the car and grab my lanyard.

6:58 AM

The bus arrives at the Media Center. This is a delightful journey, chatting with new sportswriter friends about the Dodgers, Australian rules football and who is the biggest prep golf star to never make it on Tour.

7:20 AM

Breakfast. Egg casserole, porridge and black coffee.

7:54 AM

It is noticeably chillier in the Media Center this morning. I did not bring an extra layer.

8:11 AM

The supergroup of Speith, McIlroy and Woods tee off the high shelf on the 10th tee. Hard to estimate how many people are following the group, but I conservatively estimate it’s at least dozens. Tigers birdies the hole.

9:00 AM

I head outside and find a cool spot to watch the festivities. Big John is zooming around the course on his topless Club Car, leading the field with two birdies in his first five holes. Is this 2007?

Content with my position, I stay put for the next hour or so, observing from my roost as the mass of humanity following Supergroup worms its way through the back nine of the property. Eventually, the crowd around me grows. I become an anonymous figure in the cacophony of bodies. I am one of dozens.

10:45 AM

Time to get some steps. Downhill is always the easiest. Gravity takes me to the practice range.

11:35 AM

Oklahoman Talor Gooch emerges from the putting green to loosen up on the range. I make small talk with his caddie and friend of the brand, Mal Baker. Salt-of-the-earth kinda guy.

12:30 PM

Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and other superstars are on the range, but I start the trek back up the hill for lunch. I need to nourish before heading back into the elements.

1:00 PM

Am I actually eating healthy? Fish, Caesar salad and a banana is on the menu.

1:30 PM

Meet with a few friends of the brand at the top of the 18th grandstand. They’re in from Springfield, MO. Very pleasant.

2:00 PM

Run into a contingency from Oak Hill Country Club, the site of the 2023 PGA Championship. An invite to next year’s tournament and a few local dining recommendations later, it’s time to get back to the Media Center.

3:30 PM

Meet Ryan Adams (PGA Magazine) and chat about Frisco, happy hours and the Broken Tee Society.

4:15 PM

Snack time. Bratwurst and pretzel.

5:00 PM

One day of championship golf is in the books. Rors looks primed. The wind is blowing. The shuttle is beautifully air-conditioned. Until tomorrow.