Moving Day

Saturday is "Moving Day" in a golf tournament, because you have to move up in the standings on Saturday to be on top of the tournament on Sunday. We left the house at 7:30 AM this morning and were on the grounds of Bay Hill Golf & Country Club by 8:15 for the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Arnie's tournament raises money every year for the Winnie Palmer Women and Children's Hospital in Orlando. We parked ourselves by the second green and saw 2/3 of the field play a rather difficult par 3. Only 2 birdies but 8 bogies for the 47 players we watched...After Tiger Woods went by, we grabbed some lunch (got an Arnold Palmer Tee -- iced tea/lemonade in a unique bottle), and followed Phil Mickelson around. He had the best shot that we saw all day. We were sitting on the right side of the 8th fairway catching some shade and Phil pushed a drive past the tree line almost to the cart path. We stood on the back of the cart path (Phil said, "You may want to get back a little; it's going to be close.") and watched / heard him sizzle a second shot through the trees about 200 yards that ended about three feet from the pin! What fun! We were impressed by the fitness of many of the golfers, Tiger in particular. And it was Moving Day; Vijay Singh double bogied and Tiger was 4 under, so the two of them and four others are tied for the lead. The day was perfect -- upper 80's, partly cloudy, breezy to keep things feeling a bit cooler. We came home sunburned and with a much greater appreciation for the golfers and the huge infrastructure that makes a tournament happen and look good on television. The galleries were absolutely polite -- quiet and respectful at all times, not only of the players but also of other onlookers. It reminded us of the Gallup Intertribal Indian Ceremonial before the Saturday parade...really really quiet and then a cheer or groan or roar of approval! Just one picture because cameras and cell phones were prohibited. Lots of memories and the hope that we can do this again!