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It started a couple
of weeks ago, after not being able to find tickets
for a year or in anyway - My Boss,
Steve,
in appreciation for a job well done,
got me 2 (TWO!) CLUBHOUSE tickets
for the Monday 6/15 practice round. And because
I'm physically
handicapped (C4 - spinal cord injury in 95
-it REALLY screwed up my
game!) He had arranged for a special cart
to be awaiting me.
I had a terrific day - for the most part
I posted myself and my bright
metallic red handicap scooter right at the
exit rope between the 9th
green and 10th tee (where, as the golfers
coming down the little hill
after putting on the 9th pretty much HAD
to see me). (I got just about
EVERYONE to sign my hat : but thats not the
main point here - if you're
interested in ALL the great moments let me
know and I'll post a follow
up - including Davis Love III and the
ball he gave me later at 18!)
We could see the gallery building at the
tee on the 9th down the fairway
so we could tell it was THE MAN coming -
plus we started getting
crowding at the gate area where I was - rather
rudely I might add, just
pushing between the ropes and me, despite
my being right up next to the
rope in a handicap cart, and really crowding
me out almost completely -
I still had a clear shot from the front though.
I knew Tiger did not
sign autographs during a round - and I knew
I wouldn't be able to get
close enough at the end of the round so I
really was not expecting to
get Tigers autograph BUT had really hoped
to get Fluffs!
As Tiger and Fluff made their way down the
little hill towards the now
PACKED exit area - I did catch Tiger and
Fluff's eye! Tiger looked
DIRECTLY at the cart and then me and nodded!
He was then swallowed by
the crowd at the ropes and Fluff was just
after him. Fluff had walked
past about 2 or three yards when I yelled
"FLUFF!" and tried to raise my
hat over the crowd between us - hoping I
could get him to give me his
autograph - when MUCH to my amazement he
reached over and grabbed my hat
and yelled "Can you get down to the ropes
at the fairway? (about 20
yards down the hill behind me) I nodded YES
furiously as he marched on
into the crowd towards the tee box!
The crowd behind me now instantly parted
and let me through - when I got
to the ropes My view of the tee box was blocked
by a tree so I couldn't
see what was going on. Some VERY nice
and helpful person who could see
told me that Fluff had the hat. After
they tee'd off and were heading
down the fairway the person said "Fluff's
bring it to Tiger now!". Just
then they popped in my view and Tiger was
signing the underside of the
brim, Fluff then took it and started walking
towards me, as he
approached me TIGER looked over and smiled
and WAVED at ME! Fluff gave
me my hat - and of course I THANKED him heartily
and shook his hand! He
was then off - I looked and sure enough on
the underside of the brim in
big bold letters was Tiger's autograph ...
I was the only one who had
gotten it so far (although I'm sure he signed
at the end of his round or
something).
I was so excited that it took me twenty minutes
to realize I DIDN'T GET
FLUFF'S! I was unable to catch up with
them or get close enough again
to try (boohoo). I will get Fluff's
in the future though!
Needless to say being personally acknowledged
by Tiger TWICE in one day
AND GETTING HIS AUTOGRAPH will be a high
point in my life and memory for
the rest of my life! It really was
was a dream come true for me.
As for me... I will always continue to struggle
and fight my way out of
the wheel chair and back on to the course
with renewed hope and
inspiration! I have a new dream and
goal - and I will make it happen
some how - with the memory and mental picture
of tigers nod and wave and
the #3 Titleist that Davis Love gave me after
signing my hat on the
18th, I am going to go back to the Olympic
club SOMEDAY , SOMEHOW, and
using that ball I AM GOING TO PLAY THE 18TH
AT THE OLYMPIC CLUB -
PERIOD!
David
06/15/98
Questions or Comments
david@songsmyth.com
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