I have played lots of competitive golf and generally speaking getting off the first tee even though I had the jitters, I would do ok.
However there was the first time I played Pebble Beach, most probabaly the closest thing to golf heaven. Tee times are spaced about every 15 minutes. I must have mentally hit about 50 shots off that first just before we were to tee off.
Unbeknowst to me and our group the foursome behind us had Tom Watson. There was a large throng of people at the first tee to see Tom tee off.
Now, playing with maybe 5 o 6 people on the 1st tee is one thing, but this time there must have over a 100. If you know the 1st tee at Pebble this means a big crowd.
The practice green at Pebble is not too far from the 1st tee. We did the usual tee toss to see who was going first. It was me.
As I stepped to the tee, I noticed that Tom Watson was watching.
This is what happened..
1st I was not sure how to go about teeing up the ball, I was sooo nervous I had one helluva time getting the ball on the tee.
2nd after getting the ball teed up I was not sure how to grip the ball., left hand under or on top. I had to fiddle with that before it felt right.
3rd. I was nervous wreck trying to take my stance, knees shaking. Did not realize my hands could sweat so much.
4th. one of the guys in the group finally said after all of my troublesome, 'just hit the damn ball, will ya, we don't have all day'.
5th I took the only swing I knew how but was so far discomboomerlated I had no idea what I was doing.
6th, I took a swing at it , pogo sticked the ball about 15 yds down to the ladies tee and was so out of balance I fell on my ass.
7th I think all 250 people at the tee laughed so hard that half the people within half a mile came over to see what was so funny.
8th I was so embarrassed that all I could do was laugh myself.
9th, When I looked to see where Tom Watson was, he was nowhere around, so I do not know if he saw it too.
10th. My second shot was much better, getting me to a lay up spot from where I parred it.
Thank goodness for the 15 minute spread. We were never held up and we were never pushed
After the round we waited for the Watson group to show up. I got him to autograph my Pebble Beach hat, which he signed, 'Nice recovery, Tom Watson".
BTW, I shot a 78 that day and Watson shot a 67, from the same tees.
Regards,
Kent