Seeing the familiar fairways of Colonial CC and iconic lighthouse at Harbour Town will be welcome sites, but it was uncommon viewing that gently ushered us back into watching golf on TV.
I’ve been a sports fanatic for as long as I can remember. From intently watching the first Skins Game with Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson as a kid, to staying up late as recently as last fall for the finish of a random West Coast college football game between two teams I have no particular rooting interest for…if it’s a sport and it’s on TV, I’ll watch it.
As you can imagine, these last few months have been pretty lean. There are just so many times I can watch the Cleveland Cavaliers complete their comeback from a 3-1 series deficit and take down the juggernaut Golden State Warriors in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals. And I feel like the 2018 Valero Texas Open was on for two weeks straight. Or was that just my imagination?
I was abundantly pleased when the Korean Baseball Organization started to play meaningful games in May, though the early-morning start times ran counter to my East Coast sleep schedule. Bundesliga soccer was great, too, and the German clock makes watching those games a lot easier for me and my 9-year-old son.
Thankfully, the PGA Tour is returning to action this month with the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas and the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head, S.C. While I continue to wear a mask when I run to the store and scrub my hands like I’m a doctor prepping for surgery, at least my TV will allow me a bit of normalcy.
Seeing the familiar fairways of Colonial and the iconic lighthouse at Harbour Town will be welcome sites, but it was uncommon viewing that gently ushered us back into watching golf on TV. Thanks to charitable efforts, the world was treated to rare glimpses of Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Fla. and Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Fla. I had long heard stories about both clubs and had seen pictures of their courses, but it was such a treat to actually watch action take place at such beautiful properties. Even Mother Nature couldn’t dampen my spirits as I watched a soggy Tiger Woods team with Peyton Manning to top Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady.
If you’re keeping score at home, Tiger and Phil have now split their two head-to-head, made-for-TV battles. There has been rampant speculation on “The Match 3” and who would pair with the golf legends—Steph Curry, Michael Jordan, Tony Romo, etc. But I’m more interested in the venue, as in what course would host the event. If Jordan is included, perhaps his ultra-exclusive The Grove XXIII would welcome the spotlight?
Another trip to the Sunshine State for must-see TV would be nice, but, depending on the time of the year, I’m hoping the camera crews head to Camden County, N.J. and open the doors on Pine Valley Golf Club. I can’t imagine how awesome it would be to see two of the greatest to ever play the game compete on one of the most storied layouts in the world. Either way, I’ll be watching.
Rob Thomas
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