USA TODAY International Edition
COMING TOGETHER
Tourney is group effort for players, hosts
Putting on a golf tournament is no easy feat. It takes money ( millions), people ( thousands) and time ( months). Nathan Grube, tournament director for the PGA Tour Travelers Championship, might tell you that the preparation never stops.
“Right after the tournament, you have to break it down and find out what people liked about ( the event) and what they didn’t like about it,”
Rickie Fowler, on TPC River Highlands
Grube said.
When many of the world’s best players arrive this week at the 148 acres of TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn., they will find 90,000 square feet of tents, 6 miles of rope, 200 golf carts and 21⁄ miles of
2 green mesh. It takes about 4,000 volunteers to put it all together and make it work.
Despite the hustle and bustle required to get everything ready, the tournament provides a period of relief the week after the grueling U. S. Open.
Rickie Fowler is among the PGA Tour stars who appreciates the effort.
Fowler will make his third trip to the Travelers Championship. Coming off the mental and physical test in the national championship at Merion Golf Club, he’ll probably be a bit battered, looking to recharge his golf batteries as he seeks his second PGA Tour title.
“It’s nice to go to a place to regain confidence,” said Fowler, who missed the cut in the Travelers as an amateur in 2009 and tied for 13th in 2010. “It’s not an easy course, but it is known as a place where birdies can be had, so that eases the mind a bit.”
Joe Skovron will be on Fowler’s
“It’s not an easy course, but it is known as a place where birdies can be had.”
bag, as he has been since Fowler turned pro. They have known each other for more than 20 years and have worked together in a little more than 100 tournaments.
As Thursday looms, each will take a different but similar route to tee time.
Both will hit the gym for workouts. While Fowler is scheduled to spend today at a corporate outing for Zurich in New York, Skovron most likely will walk TPC River Highlands to reacquaint himself with the course, checking his marks in the yardage book, reviewing pin placements, find- ing the proper sightlines again and making sure he identifies places on the course that Fowler will need to avoid.
Tuesday, Fowler will spend time at the course, hitting the practice range and maybe playing nine holes. Wednesday, the two will be in the pro- am.
“Come Thursday, we peg it and go,” Fowler said.
This week, Fowler will stay in a hotel instead of renting a house. And he’ll make sure to stop at a local convenience store to stack up on snacks and beverages — “We don’t have to tell my trainer what kind of snacks I get, OK, but it’s just enough to get by,” Fowler said.
Skovron will room with defending champion Marc Leishman’s caddie, Matt Kelly, in a different hotel. Both will try to catch a movie, perhaps catch up on a TV series, watch the NBA playoffs and just plain relax as much as possible before Thursday’s start.
It will be the second of three consecutive tournaments for the two. Fowler has his outfits scripted. Skovron brought along seven golf shirts, five pairs of shorts, three pairs of shoes, rain gear and an assortment of clothes for away from the course. Basically, the two are moving offices with all the tools of their trade at hand in the golf bag or suitcase.
“We’re used to this,” Skovron said. “It’s a routine, just to make sure you are ready to go come Thursday.”
When it comes time for the event, Grube didn’t hesitate in answering what tends to stress him most. “It’s the weather,” he said.
Tournament superintendent Tom DeGrandi, who oversees the golf course, knows a little about that. On June 7, the area accumulated 4.2 inches of rain. The water pushed the crew behind on work and shut down the course for a day.
The forecast for the week looks mostly good, aside from potential storms Tuesday. It should be partly cloudy and warm for the rest of the week.
As much as Grube loves the tournament, his favorite time of year comes later, in the fall, when everything culminates at a celebration to deliver funds raised to charitable organizations.
That’s when the months of preparation pay off, as the tournament has raised $ 30 million for charity since its establishment in 1952.
“I feel an enormous sense of pride for all these charities and a responsibility that we need to put on the best event possible to raise as much money as we can,” Grube said.