Shag Bag

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – I have been talking about sports for a living just about every day of my life since I got out of college in 1994. The great thing about this job is that there are some things that can surprise you. When I heard last week that Jack Nicklaus would be playing with Drew Brees, Dan Marino, and Kenny G in the Honda Classic Pro-Am, I thought it would be a nice event.

I underestimated it greatly.

We had an argument at dinner last night over who had the biggest impact on the fans Wednesday. Drew Brees, who nearly followed in Dan Marino’s footsteps as the Miami Dolphins quarterback, is wildly popular after his Super Bowl win about an hour south of here last month. He signed autographs and was loudly cheered as if he were a hometown player.

But it was Nicklaus that held the reverence of the crowd, including his playing partners. The Golden Bear did not disappoint, holing out from the greenside bunker on 17 at the end of the aptly named Bear Trap. Then, on 18, Nicklaus had about a 15 footer for birdie on the closing par 5. The difference between great players and legends is their flair for the big moment. Nicklaus is a legend.

He made the putt.

Steve Hartnett, Steve Bean, and Sgt. Andy Butterworth had a great view of Nicklaus all day. Through the Caddy For A Cure program, they had the opportunity to caddie for Nicklaus Wednesday. Hartnett made a sizeable donation to the charity for the opportunity to loop for Nicklaus, then flew from Colleyville, Texas to Palm Beach Gardens with his friend Steve Bean for the opportunity of a lifetime. Both said it was a remarkable experience, even if they had to wear Boo Weekley-style hunting gear to withstand the cool weather for the 5 hour round.

Hartnett even offered to donate an extra $1,000 to charity for every birdie from the group, $2,000 for an eagle. When he said that he would donate $20,000 for a double eagle, Nicklaus quickly quipped, “Let’s move up to the forward tees!” And, when Nicklaus heard that Caddy For A Cure supports The Wounded Warrior Project, he insisted that a wounded serviceman be an escort for the group. So, Sgt. Butterworth rode with the group for much of the day. He even walked about eight holes, despite his leg amputation.

Sometimes, you look at an event and say it could be nice. Then, when you dig deeper, you realize that what makes the event special is much more than the celebrity factor. It is the impact those celebrities have on so many other lives.

For the first time in my life, I feel old. My golf clubs were stolen early last week and on Saturday I went out for some golf with my kids. They haven't beaten me yet, but it's getting to the point where I have to pay attention because that dreadful day is not so far away.

I had to put a set together from the garage and the pickings were slim. Even though I get more free golf stuff than any human is entitled to, I could only get a few clubs together. I have this habit of giving old stuff to my buddies when new stuff comes in. This may be the only reason I have so many friends.

On the first tee, my youngest kid pulled the head cover off my driver and immediately his eyes lit up in astonishment. "What in the world is this?" he said as he held my Palmer Peerless Persimmon driver out in front of his body like it was a sample of Ebola virus.

Way too tired and broken down to explain that he was holding the wooden driver I used to finish 15th in driving distance on the PGA Tour in 1995, I just said "It's an old family heirloom, now hurry up so we can get to the cafeteria before 5."

After examinations with three hand specialists in the last two weeks, Paula Creamer has a better idea what’s wrong with her injured left thumb.

She still isn’t sure, though, how long she’ll be out of action.

Creamer, who withdrew in pain after the first round of the season-opening Honda PTT LPGA Thailand event on Feb. 18, has been diagnosed with a stretched ligament in her left thumb, an injury that also led to a hyperextension of her metacarpal phalangeal joint, according to her agent, Jay Burton, senior vice president of IMG.

“She is working with an occupational therapist to determine if she can wear a support brace while playing, but at this point, we don't yet have a timetable for her return to play,” Burton said in a statement.

Creamer originally injured the thumb last June, hitting a shot out of the rough at the Wegmans LPGA. Upon her return from Thailand, she visited hand specialists in Michigan, Ohio and Alabama. The LPGA is off the next three weeks with play resuming at the Kia Classic March 25-28 at La Costa & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif.

“It’s so hard not being able to play and compete in the game I love so much,” Creamer wrote on her Twitter site. “I have to be patient, my time will come.”

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Jack Nicklaus believes Tiger Woods is on the verge of returning to competition.

It’s a suspicion Nicklaus has that was strengthened with news this week that Woods is back at his Isleworth home in Florida and hitting golf balls.

Nicklaus believes it’s a sign Woods will play the Masters in five weeks.

“It would surprise me if he didn’t,” Nicklaus said after his pro-am round at the Honda Classic Wednesday. “I can’t imagine in a hundred years he’s going to miss Augusta.”

Nicklaus said he does not know if that’s true, and he’s staying out of Woods’ personal business, but . . .

“As it relates to him playing golf, my guess is as a golfer he’s going to want to try to play Augusta if he has these other things in order,” Nicklaus said.

Nicklaus also suspects Woods will play at least once before Augusta National to get himself ready.

While I love the West Coast and all that it brings – a new year, new season, exciting venues, and the return of the familiar faces from the PGA Tour – when the Tour makes the jump over to the Florida Swing, it signals to me that the season is kicking into high gear! It’s the race to the Masters and all the stories that will be defining this year in professional golf.

We begin that journey this week at the Honda Classic. I’m a big fan of Palm Beach and so are many Tour pros. It’s a golf mecca and one that has the distinct honor of being home (well, home away from home) to Barbara and Jack Nicklaus. And with the Golden Bear’s presence the Honda Classic has grown to become a premiere event on the schedule. This week’s field boasts 23 major championship titles, including past champion and local resident Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington, and Vijay Singh.

I made my first trip to PGA National two years ago. It’s a beautiful resort, course and a place where I feel the sun always shines and the weather is perfect. During my visit that week I had the pleasure to be a guest at the Nicklaus’ home. I would estimate there were at least 100 people in attendance, and everyone that came through the door was greeted in a receiving line first by Barbara and then by Jack. It was the perfect way for them to welcome their guests and they couldn’t have been more gracious.

Barbara and Jack had done their homework on everyone that walked through the door. While I’m sure they did know many of those visiting their home that day, they took the time to learn about those they did not. It was my first time meeting them, but Barbara immediately made me feel welcome by conversing with me about my life in a way that showed she had taken her time to research and remember me. Pretty spectacular.

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Paul Casey didn’t win the Honda Classic in his two previous appearances, but he came away with the great prize of his life playing the tournament.

Casey, an Englishman, met his wife, Jocelyn, at the Honda Classic at the TPC at Heron Bay in Coral Springs, Fla., in 2001.

“Fuzzy Zoeller introduced us,” Casey said.

Casey said he walked into the Radisson hotel at the course after a Tuesday practice round and spotted his future wife having a drink with the wife of former PGA Tour pro Jim Carter. Zoeller made the introduction. Though Casey went on to miss the cut, it proved a special event. Casey tied for 54th at the Honda Classic the following year but hasn’t been back until this season.