Ray Sizer's blog
Small world, Babe Ruth and Jarrod's debut
After locking my new friend Bud Weiser and Early Times in the cupboard so they couldn't annoy me anymore for the night I had a restless sleep. My mind was on what was going to happen tomorrow. If I felt that way imagine how Jarrod felt.
I had a little sleep in and then headed out for a walk in my new genuine Hawaiian sandals that are made in China. They look like leather but are actually made out of recycled plastic milk bottles. Within 40 steps my feet were hurting and I made a promise to never go shopping after a couple of beers again. It bought back memories of buying a cd called "dead men don't smoke marijuana" after drinking at the Aussie hotel back home.
I headed towards the famous Waikiki beach to have a look and a swim. Walking a long the beach there were all sorts of people ranging from the size 3 Japanese girls to the middle aged Americans who's swimwear was bigger than a four man tent. You could tell the rich from the poor.
The rich were staying in 5 star hotels that lined the beach. The poor were the ones that had slept on the beach all night with all their possessions.
If you are going to be homeless what a great place to be. What a view. You see quite a few homeless in Honolulu living in parks. You do not at all feel threatened and only once have seen someone begging.
The city is very clean. In Waikiki you would struggle to find rubbish on the ground anywhere.
I had to go for a swim. I found a spot and headed in only to find within 8 steps the water was over my head. Wow. I stayed six steps out at about chest level. I tried to body surf a wave and hit my knees on the sand after one stroke. It is a different beach compared to ours.
There is very little room between the water and the buildings. At high tide the waves are only about 3 meters from one of the hotels.
The only disappointment at the beach was the lack of white pointers!
I headed back to the hotel in bare feet carrying my new sandals. I went into a shop looking for souvenirs. I asked the lady behind the counter "How much for a lei" As soon as I realised what I said I made a hasty retreat to the streets before I could be arrested for soliciting. She may have just said $9.99 but that may have got me in more trouble.
After a couple of block I was puffed and thirsty. It was time for breakfast.
I went into an ABC shop. These are convenience store over here and they are on every second block. I went for the pineapple and coconut muffin with a side order of water.
Back to the hotel, quick shower and down stairs to wait for the courtesy car. Jarrod was very quiet on the way to the course. A few nerves I would say. If he didn't, he would not be human.
Once at the course I went to the media centre to pick up my blue photographers sticker for the day and then went to the grand stand to write a little and watch some of the worlds best golfers come through. It was hard to believe that I was actually there. And what an office to work in.
The biggest group of the day seemed to be watching John Daly. He gives that ball a rip and is a great draw card. They harder he hits it the bigger the applause, even if the ball misses the fairway.
Well it is the time of truth. Jarrod is on the 10th tee (his first hole in the USPGA Tour). He seems relaxed and nails a drive down the middle. He plays his second and nearly puts it in the hole. He makes the putt for birdie, his first ever hole on tour. What a way to start. I will do a hole by hole and also post it on line separately.
Overall Jarrod played a great first round shooting two under par 68. He drooped a shot on the par 3 second and played par golf till a birdie on the 18th.
Made birdie from the rough on the the 2nd. He sunk an 80 ft putt and the Fockers went wild. He then went and bogied the next when he put his drive in the water. Made par on the next three and took bogie on the par three 7th.
Made par on 8 and finished with a brilliant eagle 3 on the par 5 9th. When the putt went in the Fockers plus a photographer close by yelled out Aussie Aussie Aussie oi oi oi.
Jarrod and the other Lyles were very relieved and proud to have their son and brother finish below the card in his first tour event. The photographer was also very proud with a tear in his eye. Actually it was starting to rain and a rain drop got in my eye. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. It has been a great day for Goulburn Valley Golf!
On the course a New Zealand guy come up to the Lyles and introduced himself.
He had watched Jarrod in New Zealand some time ago and when he found out Jarrod was playing while he was on holidays over here asked his wife if he could have a day away from her and the kids, go to the golf and watch Jarrod.
He asked Sally and John to thank Jarrod for the opportunity. I knew he was a New Zealander even before he opened his mouth. It was a dead giveaway when I saw a lamb trailing behind him. You have trouble getting a mobile phone in but this guy brings his sheep. I guess security felt sorry for him being born in New Zealand. Besides you should never take children away from their parents.
On another hole a guy said to me " are you following the Goulburn Valley boy". He had seen my Commonwealth Games hat and and watched me closely following Jarrod. He was Australian but living in Hawaii. His mother was born in Kyabram. Its a small world.
On the way round there was a sign on one a the many expensive houses that line some of the fairways. It read "Why Wei". I thought to myself if you don't your bladder gets very sore, but latter I found out it was referring to Michelle Wei a Hawaiian female golfer that received a sponsors invitation for the third year in a row.
There is a debate about her being able to play on the men's tour. All I can say is that a lot of the marketing has been placed around her playing. She has not made a cut in the three years she has played. She shot 78 today so maybe her score shows she should not be playing considering she is a local and would have played the course more than anyone.
I feel sorry for the guy that missed out because she was playing. If she is good enough to compete let her play otherwise leave her out.
After the last hole John and Sally met a member of the golf club. He said Jarrod reminded him of Babe Ruth. John said if Jarrod can play golf as good as Babe could play baseball we are laughing. He said another member of the club had just bought 5 properties near Wagga Wagga. I think there is some money around this club.
After getting back to the hotel we headed out for dinner and met up with my good friend Bud Weiser again at a restaurant called Don Ramos (or something like that) which claimed to have the best ribs in the world. I had the chicken burger and it was sensational.
I left Bud at the restaurant and told him not to come around latter as I was meeting up with a new friend, Mr Sapporo from Japan. I thought I needed a bit of a change and considering that over 22% of people in Hawaii have Japanese heritage I should talk the Mr Sapporo. My Sapporo is very old, he has been around since 1876. How many headaches has he given people since then.
While discussing things with Mr Sapporo I decided to invite my other American friend Early Times around. I was interested to see how the relationship was between the Americans and the Japanese.
It was clear from the start who was the stronger of the two. On Mr Sapporo's jacket is said 5% alc/vol and on Early Times it said 40%a alc/vol, so it was obvious who was going to win the war.
At golf today people were amazed at the size of my equipment. There were not to many people around with one as big as mine as my friend Christine told me yesterday (check her pic out in yesterdays gallery, she is stunning- a far better mix than bourbon and beer).
Today was and amazing historic day and it was a privilege and an honor to be here.
Heading of to bed now in the hope that Paris, Christine or anyone else wearing a skirt (no not you Sally) will come and tuck me in and give me a kiss good night.
I must note my disappointment at my editor back home. She sent an email which I repeat word for word ' Ray, you're blog is a scream but you're a disgrace - Paris Hilton indeed - she's a skank!
Fiona, what I do on my time is my business and besides I love skanks.
Besides how can you make up your mind when you have never met the girl. I intend meeting her sometime this week if I don't meet her tonight and make her an offer to be our first every page three girl. I will be very happy to take the pics on my own time and I'm sure she will also be impressed by the size of my equipment.
Cheers
Ray
|
Blog entries
|
