David Shedloski
David Shedloski is a columnist for GolfBrief.com. He also writes for PGATour.com and is the author of "Golden Twilight."
A long time since
http://www.golfbrief.com/articles/732/1/A-long-time-since/Page1.html
By David Shedloski
Published on 03/13/2008
ORLANDO — It was half a lifetime ago that journeyman pro Mark Wilson shared the same fairways with a guy who had a world of potential but didn’t yet own the world.
“Things have changed a lot since then for both of us,” Wilson said with a wry smile.
Indeed. Just a little.
Wilson found himself paired with Tiger Woods for the first time in his professional career Thursday in the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard. It wasn’t what you would consider an earth-shattering occasion or even one to note on a calendar. But there was significance nonetheless.
When you play a role, even a bit part, in an ongoing opera, you have to acknowledge it and even revel in it, even if you don’t get to take a bow at the end.
The last time Wilson, 33, shared the fairways with Woods was in the final of the 1992 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at Wollaston Golf Club in Milton, Mass. Woods won his second of three straight Junior Am titles — and six straight U.S. Golf Association events, but it wasn’t easy, rallying from two down with five holes to play before scoring a 1 up triumph thanks to Wilson’s closing double bogey.
"I was excited to see it," Wilson, who matched Woods with an even-par 70, said of the pairing that also included Steve Lowery. "It probably happened at the right time. A year or two ago, I might have been overwhelmed. Now I just play golf and don’t worry much about what the other guy’s doing."
Like the proceedings 16 years before, Wilson got out in front of Woods during Thursday’s sun-drenched round but got caught down the stretch. Wilson offered an assist this time, however, making a quadruple-bogey 8 at the 18th (his ninth hole of the day) after arriving there at 2 under par.
Woods, the No. 1 player in the world, sputtered with two birdies and two bogeys to equal Wilson’s level-par 70.
"Maybe I was too greedy with this only being Thursday," he said. "It's been a while and it's good to see him out here," Woods said. "A lot of the guys I grew up playing junior and college golf with are out here now. So, a lot of good memories."
"We obviously didn’t take the same path," said Wilson, who won the Ben Hogan Award in 1996 as the top NCAA student golfer, the same year Woods was the NCAA champion and collegiate player of the year. "But we both made it to the PGA Tour, which is what really matters. I have one win and he has a few more. You know, he’s also a little better now than he was then.”
Indeed. Just a little.
Wilson’s victory came just last year at the Honda Classic. Only puts him 62 behind Woods. Well, at least they’re tied with one child each, born about two months apart.
“It was a fun day. We talked a lot. We have children about the same age, and we talked about that … dirty diapers and all,” Wilson added. “It will be something neat to tell my kids about one day.”
Indeed. And more than just a little.
http://www.golfbrief.com/articles/732/1/A-long-time-since/Page1.html
A long time since
ORLANDO — It was half a lifetime ago that journeyman pro Mark Wilson shared the same fairways with a guy who had a world of potential but didn’t yet own the world.“Things have changed a lot since then for both of us,” Wilson said with a wry smile.
Indeed. Just a little.
Wilson found himself paired with Tiger Woods for the first time in his professional career Thursday in the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard. It wasn’t what you would consider an earth-shattering occasion or even one to note on a calendar. But there was significance nonetheless.
When you play a role, even a bit part, in an ongoing opera, you have to acknowledge it and even revel in it, even if you don’t get to take a bow at the end.
The last time Wilson, 33, shared the fairways with Woods was in the final of the 1992 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at Wollaston Golf Club in Milton, Mass. Woods won his second of three straight Junior Am titles — and six straight U.S. Golf Association events, but it wasn’t easy, rallying from two down with five holes to play before scoring a 1 up triumph thanks to Wilson’s closing double bogey.
"I was excited to see it," Wilson, who matched Woods with an even-par 70, said of the pairing that also included Steve Lowery. "It probably happened at the right time. A year or two ago, I might have been overwhelmed. Now I just play golf and don’t worry much about what the other guy’s doing."
Like the proceedings 16 years before, Wilson got out in front of Woods during Thursday’s sun-drenched round but got caught down the stretch. Wilson offered an assist this time, however, making a quadruple-bogey 8 at the 18th (his ninth hole of the day) after arriving there at 2 under par.
Woods, the No. 1 player in the world, sputtered with two birdies and two bogeys to equal Wilson’s level-par 70.
"Maybe I was too greedy with this only being Thursday," he said. "It's been a while and it's good to see him out here," Woods said. "A lot of the guys I grew up playing junior and college golf with are out here now. So, a lot of good memories."
"We obviously didn’t take the same path," said Wilson, who won the Ben Hogan Award in 1996 as the top NCAA student golfer, the same year Woods was the NCAA champion and collegiate player of the year. "But we both made it to the PGA Tour, which is what really matters. I have one win and he has a few more. You know, he’s also a little better now than he was then.”
Indeed. Just a little.
Wilson’s victory came just last year at the Honda Classic. Only puts him 62 behind Woods. Well, at least they’re tied with one child each, born about two months apart.
“It was a fun day. We talked a lot. We have children about the same age, and we talked about that … dirty diapers and all,” Wilson added. “It will be something neat to tell my kids about one day.”
Indeed. And more than just a little.