What a great interview...

mblum16

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Sep 28, 2016, 12:18 AM

What a great interview. You can see how much Mr. Palmer has rubbed off on his grandson and our fellow tiger. He never wavered much in his direct eye contact with Steve Sands. It must be a very trying time for him and the rest of the family. He has done a wonderful job being the spokesperson for the family the last few days with the media.

I remember a handful of years ago I was a marshal on the first hole at a Nationwide Tour event just outside of Pittsburgh about an hours drive from Latrobe. Sam was a competitor in the event and Mr. Palmer was the Honorary Chairman of the event. Sam had played decent in round 1 of the tournament and had teed off late in the afternoon on day two. I believe he may have even been the last group off on the back that day. Mr. Palmer was at the club that day supporting the event and eventually following Sam in his golf cart for the day.

When Sam had made the turn onto the front nine and the first hole, I was stationed down by the green to monitor that area and also aid in the players and gallery to cross the road dividing the course from the first and second holes. It was late in the day and not many people were out on the course as a weather front was also looming. Sam had teed off and was heading down the fairway and in the distance I could see a cart was driving down the path. I knew then that it would be Mr. Palmer following his grandson. I was calm but excited knowing that I would see Mr. Palmer up close as I was having to make sure he would safely drive the cart across the sometimes busy street to get to the next hole, and continue to follow Sam. As Sam and his fellow competitors finished the first hole, they were walking off the green to where I was then in the crosswalk trying to make sure no cars would intervene their progress in crossing to the other side and continue their round in an orderly fashion. Then it was Mr. Palmer who followed a short few seconds later in his cart. He stopped the cart in the middle of the crosswalk and extended his hand to shake mine. I was kind of taken back that he would take the time to thank me for volunteering in the event and told me I was doing a great job. I thanked Mr. Palmer and wished I could have chatted with him more than the few seconds but I knew it wasn't the time nor the place. If he only knew I was a Clemson Tiger that wanted to follow his grandson more out there and part of the reason I worked the event was because I play tournament golf on a tour which is sponsored the Golf Channel he co-founded with other members of my marshal group.

I had this brilliant smile on my face after the encounter and was sad it was our last group of the day through our point on the golf course. But only a few minutes later the horn sounded to signify the delay of the event due to weather in the area that was ultimately going to halt play for the day. I had taken a few minutes after the horn sounded to tidy up the area around the first green so that the next day we would be able to resume our positions. Then I heard a cart come back across the street towards the green. I met Mr. Palmer back at the crosswalk and we shared the cart path (him in his cart and me walking) as we made our way up to the club house area. He gave me a traditional thumbs up again and thanked me. About halfway up the walk, my tour director was there and asked me how the encounter with Mr. Palmer was. He could see me grinning from ear to ear and not saying a word. It was something I will never forget. You can always go to events and see these great golfers from outside the ropes, but when you are in a position to be that close to them and they allow you into their company, it can be quite an awe inspiring feeling.

I only wish I was able to chat further with Mr. Palmer then or after that in the future. He was definitely and role model along with a handful of other golfers for me. I know I will miss him.

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Sam Saunders...

What a great interview...

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