Columnists
Preparing for the ACE Group Classic
Rod Spittle with two Canadian fans.
It’s a little overcast here in Naples, Florida, on Monday morning. Corey Pavin has half a dozen golf balls on the putting green, and is trying to coax them into the cup. A light shower turns into a serious downpour, and Pavin takes refuge under an umbrella.
For the most part, the putting area and the driving range are deserted. Most of the competitors on the Champions Tour played in Boca Raton on Sunday, and arrived here Monday evening or Tuesday. They are playing in the ACE Group Classic at the Twin Eagles Club in Naples. Last year, Kirk Triplett won the event.
On Sunday, Paul Goydos won the Allianz Tournament in Boca Raton. His birdie on the final hole gave him a one-stroke victory over Gene Sauers. Goydos picked up $255,000 for his efforts, while Sauers had to settle for $149,600. The top Canadian in the event was Rod Spittle. He earned $45,900, finishing four strokes off the pace.
Spittle was tied for the lead going into the final round. He had posted scores of 66 and 69. He started the final round with a bogey, then birdied the second. He shot par on the third, then birdied the fourth and fifth. As he began the sixth hole, he led the field by two strokes. To say disaster struck at that moment would be an understatement.
As recorded on the Champions Tour web site, it went something like this: 1. Tee shot. 2. Primary rough. 3. Fairway. 4. Primary rough. 5. Penalty. Drop. 6. Primary rough. 7. Penalty. Drop. 8. Shot onto green. 9. Putt 10. Putt. At that point, most of my clubs would have ended up in the lake. But the big guy regrouped, and played the rest of the round well. Truly amazing.
Spittle hails from Chippewa, but is always announced as the guy from St. Catharines. He stands just over six-foot-five, drives well and leads the entire tour in recoveries from the sand. He truly is a gentle giant. Last year, he signed a ball for a kid at the end of the final round. The lad’s brother then asked for his golf glove. Without batting an eye, Spittle removed the glove and asked the kid if he wanted it signed. He is always most accommodating to the fans. And a huge Bobby Orr fan, too.
I ran into Jose Coceres in the clubhouse. He started the final round on Sunday nine shots back, in 45th place. He played his first 16 holes at 10 under par, tying Goydos for the lead. He bogeyed the 17th, ending up with a 63 for the day.
Kirk Triplett will tee off on Thursday, as will Bernard Langer, who won in 2011 and 2013. Kenny Perry was the winner in 2012. There will also be other legendary golfers in action: Tom Watson, Colin Montgomerie, Tom Kite, Hale Irwin, Nick Price, Mark O’Meara, Larry Nelson and Fred Couples, to name just a few.
It is remarkble that there are relatively few fans accompanying the players around the course. You can spend a most enjoyable day in the sunshine, under clear blue skies, watching your favourite player. In February. So I ask, “what’s keeping you?”
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