Friday, August 16, 2002
PGA Notebook: Midwest fans go easy on Monty
The Associated Press
CHASKA, Minn. - Although Colin Montgomerie has seen his share of run-ins with American fans, his first-round reception at Hazeltine National Golf Club on Thursday was cordial.
As Montgomerie walked up to the 18th green, he flashed a thin smile as fans in the grandstand gave him an ovation. Even some in the adjacent bleachers surrounding the ninth hole glanced over and cheered for the moody Scotsman, who finished at 2-over 74.
Montgomerie began his day on the back nine and shot a 35, including a birdie on No.18 that solicited scattered shouts of “Way to go, Monty!” from fans. But after finishing the front nine with back-to-back bogeys, Montgomerie had little to say in a brief interview with reporters.
“I had lots of chances,” he said. “Didn't make them.”
Asked for his feelings about the gallery at Hazeltine, Montgomerie paused for five seconds and said simply, “Fine.”
LEHMAN'S HOME: Admittedly anxious about playing his first major in his home state of Minnesota, Tom Lehman shot a 1-under 71 in a consistent round that included only one bogey.
“The fans are great,” Lehman said. “I was pretty nervous about wanting to do well in front of the home crowd. The crowd support does help.”
As Lehman's group approached the ninth green, a course official turned to the gallery and announced Lehman as being from Scottsdale, Ariz., where he has a home.
“Tom's from Minnesota,” one fan shouted from the bleachers.
Mocking Minnesotans' habit of elongating the letter “o,” another patron yelled, “He's from "Air-uh-ZOH-nah.”'
When Lehman walked by the bleachers, someone asked him to choose between the two states.
“Minnesota, of course,” he said.
After his day was finished, Lehman said he was disappointed by the Arizona announcement.
“That was one of the biggest bogeys of the day,” he said.
NO PRACTICE: Woodbury, Minn., native Dave Tentis, one of 25 club pros playing in the tournament, shot a 4-over 76 and birdied four holes. That's not bad for a guy who says he's only played about seven times this summer.
He's too busy working at his club, Mississippi Dunes in Cottage Grove.
“I don't really have a reason to practice,” Tentis said.Why not more?
“I might get worse,” he said with a laugh. “You never know.”
Tentis played in the Masters and U.S.Open in 1984, missing the cut in both. He earned a PGA Tour card in 1989, but a shoulder injury shut his game down. In 1994, he earned conditional status for the Nike Tour, but his sponsorship money fell through and he couldn't afford to play. Last fall, he didn't pass qualifying school.
Tentis was asked if he had any thoughts about what could have been while out on the course Thursday.
“I do sometimes,” Tentis said. “I would have had a decent career. But I try not to do that too much. You've got your hands full here. You better worry about the course, or you'll be in trouble.”
DIVOTS: After shooting even par on his first six holes of the back nine, John Daly shot an 11 on Hazeltine's signature hole, No.16.... Daly and Justin Leonard will play in next month's Canadian Open, held Sept.2-8 at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ontario.
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PGA Notebook: Midwest fans go easy on Monty
