18 Holes With...PGA Professional Jim O'Hara, Director of Golf TPC of Boston Wednesday, August 30, 2006
18 Holes With...PGA Professional Jim O'Hara, Director of Golf TPC of Boston
While the 2006 major championship season is complete, there are still some noteworthy events left to be played on the PGA Tour. Of course, any event Tiger Woods tees it up in has to be considered a big event -- particularly when he's chasing his fifth consecutive win.
Fresh off wins at the British Open, Buick Open, PGA Championship and the Bridgestone Invitational, as well as a quick trip to Ireland with the entire U.S. Ryder Cup team, Woods will be vying to make it five straight this week in the Deutsche Bank Championship at the TPC of Boston in Norton, Mass.
The Tiger Woods Learning Center is the primary beneficiary of the Deutsche Bank Championship, which will give the seemingly unstoppable Woods even more motivation to get in the winner's circle. Tiger has yet to win in the three previous Deutsche Bank Championships, but finished tied for second in 2004 when he relinquished his No. 1 world ranking to that year's winner, Vijay Singh.
Olin Browne returns to Norton as the defending champion. The Deutsche Bank Championship is the only PGA Tour event with an intentional Monday finish, as it concludes on Labor Day.
Before the start of the biggest golf tournament in New England, we caught up with PGA Professional Jim O'Mara, the Director of Golf at the TPC of Boston, for 18 holes of Q&A. O'Mara couldn't say enough about Woods' current form. He told us about some changes that have been made to the TPC to transition it from a parkland to a links-style course, explained why Browne came out on top in 2005 and enlightened us on why the course is called the TPC of Boston when it is in Norton, which is closer to Providence, R.I., than it is to Beantown.
No. 1 -- In the three previous years of the Deutsche Bank Championship, your winners have been Adam Scott, Vijay Singh and Olin Browne. Scott, Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate are among the runners up. Those names would suggest that the TPC of Boston lends itself to some exceptional play.
O'Mara: I think that list of players you just mentioned shows a measure of a good course. The goal is to identify the best player in the field. Clearly in these last three years by looking at who rose to the top, the course certainly identified the best player in those weeks.
No. 2 -- It was believed by many in New England that this tournament would only be in Norton for a couple of years before moving out west. However, an extension was signed recently that will keep the tournament there through 2010 and it will be a key tournament in the PGA Tour's new playoff system, the FedEx Cup. What has made it such a hit in New England?
O'Mara: I'd like to think that our sponsor, Deutsche Bank, was looking for the ideal location to put on the best PGA Tour event. Once they came to the Boston area and realized what a crazy, nutty sports town this is with great support -- I'd like to think we had something to do with it too -- they decided this is the best place to put on the best possible PGA Tour event they could have.
No. 3 -- Can you talk about the field? Barring major and world golf championships, there are few tournaments on the PGA Tour that have the strength of field the Deutsche Bank has.
O'Mara: I think that has a lot to do with the very strong connection Deutsche Bank has with international players. We have a lot of top international guys here and that's attractive for the American players to test their mettle against the rest that the world has to offer. Vijay Singh likes it here. We made history a couple of years ago when Vijay stared down Tiger on his way to winning and becoming the new world No. 1. Before Vijay took over the No. 1 spot in the rankings, Tiger had held that position since 1998. This tournament feels like a natural extension of the majors.
No. 4 -- Can you talk a little about the local guys like Brad Faxon, Billy Andrade, Patrick Sheehan and Brett Quigley? Those are all Rhode Islanders who have carved out successful careers on Tour. I'm sure it would mean the world to them to win in the event that's closest to their home.
O'Mara: I would agree. Billy and Brad in particular. Up until four years ago, the Greater Hartford Open, which is now the Buick Championship, was the only New England tour event. It was meaningful for Brad when he won in Hartford last year. To win on your home turf means so much more to these guys than winning elsewhere. They dreamed of getting to play in the tournaments they grew up watching, but to win in your home area with family and friends and people who supported you is more meaningful than anything.
No. 5 -- What kind of special events are planned this week? In the past I remember a concert on in the front of the clubhouse and a trick-shot specialist at the children's clinic. Will there be anything like that this year?
O'Mara: We have our Concert on the Green again this year, which Deutsche Bank puts on for volunteers and guests. There's a fireworks display on the range and we're right next to the Tweeter Center (summer concert venue). Sheryl Crow played on Tuesday night. Plus, the Red Sox have a home stand toward the end of the week. We had a Red Sox pro-am on Tuesday. A lot of players and tournament officials will be at the Sheryl Crow concert, as well as at Fenway Park. Deutsche Bank has done a great job of integrating everything the Boston area has to offer during tournament week.
No. 6 -- This will be an intriguing week. You have the world's No. 1 golfer trying to make it five wins in a row. Not to mention, I'm sure Tiger's hungry to win the Deutsche Bank since 1. he has yet to win there and 2. the Tiger Woods Learning Center is the tournament's primary beneficiary. Is there anything he does that surprises you?
O'Mara: At this point no. When he was making swing changes with Hank Haney over the last two years and going into that slump, you could see he was coming out of it because he was still winning. He was winning even though he wasn't hitting it all that well. He would win hitting it ugly. He doesn't hit it ugly anymore. Those changes have kicked in. He looks like he's unbeatable right now. But at some point exhaustion has got to kick in. It's tough staying mentally sharp with everything he's had going on. His father's death had to be emotionally exhausting. I think he can do it this week, but we'll give him a pass if he doesn't. We still love him. He's coming off four straight wins and a trip to Ireland to be with his Ryder Cup team to practice. That was the right thing to do. He could have bowed out of it, but he did the right thing and went with his team. That's just another example of his terrific character.
No. 7 -- From what I understand, the TPC has undergone some changes since the tournament was last played. Can you tell us about those changes?
O'Mara: There haven't been many significant changes made for this year. We added some tall fescue rough in certain areas. It gives the course two things -- extremely long rough in places and the look and feel that it's gone more from a parkland to links-style course. It looks more New Englandy and coastal now.
No. 8 -- What is your favorite hole on the course and why?
O'Mara: No. 18 is a great finishing hole. You can have an eagle three to go from one back to win outright. Or, you can go for it in two and make a bogey six to go from one ahead to one behind. That hasn't happened yet, but maybe this year we'll see a huge swing will take place.
No. 9 -- What stretch of holes do you believe will pose the biggest challenge to the field?
O'Mara: The middle of the front nine is the most difficult. Nos. 4, 5 and 6 are all relatively long par 4s. They require a demanding tee shot and have difficult green complexes. Those holes are tough. If a player comes out of that stretch still under par, they're going to have a good round.
No. 10 -- Prior to the inception of the Deutsche Bank did you have any experience in hosting a PGA Tour event at other venues where you've worked?
O'Mara: No. But I am a member of the PGA of America Rules Committee. I've done a dozen PGA Championships and I've been on four Masters Committees. So I've been involved from a different perspective.
No. 11 -- What has the experience been like?
O'Mara: It's been great. It requires a lot of long hours and I worry a lot. I have a great team and group that work for me and I have confidence that we've done well in the past and there's no reason that won't continue into this year.
No. 12 -- Do you feel like you've learned a lot and perhaps the job has gotten a little easier over the past three years because of that?
O'Mara: I've learned that the most important thing is the pre-planning. In the prior organization you need to assess the strengths and weaknesses of your staff. You don't want to set people up for failure. You look at their strengths and put them there.
No. 13 -- What's your favorite part of the job?
O'Mara: I would say the most fun is with the sponsor's employees, the event planners. They are great people to work with. We help each other out in every way possible. They are long hours, but we enjoy ourselves while all reaching to accomplish those goals.
No. 14 -- So, why is the course called the TPC of Boston when it's actually in Norton, Mass., and closer to Providence, R.I., than it is to Beantown?
O'Mara: The partners we worked with in developing the club -- it was Fleet Boston Financial, who have since been bought out by Bank of America. They figured the bulk of members would come from the Boston suburbs, as opposed to the Providence and Pawtucket suburbs. The signs of the economic engine made sense for them to identify with a Boston club. They've been very successful doing that in a region that has been overbuilt with private clubs. They had it right.
No. 15 -- Typically, PGA Tour players dread a Monday finish, because it means weather has messed with the tournament and they have to stay an extra day. Not at the Deutsche Bank, however. You hold the distinct honor of being the only PGA Tour event there is with an intentional Monday finish. Can you talk about how that's just another dimension that makes your tournament unique?
O'Mara: Our sponsor loves the idea of the Monday finish. It ensures that this tournament is pretty much the only sporting event on a holiday Monday. It's a great family weekend. They have made some neat things for families to do on site. There are kid zones in the galleries, there's a kids village with a number of amusement type things to do, including mini golf. The event is very family-oriented, which makes a lot of sense on Labor Day Weekend.
No. 16 -- As a PGA Professional, if you could stress to the amateur player one part of a touring pros game they should emulate, what would that be and why?
O'Mara: It would be a thing I am impressed with from watching Olin Browne win last year. He played very much within himself. He mapped it out in a way that was best for his game. He played par fives as three-shot holes. Instead of trying to make unlikely eagles, he always had himself in position to take a good shot at a birdie. Whatever level you play the game, you need to play within your capabilities. Don't try to hit it 250 yards over a pond unless you can. Olin was intelligent and that's why he won.
No. 17 -- So, what do you think the chances are of Tiger making it five in a row?
O'Mara: He's the greatest in the world. If I were a betting man, I'd say the only thing that can stop him is if he exhausts himself. He's put a lot on himself in recent weeks, winning the PGA, a World Golf Championship last week and then went to Ireland to practice before rushing to get back here to prepare.
No. 18 -- And finally, what are the chances of my/our depleted Red Sox making the playoffs?
O'Mara: It doesn't look good at this point.
Read the full article here
posted by Brandon Schenz @ 10:17 AM,
,
Price Drop Alert: SAVE up to $100 on Cleveland Golf Clubs! Monday, August 28, 2006
|
posted by Brandon Schenz @ 7:46 AM,
,
Clubmaking Clearance Best Sellers - Save up to 60%! Friday, August 25, 2006
posted by Brandon Schenz @ 8:53 AM,
,
Save on Back-to-School Basics at Amazon.com Tuesday, August 22, 2006
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
posted by Brandon Schenz @ 6:08 AM,
,
Lamkin Grips Deal Wednesday, August 16, 2006
|
posted by Brandon Schenz @ 6:22 AM,
,
Save up to 50% on adidas Shoes and Receive FREE Shipping from Amazon.com Tuesday, August 15, 2006
|
posted by Brandon Schenz @ 1:30 PM,
,
