Torrey Pines Father's Day Weekend 2008

[Tom Naccarato]

While I was out, I happened to get down to Torrey Pines for this event they had down there called the US Open.

The moment that the USGA announced that Torrey was going to be a US Open venue, I was s pretty much deeming this event a failure. Boy, was I wrong! Let me be the first to say that the USGA is to be congratulated for not only the magnificent job they did as far as set-up, but the organization of the event itself; getting all of those people into and out of what could have been a traffic-filled night mare--they kicked ass!

I've suffered far worse traffic on a weekend of racing at Del Mar, and let me tell you, getting that deep into Diego county, it can get really bad!

But the kudos don't end there. There is little doubt in my mind that Mike Davis gets it when it comes to championship set-ups. The tournament set-up may be one of the best we have seen in quite a many years, and I can hardly wait with anticipation what Mike Davis will do with Merion.

So.....Being that I was fortunate to be inside the ropes for this event, and the miracle of Steve Job's Apple computer company, which can make a yokel like myself at least give it a shot to be like documentary film maker Ken Burns, my first iMovie I made with my new iMac last summer.

(apologies for the quality of You Tube, where it loses a lot of quality and appearance.)

Also, sorry if it gets a little schmaltzy, but it was my first movie--in fact, its the only one I've done! I did over do it a little bit!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6IgzG80oMI

[Tom Naccarato]

I'm now having a feeling I'm really going to regret putting this on the internet!

[Mark Bourgeois]

Tommy

Go ahead and make a nice video, I say it's still Torrey Pines!  But, hey, now that you're all Mac'ed up, could you do a Tiger video?

This one makes me want to get on a plane every time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz47-PtrAyw

Mark

[Jon Spaulding]

Good work. The music is a bit gay, but there's always something about still images that's not.

[Tom Naccarato]

Listen Spaulds, don't make me post those damaging pictures I have of you with a bunch of farm animals where you dressed in that leather teddy!

I like sound track music and this was one I just thought would work--obviously it doesn't, but it was my first deal, so you can turn the sound down!

Mark, Love that video of Tiger. Always have. And make no mistake about it, yes it still Torrey Pines, unless we can find some proof that MacKenzie designed a course on that cliff that never got built!

[David Stamm]

Good job! The music is fine, and yes, I like women........

[Joe Hancock]

Tommy,

I think you know exactly who needs to be your musicolologist for future productions.....right?

Let JTN help restore your manly image when it comes time to do another video production.

You're welcome.

[Ronald Montesano]

I was a little disappointed that it was a slide show and not an actual movie.  I would have liked to see some non-network footage.  That said, it is a nice collection of stills, especially the one of Tiger drinking Rocco's blood, disguised as Tiger-Ade.

What straight male doesn't love Enya?

[Tom Naccarato]

Ronald,
It's actually the soundtrack from the SciFi Network's version of Frank Herbert's Children of Dune, which was a sequel or actually a combination of the second and third Dune books, Children of Dune and Dune Messiah. The soundtrack was done by Brian Tyler and it is sort of done in an Enya fashion, only instead of Gaelic, the words are spoken in the language of the Dune characters, which Tyler researched. Its similar, but sort of haunting too.

And obviously, I'm a fan of the series of Dune books; having read all of them at least a couple times each.

Crazy Joe,
My tastes in music--what I listen to--are somewhat, downright bizarre. I have no problem admitting that! Especially my band of the moment, Sigur Ros from Iceland.

[Tom Naccarato]

Here are some photos I took from the event:

First off, here is the graduated lengths of Kikuyu grass which Mike Davis employed. All of it was tough, but very fair; and I'm using that as a comparison to the 1998 US Senior Open at Riviera, where it was deep and punishing.







A shot from the center of the fairway on #6







The following picture pretty much tells the story of just how much pain Tiger was in during the open. This shot sailed so far left, further left then I could ever hope to stray. The look on his face pretty much tells it all.








I was actually going to position myself on the green, behind Tiger for this shot, but opted for this one instead. No one ever seems to get this camera angle for TV; the grandstands packed with people, flags flying and the sun now starting to fade into the blue Pacific. This indeed is the magic hour for photos. Only the magic was stolen by YOU KNOW WHO. The sinking of that putt was an amazing moment in golf--not unlike the next two three putts he would have on that green. Each one of them amazing, if not legendary.

I feel very fortunate to have gotten these shots. Not perfect in any sense, other then capturing one of the great moments if tournament history. I'm sure there'll be more.




And of course the interviews. I wish I could have been shooting when Rocco came into the scoring area after Tiger, and tiger is here doing this interview with Sky Sports; the look on his face was one of not only a competitor, but one that was just completely focused. Rocco starred at Tiger like he was chum for sharks. That's when I realized the level of competition for these guys like I've never haave before.

[Ian Larson]

I was just watching a recap of this during the Chevron coverage and it reminded me just how damn lucky I was to be there all week mowing greens and, well, just being there period for something that special and memorable. I actually met Rocco at Q's on Wilshire for a beer and what a great guy he is. The funny thing is that I obviously was in awe of meeting him, but I also never knew I was meeting the guy who was about to stick it to Tiger in the next US Open.


Tommy your film was actually moving and I think you are the only other fan of Sigur Ros that Ive met. I saw them at Radio City Music Hall five years ago while I was doing the construction at Bayonne. Amazing show.

[Tom Naccarato]

Ian,
I totally like the band. They do it all and are capable of being huge, yet are different enough that they might never sell out--which to me is a good thing.