Lynn Gromek, a subscriber to the Tiger Woods mailing list, followed Tiger during the first round of the Buick Open tournament, held at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club in Grand Blanc, Michigan. Tiger shot even par 72 in the first round. This is her story (reprinted with permission).
To: "Tiger Woods Mailing List" (tiger-list@world.std.com) Date: Thu, 07 Aug 1997 17:19:45 -0700 From: "Lynn" (vc98@mailcity.com) Subject: My Experience at the Buick Open I was fortunate enough to get Buick Open tickets and decided to go Thursday. Everyone kept telling me there was going to be no way you're ever going to get close to Tiger, but I didn't care. I was going to follow him for 18 holes because that was my dream. I arrived at 7:30 am and parked myself at the 1st tee for 4 1/2 hours. I was right next to the ropes right by the tee marker. Tiger came and took practice swings right in front of me!!! After his drive I ran down to the green. The crowds were enormous!!!! Tiger had an up and down round--birdies at 1, 5, 7; bogeys at 8, 9, 11, 12 and so on. The highlight of my day came after the 5th hole. Tiger had just made his birdie putt and I ran down to the walkway between 5 and 6. As he walked through some people were yelling, "Yeah Tiger" and stuff like that. I was against the ropes near the 6th tee and as he walked by I said, "Nice putt, Mr. Woods"!!! He turned to me and said, "Thank You"!!! Tiger is and always had been nothing but a gentleman; today proved it again!!! Despite the crowds and a so-so round to Tiger's standards, he always seemed to have a smile on his face and was very polite. Tiger will always be #1 in my book!!!!