The pros are here..HSBC Championship

[Gus Orviston]

Yesterday was the start of the event.. ProAm was underway here at Sheshan, and I got to get out with some of my friends. No real gallery so we got up close and personal with Phil, Camillo Villegas, and I got to meat and have lunch with Paul Casey. My friend/coach here is a good friend of Paul's. We got to watch him get an Eagle on the 18th.. Par 5 and he gets on wiht Driver/ 5 iron.. last year it was Driver/6 iron.. wow.. He was 216 and put it right near the pin with the 5i.. .. pretty neat to see and again.. no one in our way so we were up close an personal. in fact the ex-pros that I was hanging with said China is very lacks on the security and in Europe there is a big buffer.

I am off to see the first round today.. should be fun, great course. Oh and many of the pros and staff are living in the empty houses around us.
gus

[Gus Orviston]

got out today for the opening round..started with Sergio... but his girlfriend was way too distracting to watch golf I found out later she is Greg Norma's daughter OMG.. At the second hole I bailed that group and hung at the second hole.. par 5, reachable in 2. I dug in for a barrage of birdies and 5 eagles.. amazing play.

met up with a Golf Digest Editor and photographer following Phil and we went from the 2nd to the 9th with that bunch. Phil , Ian Poulter and Singh (not Vijay).. at the 5th Phil was 4 under.. wow. then he stuck one in the rough which is deadly stuff and didn't carry it far and lost in the bushes.. he chipped out for bogie.

At then end of the day Henrick Stenson was -7 with Serigo and 4-5 others at -6. our buddy Paul was at -2 and bogied.. then he attempted a hero Eagle on the 18th.. 240yards to essentially an island green.. and he was on.. again I was shocked at their abilities. he didn't convert it but it was great.

Had drinks in the bar and Harrington joined.. apparently here in China foreigners are all kind of celebrities so it is no big to them..

gus

[Hogmaster]

Originally Posted by Gus Orviston

we got up close and personal with Phil, Camillo Villegas, and I got to meat and have lunch with Paul Casey. gus

Disturbing.



Sounds like you are having an awesome time there. But you can't be to careful about who you are getting up close and personal with, let alone meating!

PS - Send photos.

PPS - Of the daughter.

[Gus Orviston]

today was a rain out.. bummer.. now they have to try to do 36 tomrrow. I got invited to a Caddie award party tonight at the hotel next door, had an in with some friends. Apparenlty it is quite a party but I had to opt out.. the wife is in the US so i got the kids.. I guess a big party with the elite is out of the questions. I did learn why there was so much security in near my house, Camillo living next door. not sure who else but that is enough i guess. Phil packs a body guard when he is playing.

I am not suppose to get pics.. no cameras or phones.. but then again.. i am sneaky, and I also volunteered to Marshal the event so we will see how brave and up close I can get on the course. At this time I have anthony kim, and KJ.

gus

[Hogmaster]

Ah, what's the issue of the risk of spending a significant part of the rest of your life in a Chinese prison for taking a few photos that are interpeted as espionage?

This is for the greater need of ifishers everywhere, Gus!