From the Atlanta airport, it was 'wheels up' at 6:35 a.m. Tuesday morning heading for Tampa, Florida, and the
PODS Championship at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor. I was met at the airport by PODS volunteer Charles Smith and ferried to the course in a Buick courtesy car. Thanks, Charley...and Buick!
After depositing my luggage in the players' locker room --
-- I hopped on a cart and headed toward the range.
Brian Gay would be driving in from his home in Orlando, and we would be meeting up about noon. Meanwhile, 'ol Yoda had the place to himself!
#1 Charley Smith and me in the Transportation 'War' Room at Innisbrook.
#2 Player Registration. You meet the nicest people, and if you're lucky, can scrounge a Krispy Kreme doughnut!
#3 On the way to the range you pass the first tee, and even at this early hour, big doin's are underway...
#4 Recognize this guy (Stuart Appleby)?
#5 He can hit it!
#6 The putting green, including 'set-ups' by more than one or two of the fine folks who market their wares directly to the 'world's best.'
#7 From a vista above the Putting Green, the scene of the day's work lies before me -- The Range. It is already being populated by the greatest players in the world, and I can hardly wait!