Fast-rising Gore loses anonymity
FARMINGTON – Many golf fans seek autographs from players they don’t even recognize. Fortunately for Jason Gore that doesn’t happen much anymore since he came seemingly out of nowhere to contend for this year’s U.S. Open Championship for three rounds before fading.
“It’s been pretty cool to not have kids come up for your autograph and think that you don’t hear them, and they go, ‘Who’s that?'” said Gore on Wednesday as he prepared for today’s first round of the 84 Lumber Classic at Mystic Rock Golf Course.
“Now they go, ‘There’s Jason Gore.’ I’ve had a very warm reception.”
To fans, Gore is pretty much a “regular guy” they can relate to.
“It’s been pretty neat for people to come up and tell me their stories,” Gore said. “I’ve had people come up and day, ‘I started playing golf because of you.’ I’m always like, ‘Gosh, I’m sorry.’
“It’s pretty neat. I don’t see myself as somebody like that, but whenever you hear something that maybe you’ve made a dent in somebody’s life, it’s pretty cool.”
Gore credits some of the notoriety he’s received to the rising popularity of golf overall in recent years, thanks in large part to Tiger Woods.
“I think we’re all just thankful for Tiger,” Gore said. “This guy has made golf a very cool sport. It’s a sport everybody can relate to. Fifteen years ago, my story might have been a blip in the comics section. Now that everybody loves golf and loves Tiger, he’s changed the game for us. He’s changed it forever. It’s the same impact that Arnold Palmer had in his day and Jack Nicklaus had, and it’s pretty special.
“Then you get great players like Vijay (Singh) and (John) Daly and (Phil) Mickelson, and a lot of people love to watch golf now.”
Gore also is a fan favorite because he’s not afraid to poke fun at himself.
“You get Tiger, who’s a physical specimen, and then you get me, who should donate my body to science fiction,” said the husky Gore with a laugh. “But it’s turned out to be a pretty popular sport.”
Regular guy II
Another golfer who’s been extremely popular due to a ‘regular guy’ perception is Daly, a unique character in his own right, someone who’s had his ups and downs.
“There’s not many guys like him,” Chris DiMarco said. “I think that John is happiest when he’s doing what he wants to do and not being told by people what to do. The problem is he’s so much in the spotlight that he can’t do some of the things he enjoys without being noticed, whether being ridiculed for it.
“But I think he’s in a good spot right now. I think he’s content with where he’s at, and I think that’s why he’s playing good golf. That’s always been the thing with him. When he’s in a good spot on his personal side, then he’s a good golfer, and he is a good golfer. Nobody ever denies that.
“And he is good for the game of golf.”
DiMarco offered his opinion on why so many fans connect with Daly.
“He does his own thing and he’s an everyday guy, and in this type of atmosphere out here, he separates himself from everybody else,” DiMarco said. “I think it’s a good thing. I really do.
“Some of the things he’s done, I’m sure he wishes he hadn’t done. But he is genuinely a good guy. He’s as good as they get. He really is. He’ll take his shirt off his back for you.”
Quotable
Singh, known as one of the most even-tempered players on the PGA Tour, was asked if he ever got frustrated enough where he threw a club.
“I’ve done it many times in my head,” Singh said with a chuckle. “Physically, I don’t think so. I don’t throw the club because you’ve got to go out and pick it up again.”
Favorable forecast
The 84 Lumber Classic has been hampered by bad weather in its first two years, but hopefully the tournament will avoid any delays in 2005.
According to local forecasts, there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms for today’s first round with a high of 77 degrees and a low of 60, and wind from the north at 5-10 mph.
Friday’s second round forecast calls for a mostly cloudy day with a 40 percent chance of rain with temperatures ranging from 52 to 69, and wind about the same.
The weekend looks favorable with mostly sunny weather, similar wind conditions and temperatures ranging from 50 to the mid-70’s both days.
Opening ceremony
The tournament’s opening ceremony will begin around 7 a.m. adjacent to the first tee on Mystic Rock.
A marine color guard will raise the flag and a retired Naval officer will sing the national anthem.
Today has also been designated as “Salute to America’s Heroes – Military Appreciation Day” honoring those on active duty, inactive duty and veterans. Anyone with a military identification card, and up to three guests, will be granted complimentary admission to the tournament grounds for the first round.
Satellite golf
Satellite radio has caught on to the point where even those who want to follow each round of the 84 Lumber Classic will be able to do so by that method.
XM Satellite Radio will broadcast all four rounds of the 84 Lumber Classic.