The 2010 Deutsche Bank Championship      TPC Boston

Day 1    September 2, 2010  
Pro-am

I got selected to the mobile marshals committee knowing it would be a different experience from an assignment to a single hole.  I wondered about the amount of work involved.  We were expected to arrive at the TPC Boston at the ungodly hour of 6:00am for the mobile marshals meeting, requiring me to set my alarm for 4.  It was dark when I arrived on course at 5:30, made my way to the volunteer pavilion for the traditional DD coffee & bagel, then over to the MGA HQ building for the meeting.  Right away I got the impression I was part of an elite team. There were 30 other marshals assembled to get pre-tournament info from our Co-captains Karen and David.  The mobile marshals are assigned to those players who will require additional marshal support for crowd control, the most popular players.  We walk 18 holes with these players, rather than being assigned to a stationary position at one hole.  Additionally, we escort players through their entire round, from the 1st tee through the 18th green, then on to the scoring, interview, and autograph areas.

Hunter Mahan and Dustin Johnson

Rickie Fowler

Bubba Watson

Jason Day

Karen and David welcomed all the returning marshals, as well as us rookies, and assigned me to 2 veterans who would form our group accompanying Rickie Fowler and his amateur partners.  The biggest issue we were made aware of was the increased tendency for spectators to try to bring cellphones onto the grounds, technically prohibited by the PGA TOUR.  If we observed a patron with a phone, we're trained in the logistics of politely asking them to refrain from cellphone use as it is distracting to the players.  In addition, it was emphasized that the taking of pictures is only allowed during the pro-am, not during regulation competition later in the week.
I had an hour to kill before Rickie's tee-time and went to the practice green, when Tiger arrived.  He always scores the coveted first tee slot in the pro-am, 7:00am. Watched his entire practice session, he was all smiles the whole time, but despite a thousand requests, no autographs for the gallery.  Also warming up with TW were Scott, Day, Harrington, McIlroy, Casey, Donald, Glover, Leonard, Villegas, all lined up at the practice range.  Ryder Cup Captain Corey Pavin, was also strolling about, chatting-up the prospective hopefuls.  He would be making his final selections the day after the DBC. Great atmosphere at the pro-am, players relaxed and generally receptive to giving autographs to the gallery lined along the ropes adjacent to the practice areas.
At 8:00am, made my way to the 10th tee for Rickie's tee-off, and ran into my wife Mary and daughter Jill.  I'd secured guest passes for that day and was pleased to find them among the thousands in the crowd.  I directed them to the practice tee nearby to get pictures and to autograph the DBC pin flag I gave them.  Marshals are prohibited from seeking autographs or pictures while in DBC uniform.  Mary and Jill were  psyched in their goal to get Dustin Johnson's attention.
I found out that mobile marshaling appeared to be a combination of fore-caddying, crowd control, and roving DBC ambassador for fan support.  Especially during the pro-am, we were allowed to go anywhere, but were primarily walking outside of the ropes due to the many wayward shots of the amateurs. I had fun locating some pretty awful shots into the woods at various times, but the amateur players were always appreciative of our help in ball location. Although I was assigned to Rickie's group, I spent just as much time approximately 250 yards ahead of him, seemingly closer to Villegas' group.  He was taking the pro-am very seriously, constantly marking his yardage book, and often sitting on the beverage cooler at each tee box studying as if for an impending final exam.  He had minimal interaction with the amateurs in his group.  Rickie was the exact opposite, one of the most personable players I'd ever seen on-course, both then and in subsequent years.  It became routine for him to sign 15-20 autographs as he exited every green, as well as pose for loads of pictures with fans.  It often got to the point where his caddie had to politely grab him by the arm and steer him to the next tee.  He was new to the PGA TOUR and I was frankly prepared to find fault with his day-glow Puma outfit as being indicative of a player who expected special treatment, but he couldn't have been more humble and a joy to be around.

Rory McIlroy

Tiger Woods

Matt Kuchar

Ninety-five degree heat was taking its toll throughout our 5 1/2 hour round, but I had access to water from the coolers located at each tee box, and my running shoes never gave out, thankfully.  I met up with Mary and Jill at the 13th green/14th tee area, where they'd found a shady spot to ask players for autographs.  They'd gotten 17 players to sign the DBC flag, including Dustin Johnson, Kuchar, Bubba, McIlroy, Fowler, Mahan, Rose, Snedeker, Day, Scott, Furyk, Harrington, Crane, Leonard, Holmes, & Villegas, plus lots of pictures.  Jill was thrilled having a short conversation with Padraig Harrington, the Irishman, mentioning her junior year abroad in Dublin at Trinity College, to which he replied, "You must have really enjoyed that."

Padraig Harrington

They later said Kuchar, Snedeker, and Bubba Watson were quite willing to chat with them since Mary and Jill were in a very small group of fans at the ropes.  The pro-am is definitely the day to go to DBC to get up close and personal with the players, before they get down to the business of competition in the tournament from Friday through Monday.