By Kasey King
I’m going to brag a little here.  I just have to.

Tiger answering my question at Wednesdays press conference

Wednesday,  12pm,  Tiger Wood’s press conference.
During Tiger’s press conference, I was able to ask Tiger a question which the Golf Channel then did a small segment on the Q&A.

KASEY KING:   I noticed on the range that a lot of players will turn and watch you hit some balls. Is there anybody out there right now who you like to watch?
TIGER WOODS: I like watching Hunter hit balls because Hunter .. and I think Hunter likes watching me hit balls. We have the exact opposite flaws. The things I’m trying to do, he does well, and the things that I do well, he›s trying to get to do.
So we›re ... Sean had to put his thinking cap on on that one because we›re exact polar opposites. We kid each other all the time about what we›re working on. I try to emulate some of his stuff, and it looks awful on film, and he tries to do what I do and it doesn›t look very good on film, either.
But we›re trying to implement certain parts of our swings, and it›s been good to be able to have .. play practice rounds with Hunter and to be able to see those things up close and personal.

Inside the ropes with Tiger

Thursday, 1pm, Walk inside ropes
with Tiger Woods on holes 7, 8, and 9.
I finally caught up to Tiger’s group on Thursday. He was on his 16th hole of the day (he started on the back nine), and there were thousands of people following this group.  I just hopped inside the ropes and started taking pictures.  I walked with Tiger’s group inside the ropes for his last three holes of the day.

Thursday, 4pm, Walk inside ropes
with Bubba, Ernie, and Webb on holes 11-14.
This was awesome.  I got to walk with the three major winners from this year for a little over an hour.  From my point of view, Webb and Ernie were as nice as can be to the fans

Thursday,  6pm, Carl Pettersson’s press conference.
Carl Pettersson was the first round leader after shooting a 66.   I was able to ask him a question during the press conference.

KASEY KING:  This golf course is rated the hardest golf course in North America by Golf Digest. Can you see that? Because you’re shooting 66 out here.
CARL PETTERSSON: Obviously I played well today. You know, it’s a little bit softer so that makes the fairways wider, and the wind really hasn’t blown, and the greens are still a little bit soft. Under the right conditions, if it got really firm and fast and you had the wind, it would be very difficult. I think we’ve seen it about as easy as it can get today this morning. It still is a very good and very tough golf course, but I think we had it under some of the easiest conditions you could probably get.

Friday, 4:30pm
My run in with Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee.
As we were walking to the media center to grab a drink and cookie for the shuttle ride back into town, Brandel Chamblee was sitting on the porch drinking coffee.  I instantly struck up a conversation about him playing and winning the Rice Planters Invitational back in the ‘80’s.  He was an extremely nice guy.  If you watch as much Golf Channel as I do, then you know that it was a real pleasure for me to meet him.

Hanging out in the Mercedes Benz hospitality suite on 18 green Sunday

Saturday, 4pm, Media Center.  Weather delay.
The PGA of America really knows how to take care of the media.  The media center was constantly cooled at about 70 degrees, had tons of hot food (and cookies and brownies), and ice cold drinks.  When the storm on Saturday came through, we all went to the media center to take shelter.  This is also the time that the Charleston Golf News staff (minus myself) realized that at 4pm, the media center opens up their bar with complimentary ice cold beer.  Needless to say, we stayed and socialized long after they announced suspension of play for the rest of the day.  This is also where we got rub elbows with some of the staff from the Golf Channel.

Sunday, 12:30pm, Media Shuttle.  
The greatest phone call ever.
As we’re on the shuttle bus from downtown Charleston to Kiawah, I received the best phone call from a person who I have never met but have become friends with via Facebook.  “Kasey, I’ve got two passes to the Mercedes Benz hospitality suite on 18 green and I can’t go.  Want them?”  Do I want them?  Absolutely.  So for five plus hours I sat and enjoyed the view of the 18th green with the ocean in the background.

Sunday, 7:00pm, Rory McIlroy’s press conference.

KASEY KING:  Can you tell us your feelings on Kiawah as a whole, and the golf course and possibly getting the championship back here to the Ocean Course?
RORY MCILROY:  Yeah, I think it’s an incredible venue.  It’s a great resort, a beautiful island.  I think I spent every afternoon this week on the beach apart from yesterday, which was rain delayed.  Yeah, it’s been incredible.
The golf course was fantastic.  It was by far my favorite Pete Dye course (laughter).  Yeah, you’ve got so many great courses here, as well, and great facilities.  It’s been so nice to go as I said, go to the beach every day and sort of hang out in the afternoons.  It’s just been a great week in that regard.