Pernice's British Open Travel Adventures

Bear Creek GC honorary member Tom Pernice, Jr., of Murrieta, hopped over the pond to play in the British Open last weekend, but not without a grueling travel itinerary, as Golfweek's Jeff Rude chronicled. In my own abridged interpretation of the article, here are the phases a professional player goes through to play in a tournament that Pernice says can "make a difference in your life." Preface: before leaving Los Angeles, Pernice is only a second alternate for the British Open, but books a flight to Scotland anyway.

Phase 1: Practical Optimism. Pernice takes a red-eye flight to Houston (arriving early Monday morning) to get in a quick practice session with instructor Jim Hardy before playing in the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee. While in L.A., he checks his luggage through to Milwaukee.

Phase 2: Building Anticipation. Upon arriving for his lesson, he learns via text message that he is up to first alternate. To further build suspense, friend Vijay Singh calls from Scotland and tells him to come. Pernice obliges.

Phase 3: Personal SIG Alert. While one could normally continue his travels to Scotland from Houston, remember that Pernice's luggage is now in Milwaukee. Monday afternoon after his lesson, he flies to Milwaukee, practices at the U.S. Bank tournament site Tuesday morning, and early that afternoon, flies to New Jersey in order to catch that coveted flight to Edinburgh, Scotland, that night.

Phase 4: The Pay-off. Pernice arrives at Carnoustie at 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, and tees it up with Singh in a practice round only 25 minutes later. Upon arriving in the country, he learns that Jose Maria Olazabal, the one player standing in his way of playing, withdrew thanks to a hurt knee. Victory, in a sense, is his.

Phase 5: Pre-Tournament Panic. Still in the U.S....Realizing that his passport had expired, Pernice's caddie (and cousin) Brett Waldman frantically tries for two days (Monday and Tuesday) to secure one. He succeeds. Ironically, he and Pernice arrive in Scotland close to the same time.

Phase 6: The Second Wind and Letdown. Let the games begin. After opening with a 3-over 74 and literally not sleeping that night, Pernice shoots a 73 in the second round and misses the cut by one stroke. "It was worth the chance," he’s quoted in the Golfweek article.

If you lost count, Pernice endured a total of four flights (with two red-eyes) and 20 consecutive hours of travel. Raise your hand if you still want to be a professional golfer.