Please Note: These photographs are the property of Sarah Jane Amoroso, © 2000 SJA
Wednesday, February 2, 2000
In the morning the first thing I did was go get the newspapers and check out the full list of participants, celebrity and pro. I have been attending this event for 8 years, and I have always gone over the pairings list with a fine-tooth comb because there is always a name lurking somewhere that has not been publicized. For years I was going to this golf tournament because I loved John Denver, and he played from 1992 until his death in 1997, and I watched him play every hole every year. We became friends, and I was deeply saddened at his passing, but I have continued coming to the golf because I love golf, I love getting up close and personal with all the celebrities once a year, and I love seeing so many friends I have met through the years.
For the past few years I have not really followed anyone in particular. One year I followed Michael Douglas, because I knew him from his days on the Streets of San Francisco set, where I helped out on occasion when I was in high school and college. At a point when everyone was just standing around waiting because people were backed up on the tee of the final hole, I showed him some old pictures from my photo albums, and he was shocked to see that "young guy" in all the photos. We drew a crowd while he was looking at the pictures, and he thanked me for showing them to him.
So, as I perused the 2000 pairings, I came across a few familiar names - Kevin Costner, Glen Campbell, Kevin Sorbo, Tommy Smothers, Craig T. Nelson, Clint Eastwood, Ray Romano, Jerry Rice, John Elway, Glen Frey, and lots of others. But, off in a "corner" I saw a name of an individual that I knew I wanted to follow. DJE's! I made my plans accordingly. He was scheduled to play Spyglass Hill on Thursday, Poppy Hills on Friday and Pebble Beach on Saturday. And, I hoped he would make the infamous "Cut" and be able to play on Sunday again at Pebble Beach. Only the top 25 (out of about 200, I think…) pro-am teams make the cut - it is very difficult, but you can always hope! John Denver actually made the cut in 1997, after playing there for the 5 years before that.