I’ve been watching the final round of the Target World Challenge since it came on the air at 3pm. If I look out the window I see 10 inches of fresh snow from last night and this morning. I think I know where I’d rather be…on the golf course.

While Tiger Woods isn’t exactly running away with the tournament today, but there really hasn’t been a question who is going to win. After not playing any competitive golf since September 30th and not even picking up a golf club until early December, many people wondered what Tiger’s game would look like. He answered those questions by setting the course record on Friday and following it up with the 2nd best score posted on Saturday to take a 6 stroke lead into today’s final round. Jim Furyk closed the gap in the middle of the round, but Woods is back in control.

It’s funny to listen to some of the commentary during the professional tournaments. For the pros it’s a bad break when they hit the pin and if they hit the wrong level of a green they missed their mark. Any time I can hit the flag stick I’ll take it. Most of the time when I hit a green anywhere, I have a better chance of getting in the hole with 2 more shots instead of having to chip before I take out the putter.

It’ll be the end of March or early April before the sticks get any use on a Michigan golf course, but I’m already getting the itch to play after watching some golf on TV.

“These guys are good.”

If you ever have the chance to go see professional golfers in a tournament, do it. Watching some of the shots these guys can pull of on TV is great, but nothing compares to seeing it in person.

You can watch the pros warm up on the driving range and putting green. You can stand behind the tee box, watching them hit driver. You can camp out near a landing area and watch the pros make approach shots. You can sit around a green and watch them chip, hit out of the sand, and make putts.

There is only so much you can get out of watching golfers on TV. Seeing a professional hit a wedge out of the deep rough, spin it on the green, and stop it a few feet from the cup is only something you can really appreciate stand 5 feet away. It’s simply amazing.

I went to the Buick Open at Warwick Hills in Grand Blanc, MI on Saturday and it reminded me how good the pros really are. I’ve been to the Buick Open probably a handful of times in the last ten years, but it’s always amazing to go back. It never gets old seeing these golfers hit bomb after bomb on the driving range, where we’d be lucky to hit a couple balls out of a bucket as good as they hit every single one.

Attending a golf tournament is unlike any other sporting event you can attend because you can walk around the entire course and watch whatever you want. You can get to within a couple feet of the players and offer them a high-five as they walk off the green.

Just trust me and go watch a golf tournament if you have the chance. It’ll be worth every penny.

I’m heading to the Buick Open this upcoming weekend, but I won’t be seeing Tiger Woods. There will likely be some cardboard cutout and poster sitings, but none of the real deal. It’s disappointing to know he won’t be playing, but I can’t say I blame him for skipping out on a tournament a week and a half after the birth of his first child, a daughter, Sam Alexis Woods.

I’ve been to the Buick Open probably 4 or 5 times, but missed the last couple of years because the dates conflicted with a festival in my hometown. This year the Buick Open was moved up to the end of June and I bought tickets over 4 months ago. It’s always a great time and Warwick Hills is a nice course for walking around. We also will hit up the big King Par tent sale and spend some money. I’m actually holding off on a new pair of golf shoes until then.

I heard on the radio the other day Tiger has committed to defending his title from 2006 as long as his wife isn’t having the baby that weekend. I’m crossing my fingers, because it’s always fun to watch the greatest golfer in the world, especially on a course with a couple of drivable par 4s.

Corey Pavin shot an eight under 26 on the front nine at the U.S. Bank Championship. TENTY-SIX!