5/4/2010
Written By: Mike Rickord
Category: Open Mike  

The fourth Principal Charity Classic returns to the Glen Oaks Country Club June 1st through the 6th in West Des Moines, Iowa and marks the 10th year that the Champions Tour has been in central Iowa. The 2009 Principal Charity Classic was recognized as “The Best Event” on the Champions Tour with 2010 shaping up to be an even deeper field combined with great activities all week long.
  

Jamie Alt and his staff have taken the momentum that Jeff Starr established and with Principal Financial fueling this annual golf fest the field expands every year. This year along with the household names that have walked the fairways of Glen Oaks for years Jay Haas, Fuzzy Zoeller, Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite, “The Walrus “ Craig Stadler and most recently Nick Price and Fred Funk.  Iowa will welcome Bernhard Langer, Corey Pavin, and Paul Azinger with deep galleries and appreciation for these great golfers.  The possibility still exists that Freddie “Boom Boom” Couples will make his Principal Charity Classic debut and if that does take place get your tickets NOW! I have been to every event since the 1999 Senior US Open and if Fred Couples does commit this year the 2010 Principal Charity Classic will certainly be the deepest, most intriguing and talented field to tee it up in the history of Iowa golf. The only names missing from the star studded field would be Tom Watson and “The Shark” , Greg Norman.
  

The 2009 Principal Charity Classic was a classic with Mark McNulty the “quiet one” victorious in extra holes over fan favorites Fred Funk and Nick Price.  I absolutely love the Champions Tour and my half century plus on the planet may have something to do with my man love for these guys, but holy Toledo can these guys play golf! If you have never attended the Principal Charity Classic it is a must do for any Iowa golf fan regardless of your age.
  

The first PGA major of 2010 is in the books and Phil Mickelson has his 3rd green jacket in what was arguably one of the most exciting Masters that I have watched in the last two decades from a drama, storylines, and emotion perspective along with some superb shot making down the stretch. The leader boards every day had a player for every generation to get behind. Tom Watson, the ageless one, made an early statement, Fred Couples made a statement that his Champions Tour success was for real against any competition and of course the return of the rusty Tiger Woods and eventual champion Lefty as the emotional favorite. Anthony Kim made a flurry of birdies to round out the decades represented on the leader board from the 20’s to the 60’s each age group was represented and the CBS executives and Masters hierarchy were ecstatic.  I encourage you to read Tim Darrah’s account of his experience inside this second edition of “On the Tee”. Tim provides his perspective and some great pictures from Augusta. In addition, my radio partner and great friend brought me a signed golf towel from one of my favorite players JD John Daly and it is now alongside another gift from Tim, the signed hat from Kenny Perry who went to Western Kentucky (a school that I participated in track and lived in same dorm as Kenny). Man I owe “TD”!
  

The last topic is a sad note as I was just informed that my friend and radio partner Judd Gibb and his boss Jay Horton, another one of our “On the Tee” buddies, were released as the golf coaches at Iowa State University. I am biased, but anyone that examines this program and the incredible job that Jay Horton, an Ames native, and Judd, a former Iowa State player, have done in battling in the deepest golf conference in America can see that this is a huge injustice. These two men bleed ISU and have kept our young Iowa talent in the state which is what our state institutions should aspire to do in every sport. Nate McCoy, medalist in 4-A from Dowling, Ben Herrerra, medalist in 4-A from Valley, Nathan Leary, medalist in 4-A from Waterloo West, are just 3 of the young men that were sought by many schools outside of our borders. Jay and Judd with their passion and very limited facilities convinced these young golfers to stay home. In addition, realizing how difficult it is to compete in the Big 12 with the incredible resources that Iowa State offers Jay and Judd had just opened a pipeline to Europe that would pay dividends in the next few years.
  

I thank you again for opening up our second edition of “On the Tee” digital magazine and remind you to listen and watch “On the Tee” every Wednesday night from 6-8 PM. The radio show is on “ESPN 1700 the Champ” our flagship and airs across Iowa with our affiliates from Sioux City to the Quad Cities. The TV broadcast in central Iowa is on WHO-TV 13.2 and Mediacom 113 and 246 and streams on “iowasportsconnection.com” and “iowagolf.com”. Have a great month, hit em’ straight and we will see you at “The Principal Charity Classic” and as always God Bless America!