Ty Trying in Phoenix

The kid who was nicknamed after Chevy Chase’s character in the movie classic ‘Caddyshack’ hits his first shot Thursday in ‘The Show.’ He earned his Tour card in December, and now 17-year-old Ty Tryon headlines the Phoenix Open!

The fact that Ty is the big story in a field that includes Phil Mickelson and David Duval is wild. I don’t know what you were doing when you were 17, but I’ll bet trying to match the world’s best golfers wasn’t it! Here’s hoping he does well, but don’t expect too much to soon.

Most of the other pros, to their credit, are taking a wait-and-see attitude towards Ty’s chances of actually making a dent this year. The PGA Tour is the toughest place on earth to play golf. You have to admire someone who is just six months removed from sneaking into R-rated movies for even making it this far, let alone making it on a leaderboard in 2002.

Elsewhere in the desert, the Phoenix Open is its usual self. Partying probably wasn’t invented here, but the fine people that make this event so great sure do it right. Cold beverages are not hard to find at the TPC at Scottsdale!

As for the tournament, Mickelson has to be the favorite. Lefty is coming off a win at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic and really wants to win in his former hometown.

Keep in mind Rocco Mediate loves it here. Rocco has won more than any other player at the Phoenix Open. Tom Lehman told us Wednesday he’s ready to win in his backyard. And Vijay Singh said that his PGA Tour winless drought, which is now 20 months long, could end this week. Vijay is back from a long break in which he changed his swing a little bit and got rejuvinated for 2002. The ’95 Phoenix Open champ likes his chances.

We would like you to watch Golf Central each night this week. Our job is to keep you up to date on the happenings out here in Scottsdale. Tough gig! That’s it for now from the ‘Valley of the Sun.’