Bruises for the ball, a perfect perch, six more years

I ran into former Quail Hollow Club general manager Monte Smith at his new restaurant, Cafe Monte, Saturday night and he shared a story that makes you further question human decency. Smith left the GM post in March 2007 after about two years, but was in attendance for last year's final round with his family, and was to the side of the 18th green when Tiger Woods picked up his ball from the cup after holing the final putt and threw tossed it over the crowd. Monte watched as the ball landed about 20 feet from him and rolled by the feet of an elderly woman walking along with a cane. A throng of 15 or more men rushed and dove for the ball. When the dust settled, the woman remained on the ground, paramedics were called and she was taken from the scene on a stretcher. All for a golf ball. Hopefully today's winner will keep the ball in his pocket.

The best spectator area at Quail Hollow Club has to be the bank to the right of the 17th green. For starters, the 17th hole is the most intriguing hole on the course, measuring as long as 217 yards over water. Secondly, from there you can see shots coming into the 14th green across the water. The 14th can be an exciting and pivotal hole because it's a par-4 measuring no more than 343 yards and often less, and yields a lot of birdies and possibly eagles. In Sunday's final round, within a few minutes of each other, you could watch Robert Garrigus nearly ace the 17th _ his ball stopping 3 1/2 feet behind the hole _ and Steve Flesh nearly make a double eagle on the 14th with a drive that rolled tantalizingly close to the cup. He settled for an eagle with an 11-foot putt.

If you've enjoyed the Wachovia as a spectator in past years or hope to get to Quail Hollow Club in the future, you'll be happy to learn Wachovia Corporation has signed on through 2014 to be the tournament's title sponsor.