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World Photo

Tracking a Tiger by Brooks Crandall Cameras aren't allowed during regulation play at PGA events, you can bring your camera to the practice rounds, as Brooks Crandall did, to capture the pro's at work. Article rating: 8.91

On the first day of the 2005 PGA Championship practice rounds at the storied Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey, I got a chance to go on a golf safari and shoot the most famous Tiger in the world – Tiger Woods.  Armed with my new Nikon f.2.8 70-200 MM lens, I was ready to capture my own images of golf’s most ferocious competitor. Some spectators came with elephant gun-esque 500 MM lenses and others with stealthy and versatile built-in lenses.  There were many other talented golfers there to shoot, but it was critical for most of us to get a shot of Tiger.

The great thing for image enthusiasts about attending a PGA practice session is that anyone can bring a camera and the players are more likely to engage the gallery.  During the actual competition, cameras are forbidden for anyone other than the pros covering the event.

I arrived at 8 AM and was snapping a shot of the stately Tudor-style clubhouse when I heard someone bellow with excitement, “Tiger is out there.”  One of the course volunteers said the last Tiger sighting was on the 10th hole.  We dashed off through the forest and around the manicured greens towards the back nine, barely noticing the timeless beauty of the course.  We saw a large group of people and we knew we had found our game. And there he was, larger than life, sporting a “TW” logo cap and a trademark swoosh polo shirt already soaked through with sweat on the oppressively humid August morning.

One of the things that makes Tiger so amazing to the average duffer is the power he generates off the tee. We watched with awe as he powered through his drives with the intensity of a baseball player swinging for the fences. There was a collective “Ooh” and “Aah” and an occasional admiring expletive as the white spheres consistently split the narrow tree lined fairways and disappeared into what seemed like the next county.  “Geez, he must have hit it 370 yards”, a man yelled.  “Friggin incredible”, hollered another fan with a thick New York accent.  As the gallery was shaking their heads I was stealing a few peeks at my digital images to see if I grabbed the ball in the frame.

Tiger is very intense and even during a practice round you get to see his range of emotions.  He eyes a putt with an icy stare, bangs his club down in frustration, talks to himself, and occasionally flashes a Madison Avenue smile that warms the hearts of the gallery and his many sponsors as well.

Tiger is not alone on the course as he plots his strategy for each challenging hole.  His Kiwi caddie from New Zealand, Steve Williams, is probably the most famous in the game of golf.  Tiger credits Steve with his 2000 PGA win at Valhalla when Steve had the “guts” to tell Tiger to hit it harder than they had planned right before Tiger was to strike the critical shot. Steve left New Zealand to caddie on the European tour at the ripe old age of 15.  Before working with Tiger, he carried the sticks of Greg “The Shark” Norman and Raymond Floyd.

I witnessed the same intensity in the physically imposing Steve that I saw in Tiger. Watching them work together as teammates was fascinating. Steve acted as field coach, cheerleader, greens and yardage confidante and gallery director. Steve has a “Don’t mess with me” demeanor as he commands spectators to back off.  Lastly, Steve also hauls the signature Buick Golf Bag with the much-publicized black and orange Tiger motif driver head covers.

At the end of his round of 18, Tiger was swarmed by autograph seekers.  He signed several dozen autographs as a claustrophobic cocoon of admirers enveloped him.

I highly recommend going to a PGA practice round to photograph your favorite players.  You might even get that trophy shot for over the mantel that captures the emotion of the one-and-only Tiger.

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	(whistles) "whoooo - hooo --- look at Brooks Crandall - all buffed up and tan at the PGA Tour- Lookin' good Mr. Brooksie! Way to go w/ the photos ops - you caught the eye of the Tiger I see". Posted by: Littlemissmuffett Mar 28, 2007 @ 1:26 AM EST
	Excellent photography. You captured the essence of the event with clear professionalism. I am not biased, even though we share the same last name. I do know good work when I see it. I also was at Baltusrol in 2005 and despite the intense heat Tiger Woods nearly overcame a serious deficit. It wasn't meant to be. Posted by: Gregory Crandall Feb 26, 2008 @ 10:24 AM EST

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