The caddie races on the 16th have become part of the festivities at the famed Waste Management Phoenix Open, known for the rowdy, drunk crowds, not to mention ginormous — 179,022 fans attended on Saturday, setting the all-time single-day record in pro golf history.

And it sure was memorable. Phil Mickelson continued to wow the crowds, posting a seven-under 64 for a 54-hole total of 24-under, six shots clear of the next nearest competitor, Brandt Snedeker. But really, the highlight of the day was the Henley Brothers putting on an epic show No. 16.

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Gay has his eye on the prize…

I probably shouldn’t admit what I’m about to say, but it’ll give you an idea of just how glamorous my life on tour is. On Saturday evening at dinner a few friends and I were chatting about golf (what else? /eyeroll) and we were guessing what 54-hole leader Scott Stallings had to shoot or the other guys that we thought had a shot at catching him.

See, thing is, a five-shot lead at the Palmer Private isn’t much of a lead. There were tons of guys who were in range to catch him– with some help from Stallings — because you have to assume at least one or two guys will shoot a 62 and/or 63. One friend said, “Four-under. Scott needs to shoot four-under to guarantee a victory.” I agreed.

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Gay's misstep keeps 18 more players afoot

Brian Gay incurred a one-stroke penalty on No. 17 at TPC River Highlands (his third hole on Saturday morning and 8th of his second round). While searching for his ball in the hazard he found it by accidentally stepping on it.

Gay and his caddie, Kip Henley, tried to appeal the ruling after the weather-delayed second round. Despite nearly an hour-a thirty-minute-long discussion with VP of Rules and Competition Mark Russell, along with Stephen Cox, the rules official who was on-site, the decision held up.

Had it been overturned, Gay would have carded a 7 rather than an 8 on the hole to post a 36-hole total one-under instead of even par and changed the cut to one-under at the Travelers Championship. (continue reading…)

Brian Gay’s ball stopped short of rolling into the swamp, just left of the green on No. 15 during Thursday’s first round of the RBC Heritage. While Gay’s ball was playable, there was a more dangerous threat to take care of first — an alligator hovering a little too close for comfort.

No problem for Kip Henley, Gay’s caddie, who took about five minutes to chase off the gator. “Be gone (I told it),” said Henley on Friday at Harbour Town Golf Links. (continue reading…)

The Gay Caddie and Brian Gay have been in nearly a six-year relationship...

It’s not often that a player on the driving range gives his caddie the green light to give an interview, but Brian Gay let me steal Kip Henley on Monday at Pebble Beach. I mean, I’m trying to imagine what would happen if any other looper asked his player if he could step away for a bit to talk to a reporter! It probably wouldn’t go over so well, but Brian is obviously a chill dude and Kip knows that, so it was all good (though I felt kind of bad — I guess I’m so used to waiting).

When I filed the Q&A, one of the editors joked, “Wow, candor. I almost didn’t recognize it.” That’s why Kip is awesome. He tells it like it is, but he doesn’t go too far. (continue reading…)

As I was leaving the media center late last Saturday, I ran into SI‘s Alan Shipnuck, who had also been burning the midnight oil. “I’m going to the cemetery to see Tom Morris’ grave with Brian Gay and his wife [Kimberly],” said Alan. “Do you want to come?”

Um, sure, why not! I hadn’t been yet and there didn’t seem like a more appropriate time to visit a graveyard than this ungodly hour.

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My apologies for the lack of posts (especially the daily updates), but I’ve been running around like crazy gathering material for the next few days. Now that’s out of the way. I’m jetlagged and absurdly sleep-deprived, so I’ll do my best to write coherently.

First of all, St. Andrews — the home of golf — is everything it’s revved up to be, especially during Open week. I’ve been tweeting some pictures and the word that keeps coming to mind is “unreal.” (I know, so expressive.) I love historic towns (hence, I was a History major and focused on the UK), and I immediately remembered exactly why I love the UK so much.

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Welcome to Balls in the Air, where I size up my Fantasy Golf picks of the week, featuring guys to watch (or not) and interesting story lines. Disclaimer: Don’t yell at me if my picks suck. There’s no mathematical formula to my attempt at predicting something as random as golf scores.

I was on the phone last night with a dear friend as I was making my picks. Being that he claims he reads every word I write, I was surprised he wasn’t aware of the fantasy golf format. I called him out, “You don’t read ‘Balls in the Air,’ do you?”

/holding back tears

“No, I don’t,” he admitted sheepishly. “I don’t read it because there’s no Stephanie in it.”

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