Friendly banter and good old competition fires up Savannah

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SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Oh brother. Lanny and Bobby Wadkins were already bickering during their practice round on Tuesday.

The siblings chose to team up for this week's Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf, a two-man, best-ball Champions Tour event at the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa.

Tom Watson will play with good friend Andy North this week. (Condon/PGA TOUR)

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Tom Watson, practicing nearby, overheard a little encounter between the Wadkins duo.

"They were already fighting like brothers yesterday in the practice round," he reported. "Lanny said, 'You can't hit driver off the fairway' and Bobby said, 'Leave me alone already'."

Bobby promises he and his older brother won't be family feuding on the course during the 54-hole event, though.

"We'll have a whole lot of brotherly love but won't have brotherly fights like we used to," Bobby said. "Once they changed it to a team deal and Lanny was no longer (broadcasting) with CBS, we knew we would play together and would be together for as long as we can play.

Despite the Wadkins brothers' harmless banter, Watson wasn't at all surprised to see their names together on the team list. Nor was it weird to see Wake Forest University alums Jay Haas and Curtis Strange pair up, for instance, or long-time friends Bill Rogers and Bruce Lietzke as a couple.

"These are old relationships between the guys that palled around (on Tour)," Watson said. "They are playing with their best friends, their close friends and it's fun."

The 31-year-old tournament is older than the Champions Tour. In fact, the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf was the catalyst for the formation of the 50-and-over circuit.

Golfers like Sam Snead, Roberto de Vicenzo and Gene Sarazen came together at Onion Creek Country Club in Austin, Texas, in 1978 for the first one. Birdies were made, scores were low (think 62s and 63s) and fans realized that these guys could still play.

At the time, Watson was the PGA TOUR's leading money winner, but even he wasn't too busy to catch the compelling drama.

"I remember watching it," he said. "It was wonderful to watch all the birdies and the playoffs between those legends. It was truly a legendary tournament."

The format changed in 2002 to crown an individual champion. Two team competitions still took place -- the Raphael Division for players between ages 50-69 and the Demaret Division for ages 70 and older -- but the solo champion garnered the official money.

The Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf has returned to its roots this year, though. All players -- regardless of their age -- selected partners prior to the event and will compete as pairs for the official cash.

Loren Roberts and Scott simpson will play together as a team this week in Savannah. (Condon/PGA TOUR)

"I think it is cool to ... have (an event that is) unique, not like any on other tours," said Scott Simpson, who will play with Loren Roberts this week.

The biggest concern about the change revolved around awarding official money in a team format, but Champions Tour officials and players met to discuss any concerns. Ultimately, the majority of the players and the sponsors were on board with the change.

"I think in the long run, it will be a great thing for the fans." Haas said. "They will see a whole different side of the players, high-fiving and such. You don't see that much normally.

"I like to get fired up. I like to cheer on the next guy. We don't get to do that too much. If you are cheering for your opponent, there is something wrong with you out here. We don't wish anybody bad luck, but we are trying our hardest (to win)."

The players stress that preparations for a team event mirror those for an individual one. Since each still has to hit his ball on every shot, it's similar to a stroke-play event on the course but causes some adjustments psychologically.

"You can ... take a little more risk if your partner is in good shape," Watson said. "Sometimes, the risk is fun. If you hit it out of a bad lie or hit it out of the trap, and you've never tried the shot before and you are successful, that's what playing this golf tournament is all about."

At the same time, if your partner is out of the hole, the pressure can be intensified, Haas said. Even in a team format, though, golf is still an individual sport.

"It's not like I can block for Curtis or pass the ball to him," said the two-time Champions Tour Player of the Year. "It's no different even as a team event. We are still playing our own ball but what I do in most regards will not affect how he plays and vice versa."

Ben Crenshaw, the victorious Ryder Cup captain in 1999, agreed.

"You don't want to put yourself under so much pressure that you can't play your game," he said. "The best way to help your partner is to play your own game and do that the best that you can. It's part of the unique format."

Crenshaw teammed with George Burns to win the 1979 Walt Disney World National Team Championship, an official PGA TOUR event that took place from 1974-1981. He's playing with Raymond Floyd this year.

"I'll see Raymond tomorrow, and we will talk over a few things," Crenshaw said. "I think we will note the differences in how the course is playing right now, and we will probably talk about some breaks in the greens.

"That's where the important stuff happens this week -- you have to get the ball in the cup to contend."

Just like any other golf tournament.