Associate head coach Chris Dailey could not have started her week any better at TPC River Highlands Monday. She made a 20-foot putt for birdie at No. 1 in the Aetna Tournament Players Pro-Am.
Dailey later sank an uphill, 25-foot putt for par at No. 7 before saying that she hoped she didn’t exhaust her supply of exceptional shots in one day when there were only a couple of fans to watch. The crowd will be considerably greater Wednesday when she tees off at No. 1 at 12:30 p.m. in the Travelers Celebrity Pro-Am.
Dailey will be teamed with Dustin Johnson and actors Luke Wilson and James Naughton. She said she is very excited to play with Wilson. And Eric Axley, the pro from Knoxville, Tenn. who she regularly plays with in the Aetna event, knows Wilson so she hopes he will be nice to her.
The event Dailey is most looking forward to participating in this week is the inaugural Women’s Day celebration Thursday. She will be the keynote speaker during a 90-minute breakfast that begins at 7:30 a.m.
“It’s the first time they’ve ever done it so I’m excited,’’ Dailey said. “They could’ve asked anyone. It’s a great opportunity. It’s also an opportunity for people to network. And as far as them listening to me speak, they want to hear about motivation and pressure and all those sorts of things that they can take into the business world to a certain degree. So it’s a great opportunity and I’m flattered that they asked me to speak.’’
Dailey said there are already approximately 230 people scheduled to attend the breakfast. There will also be a financial planning seminar, wine tastings, a wine seminar, a floral design demonstration, haircuts, health screenings and massages from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Suzy Whaley will conduct Golf 101, which will contain such information as which clubs to use and what shoes to wear, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. She will also conduct a women’s golf clinic from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Tickets are $40 for admission to the breakfast and the tournament, any one additional day ticket, access to special events and a $20 donation to the Aurora Women & Girls Foundation; $25 for admission to the breakfast and the tournament, access to special events and a $10 donation to Aurora; and $10 for tournament admission and a $10 donation to Aurora.
This was the fourth straight year that Dailey, who is a 25-handicap, has played in the Aetna Players Pro-Am. She has had the same caddie each year – Ray Lilley from Wallingford, who goes by the nickname “Gator.’’
Here’s Gator’s take on Dailey’s golf game.
“It’s definitely improved since the first time,’’ said Lilley, who also served as Geno Auriemma’s caddie for one year. “It’s not bad. She hits it straight every time. Just when she starts losing interest she just kind of unravels and picks her ball up. She plays pretty much bogey golf, which isn’t bad.’’
When it comes to putting, Dailey said that her fellow competitors compare it to making a free throw. Of course, she begs to differ.
“It’s so funny because they all try to equate putting to making a free throw and it’s not even close,’’ Dailey said. “Jay Williamson said (last year), `Come on, Chris, it’s just making a free throw.’ I said, `Jay, it’s not. When you shoot a free throw it’s exactly the same place. There’s no bends. You don’t have to read it. There’s no wind. There’s no rain.’ I think it’s because they don’t think I’m very smart and that’s the only analogy I can understand. But I’ve been really lucky because Eric is really nice and Jay Williamson was really nice.’’
Rich
