HSI VIII Players

 

 Player: JJ
Traveled from: Houston, TX
Details: JJ is the defending HSI champ and winner of two out of the last three events.  He is reporting good scores recently and broke 80 for the first time ever within the two weeks leading up to HSI VIII.  Since he is the only warm weather dweller, has been playing well as of late, as is the defending champion, he is the favorite leading into HSI VIII.
In the Bag: Driver: 
FW:
Hybrid:
Irons: 
Wedges:
 
Putter:  		Callaway X 460 Tour, Fujikura stiff graphite shaft
15 degree Callaway X Tour 3 wood, Fujikura stiff graphite shaft
18 degree Cobra Baffler
3 - PW Callaway X-20 Tour
52 degree Titleist Vokey
56 degree Ping Tour
Ping Zing
Memorable HSI VIII Moments: Road tripping with beers down the back road side streets listening to the Korean directions.  Melons lip syncing got me wondering about just what the&$*# was this place all about.  That pizza was REALLY GOOD!  Drinking some beers with Powell in the gay pool.  That breakfast buffet was REALLY GOOD!  Powell got into a putting grove - sniff, sniff, sniff, putt, sniff, rabbit.  Sheebz is a putter whore!  I am a putter slut who can't get enough.  Those beers were REALLY GOOD!
 
Favorite Course: Legends Heathland

 

 Player: SHEEBZ
Traveled from: Kansas City, MO
Details: Sheebz finished third last year and sputtered to the finish.  He moved from Dallas to Kansas City in November, 2007, and has played just a couple of rounds prior to HSI VIII.  He is not a favorite going into HSI VIII and will have to pull off some miracle shots with miracle timing to be in contention for the title.
In the Bag: Driver:   
FW: 
Hybrid:

Irons:       
Wedges:
Putter:  		10 degree Ping G2, stiff graphite shaft
15 degree Ping G5, stiff graphite shaft
20 degree Ben Hogan hybrid, stiff graphite shaft
27 degree Ben Hogan hybrid, stiff graphite shaft
5 iron through PW, Mizuno X-23, steel shaft
50, 54, and 58 degree Titleist Vokey
Odyssey Black #1 or Guerin Rife 2-bar mallet
Memorable HSI VIII Moments: The heat.  Enormous greens with undulations on The Legends courses.  JJ attempting to find a good place for the Champions dinner, and stopping at Melons and AJ's Bar before finding a pizza restaurant.  Considering having a $3 hot dog from AJ's Bar for my champions dinner meal.  Going to the beach and fighting the waves.  Hitting a fade (ok, maybe a slight slice) on every shot.  Getting three hours sleep before the final day of 36 holes.  The closest finish in HSI history so far.
Favorite Course: TPC Myrtle Beach (with Moorland a very close second)

 

 Player: NICK
Traveled from: Maryville, MO
Details: Nick has not won an HSI major since the Winter Park trip in 2004.  This has hurt him so much that he made a major change to his life and changed professions in the last year so that he would have more time to concentrate on HSI.  He is now a college professor at NWMSU, and he has almost a full month off prior to HSI VIII to work on his game.  We all expect Nick to be extremely consistent this year as he has always been.  However, the scores might be in the low to mid 80's instead of the high 80's.  He has to be considered the front runner of the three players to take the title away from JJ this year.
In the Bag: Driver: 
FW:


Irons:
Wedge:
Putter:  		Taylor Made R5 Dual, Regular Flex Graphite shaft
Titleist 14.5 degree 975f stiff flex graphite shaft
Titleist 18.5 degree 975f steel shaft
Adams 21 degree Tight lies strong 7
4 - SW Callaway X-12
52 degree Cleveland Gunmetal 900
Taylor Made Monza Corza
Memorable HSI VIII Moments: The quality of the courses we played.  Particularly Mooreland course.  I loved that layout.  The beautiful trade wind that blew our money away.  Sheebz dry heaving on Sat. morning.  Melons and their helpful staff.  The anticipation of the Champions Dinner and the reluctance I felt when I thought it would consist of "Hot Dog" from AJ's.  Going to the beach.  Fighting the Atlantic, losing a lens from my sunglasses, and ultimately sacrificing my $100 sunglasses to the surf.  JJ's snoring
Favorite Course: Legends Moorland

 

 Player: POWELL
Traveled from: Kansas City, MO
Details: Powell had a less than stellar showing in his first HSI event last year.  The pressure and excitement of being involved in such a prestigious event got to him.  However, he has now had a year to study the rules and point system.  He's also had a year to understand the weaknesses of the other players and to devise a plan to attack those weaknesses.  His main obstacle to overcome will be the lack of practice rounds leading up to event.  By his own account, he has played in three scramble tournaments leading up to HSI VIII.  Not having hit a single shot out of the rough this year prior to HSI VIII may hurt Powell.
In the Bag: Driver: 
FW:
Irons:
Wedge:




Putter:		 Taylor Made 360
Tour Model 21 degree
3-PW Nicklaus AirBear
52 degree Titleist Vokey
56 degree Callaway SW (purchased at a golf shop on the way to HSI VIII because he left his old wedge on the 18th green in the last round of HSI VII)
60 degree sand wedge
Odyssey White Hot
Memorable HSI VIII Moments: A 175 yard six iron shot on number 1 at TPC Myrtle Beach that left me an 18 inch birdie.  I also will fondly remember the restroom stop/sand wedge purchase on the way to Myrtle.  And frankly - I don't know what Schieber left in his bed that scared the cleaning lady so much - but I doubt it was "a bug"!
Favorite Course: