I've been in Albuquerque for three days now, and I seem to be settled in. Everything is unpacked, I know my way to the main places I need to go and things are coming along nicely at the convention center.
Today, I had the chance to meet the two gentlemen who will be working with me in the Media Relations department this year, John and Damon. They are both from the Albuquerque area, so their experience with the local media definitely will be welcomed. My former wingman, David Ellis, is taking the year off to get married. All of us here at the tournament wish him the best, and maybe he'll return for the 2009 event in Las Vegas.
I also had the opportunity to talk to my brother, Casey, who will be working in the Ebonite booth for the second consecutive year. Tomorrow he will begin his 2,000-mile journey from Fort Lauderdale. While the trip is long, it's all part of the experience. So much of the Open Championships is about traveling around the country and seeing new places. Spending six months in a place also gives you the chance to experience a lot of culture and diversity. And while we all work closely at the tournament and consider ourselves to be a big family, it's always nice to spend some extra time with my brother too.
Back in the venue, the Brunswick folks and the construction crew continue to work feverishly on the lanes, vendor areas and offices. The highlight of the day was the hoisting of the first scoreboards, one of the most recognizable features of the tournament. I encourage everyone to check out the webcams on USBCopen.com to see the progress of this one-of-a-kind bowling stadium.
