PARKER — Doug Perry was perfectly happy waking up at 4:45 a.m. Thursday to go open the pro shop at City Park Nine Golf Course in Fort Collins. He felt great after finishing a group lesson with four women at about 10:30.
But then things got really good.
“Someone called and said, ‘This is Susan from the PGA of America, and we have a tee time for you in the Senior PGA Championship if you can make it here for a 2:15 tee time,’ ” Perry said.
“I thought someone was trying to pull a prank on me. I said, ‘Who is this?’ “
As it turned out, the call was legit. Hal Sutton had pulled out of the first major championship tournament of the season, and a replacement was needed at Colorado Golf Club. Scanning a list of possibilities, the PGA alighted on Perry, who was the ninth alternate.
So instead of “flipping burgers for the men’s league,” Perry and Dale Smigelsky, a fellow PGA pro from nearby Collindale Golf Course, found themselves hurtling down E-470, trying to make a 2:15 tee time.
“I won’t say how fast I was driving,” Perry said.
About halfway through the 1-hour, 45-minute trip, Perry realized his wedges didn’t conform with the new USGA regulations. After a few phone calls, a pair was found — but getting to the store required a 10-mile detour in the opposite direction of the course.
As a result, Perry arrived at the site of his second major championship — he played in the 2004 U.S. Senior Open — at 1:55 p.m. Three practice drives, four 7-irons and two strokes on the putting green later, the 55-year-old walked to the first tee and met his playing partners for the afternoon — major champions Nick Price and Tom Lehman.
“Are you playing with us today?” Lehman asked. “Well, we’re glad to have you.”
Some five hours later, the trio walked off the 18th green. Lehman was tied for third after an opening-round, 4-under-par 68. Price also was in the top 10, tied for ninth at 2-under 70.
After three triple-bogeys and a double, Perry stood in a tie for 149th in the 154-player field at 11-over, but judging from the smile on his face, it might be hard to tell who had the best day.
“I told one of the guys that I like the game we play at the club,” Perry said. “Yesterday was Ladies Day, and for that we throw out the four worst scores. If we were doing that here, it wouldn’t have been so bad.
“It was nerve-wracking, but my gosh, playing with these guys — just watching these guys. . . . I qualified for the Senior Open on my 50th birthday, but this is right up there — and I’m halfway to the Grand Slam! You don’t have to win them, do you? You just play in them, right?”
Anthony Cotton: 303-954-1292 or acotton@denverpost.com
