May 22, 2008

GRANDVIEW HEIGHTS, OH — The annual practice round begins in 13 days with 66 participants at Rock Hollow Golf Club just west of downtown Peru, IN. There are 6 guys who have chosen against the optional practice session.

Derek Gastesi, a rookie from a Columbus suburb, is one of the highest profile golfers to skip the optional practice round with a 20.0 stroke handicap. Gastesi, a.k.a. D-Roc, was asked for his thoughts on practice and how much value it really has in a major championship.

Reporter: "Could you clear the air about your practicing habits since we can't see you practice on Wednesday?"

Gastesi: "I have decided to skip the practice round and that's that. I play quite a bit and might miss one practice this year, but if somebody says I missed one practice of all the practices this year, then that's enough to get the media started. The Carl Spackler Open deserves a winner regardless of practice. It's simple as that."

Reporter: "So Spackler has no problem with a high profile participant missing the practice round?"

Gastesi: "If I can't attend the practice round, I can't practice the day before. It is as simple as that. It ain't about that at all. It's easy to sum it up if you're just talking about practice. We're sitting here, and I'm supposed to be the key participant, and we're talking about practice. I mean listen, we're sitting here talking about practice, not a tournament, not even a scramble, but we're talking about practice. Not the major championship that I will go out there and die for. We're talking about practice man. How silly is that?

Now I know that I'm supposed to lead by example, but I am a rookie with a comprehensive yardage book. I know it's important, I honestly do but we're talking about practice. We're talking about practice man. [laughter from the media crowd] We're talking about practice. [pause] We're talking about practice. We're not talking about the tournament. We're talking about practice. When you read the website, and you see my scores, you've got the idea of my skills, you've basically see me give everything I've got, but we're talking about practice right now. [more laughter]

Reporter: "But it's an issue with course knowledge that Spackler continues to question?"

Gastesi: "Hey I hear you, it's funny to me to, hey it's strange to me too but we're talking about practice man, we're not even talking about the tournament, when it actually matters, we're talking about practice."

Reporter: "Are you aware that rookie Mark Wray skipped the practice round last year and wore the Carl Spackler Outfit?"

Gastesi: "No."

Reporter: "Are you aware that rookie Mike Herron skipped the practice round at Mountain Valley and wore the Carl Spackler Outfit?"

Gastesi: "Nope."

Reporter: "Are you aware that Mike Watkeys skipped the practice round at Tanglewood Park and wore the Carl Spackler Outfit?"

Gastesi: "Nope."

Reporter: "Are you aware that rookie Jon Munksgard skipped the practice round at Thunder Hill and wore the Carl Spackler Outfit?"

Gastesi: "No. This is totally ridiculous. We are talkin about practice."

[Matt Davis pushes Gastesi aside and grabs the podeum.]

Matt Davis: "Hey smartass. It is my turn. Is it true that a rookie has worn the Carl Spackler Outfit in 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2007?"

Reporter: "Not sure."

Matt Davis: "Has a rookie ever worn the Carl Spackler Outfit at a Carl Spackler Open held during an even numbered year?"

Reporter: "Not sure."

Matt Davis: "Hey smartass. Is it true that 6 of the past 7 guys to wear the Carl Spackler Outfit had a first or last name starting with the letter 'M'?"

Reporter: "Not sure. One second."

[pause]

Reporter: "Mike, McCauley, Munksgard, Mike, Mike, Mark... Yes. That would be correct."

Matt Davis: "OK. Is it true that Jon and Kyle Marti are not participating in the practice round?"

Reporter: "That would be true."

Matt Davis: "Hey jackass. Is it true that Marti starts with 'M'?"

Reporter: "That would be true."

Matt Davis: "Is it true that Jon and Kyle Marti are not rookies?"

Reporter: "That would be true."

[Davis smiles and walks away.]

Reporter: "Derek, Is it possible that if you practiced, not you but you would make your foursome better?"

Gastesi: "How in the hell can I make my foursome better by practicing?"

Reporter: "So they can learn some things from playing with you."

Gastesi: "There should be plenty of lower handicaps participating in the practice round. So their tournament is going to deteriorate because I'm not practicing with the field of players? Is my game going to get worse? I'm asking you, is anybody's game going to get worse? So what about my golf game? Is my game going to get better or worse because other players are hurt by my absence, I mean, does that hurt me or them? I'm being honest, people are hurt, but does that hurt Spackler? Does that help Spackler if I go out there and play hard for 5 hours? Does that hurt me as a player? Does that hurt me if this person is hurt or that person is hurt? Does it hurt me?"

Reporter: "Yes. I think it does."

Gastesi: "OK. You win. Sign me up for the practice round. I am done with this meeting. I will see you guys on the range June 4."

The practice round begins Wednesday at 12:00PM EST. Derek Gastesi will arrive Wednesday with a chance at glory and practice at Rock Hollow Golf Club.