January 27, 2003

BUFFALO, NY — 2002 Carl Spackler Open Championship winner Mike Trojanowski, joined by his fellow Captain?s Club members at the Champions Luncheon, stunned a large press contingent today by announcing that he not only plans to return to this year?s 2003 CSOC, he "guarantees" to be the first repeat champion in Open history.

Troj, as he?s known on a circuit where he serves as VP of Player Entertainment, had this to say:  ?I?m here today not only to announce my intent to return to this tournament and defend my title; I?m here to tell you that I will be the first to win back-to-back Golden Jackets, and I?ll do it this year.  I guarantee it.?  This prompted a mad scramble of reporters towards Trojanowski?s table, where he emphatically stated again:  ?You heard me.  I?m going to repeat, and yes, I guarantee it.?  Well, he certainly is entertaining.

Meanwhile, Randy (Jason) Watson, the defending MELC Champion, appeared to revert back to his wrestling days as he had to be restrained from lunging at Trojanowski by some of the Captain?s Club members.  He then screamed:  ?I?m gonna dominate you man!  Just wait until June; you?re going to wish you stayed in Buffalo!?  Watson?s statement is another in a flurry of exchanges between the two throughout the week, as they disputed each other?s scorecard entries in each Major last year, the Carl Spackler Open Championship, and Golfapalooza.  Judging from Troj?s smirk, he looked to be employing a clever psychological maneuver.  Gauging Watson?s reaction, it seemed to be working.

Watson spoke after the luncheon, visibly shaken.  ?Who does he think he is?  Joe Namath?  I think he?s forgetting that I?m the favorite to win.  Hell, I just won Golfapalooza, how much more momentum do I need??  J.C. (Jeff Cowan), CSOC Director of Marketing, said ?Troj is really getting under Randy?s skin.  He?s a master of head games.  Hell, he?s even got me worried.?  Crazy Tommy T, a.k.a. Tom McCauley, who serves as CSOC VP of Player Instruction, said this:  ?Mental preparation is the biggest part of the game, no matter what your swing looks like.  Troj has obviously mastered it, and Randy is really struggling with it.  Look at him.  He?s a freakin? basket case; Troj owns him.  I don?t think I?ve seen anything like this since Mickelson at the U.S. Open last year, and that?s a minor tournament compared to this one.?

Although there are many players that appear to have the inside track at this year?s 2003 Carl Spackler Open Championship, it may truly shape up as a battle between Mike Trojanowski and Jason Watson, last year?s defending Major champions.  However, players such as confident rookie Don Crile, past champ Greg Long, long hitter Jay Dilks, and this reporter?s dark horse, Bill Bateson, just might have something to say about that.  Be sure to watch SNN for all the news, all the updates, and all of the golf.