February 13, 2004

MARYSVILLE, OH — 2003 Carl Spackler Open Championship winner Tom Fowble, 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 2004 tournament, he "guarantees" to be the first repeat champion in Open history.

Fowble 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 Fowble'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.

Jason 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 ?OlaFowble 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. Fowble has obviously mastered it, and Randy is really struggling with it. Look at him. He?s a freakin? basket case; Fowble 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 2004 Carl Spackler Open Championship, it may truly shape up as a battle between Tom Fowble and Mike Trojanowski, 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, Brandon Hunter, 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.