CLASSIC DETERMINATION SPRINKLES DON'T SOIL FIRST ROUND.Byline: Sue Doyle Staff Writer VALENCIA - Des who? Des Smyth Des Smyth (born 12 February, 1953) is an Irish golfer. Smyth was born in Drogheda, County Louth. He turned professional in 1974 and was a member of the European Tour for over a quarter of a century. His best finish on the European Tour Order of Merit was seventh in 1988. may have walked away champion from last year's AT&T Classic, but the blue-eyed lad from Ireland remained almost unknown Friday to the crowds that came out to watch their favorite golf legends play during the first round of the annual tournament. Still, all eyes were on Smyth and the golf ball he sent soaring through the sky at the 10th hole. Suddenly the crowd began to whisper. The face. The aim. The name. It was all coming back to them. ``Could he win again?'' they quietly asked one another as they applauded from the sidelines. One man from the crowd tore off after Smyth in pursuit of an autograph. But the others remained at the 10th hole, sharing stories of the big shots they'd seen earlier in the day -- Lee Trevino Noun 1. Lee Trevino - United States golfer (born in 1939) Lee Buck Trevino, Supermex, Trevino , Jay Haas Jay Dean Haas (born December 2, 1953) is an American golfer. Haas was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He attended Wake Forest University and was a member of the NCAA Championship team of the middle 1970s with Curtis Strange and Bob Byman that Golf World , Hale Irwin Hale S. Irwin (born June 3, 1945) is an American golfer. He is the uncle of Heath Irwin. Irwin was born in Joplin, Missouri. He graduated from the University of Colorado in 1967, where he was a two-time All-Big Eight defensive back, as well as an academic All-American in . Sitting on a chair with his walker, 85-year-old Floyd Heinz took off his baseball cap to show everyone at the 10th hole where Florida's Raymond Floyd Raymond "Ray" Loran Floyd (born September 4, 1942) is an American professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments at both PGA Tour and Champions Tour level. Floyd was born at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He attended the University of North Carolina. had signed it. The Reseda man had waited all day to see Floyd, and when he finally got a glimpse, the professional golfer was just taking off in a golf cart. Heinz chased after him with his cap as his 53-year-old daughter followed close behind. ``It was like a kid trying to get Mickey Mouse's autograph,'' said daughter Alexis Heinz. ``It was a big thrill.'' Others were also in hot pursuit of the celebrity players. Standing by the putting green, third-grader Matt Milholland and his father Scott wore baseball caps signed all over that day by many famous faces. And still they gathered more autographs, approaching players as they stepped off the practice area and then scanning for a clean spot on their caps to sign. Light rain around 12:30 p.m. sent spectators scrambling for cover under canopies and tents. But 15 minutes later, showers were over. Umbrellas were put away. Hats came off. And cigars were relit as the scene returned to normal. Inside the Loose Goose Wine Pavilion, patrons could sample five wines for a few dollars. It was the first time wine tasting Noun 1. wine tasting - a gathering of people to taste and compare different wines assemblage, gathering - a group of persons together in one place wine tasting n → degustación f de vinos was available at the tournament, an idea that had yet to catch on with the crowd - but not with the winery representatives who indulged in some samples as the afternoon wore on. ``I think the weather threw us a curveball today,'' said Bret Engelman of Fresno's Engelmann Cellars as he looked at the sky and held a glass of wine. ``We're looking forward to Sunday. It will be busier and warmer.'' Sue Doyle, (661) 257-5254 sue.doyle(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- 2 -- color) Fans share an umbrella, right, during a wet start to the AT&T Classic on Friday at the Valencia Country Club. Above, Loren Roberts Loren Lloyd Roberts (born June 24 1955) is an American professional golfer. He was born in San Luis Obispo, California. He competed for San Luis Obispo Senior High School and Cal Poly. , left, and Bob Gilder Robert Bryan Gilder (born December 31, 1950) is an American professional golfer. He won six tournaments in his PGA Tour career and currently plays on the Champions Tour where he has nine wins. watch as Raymond Floyd tees off under a patch of blue sky. David Crane/Staff Photographer |
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