Legendary loopers: Timberlake and Lauer had Harmon and Norman in tow.
Romo expected to do better than 84, but even with his arms that look like your legs, he struggled at carving out of the rough. Timberlake (6.0 index), black porkpie hat atop a thick orange belt, had 98 with a 10 on No. 9. He was ecstatic to meet Norman then Fred Couples, who actually got off his sofa in Palm Springs and drove to San Diego to watch. Lauer (6.2) sank a 20-footer on No. 18 to post 100. "Pros recover from trouble," he rued. "We compound it. Tiger did not make an outrageous statement." Timberlake concurred. "It would be like Tiger showing up at Madison Square Garden," he said. "My band is there, the drums, the audience and I give him my playlist and say, 'Good luck.' "
Atkinson, 39, studied journalism at the University of Nebraska, but he got real smart real fast. "Didn't see any money in it," he said. With renowned sport psychologist Dr. Bob Rotella as his celebrity caddie, Atkinson attempted to finesse Torrey South with hybrids off the tee. He opened with four consecutive bogeys, prompting cheers from 60 or so friends and family members among a limited gallery. He faded thereafter, but refused a cart for the back nine. A non-smoker, Atkinson has inoperable lung cancer. He has lost 35 pounds, but not an ounce of zeal. "You look up, you see your three children, your wife, your parents, the ocean ... " he said, not finishing his sentence.
The rich and famous folks in this gathering were without ego. Timberlake, who looks like an athlete, was not too exhausted to sign autographs and join a lawn party. Norman, his private plane ready, was there, too. Same with Lauer and Romo, who delayed his flight back to Texas a day. Atkinson made the rounds, smile on his face and beverage in hand. There's something about this game of golf. "Wonderful experience," said his father, Ed. "John ran into Justin Timberlake the other day, and they hooked up for a practice round, like old friends. See them laughing, giving each other knuckles and hugs out there? Wonderful. John is in the late stages, you know. People in his shape have a 5 percent chance of living five years. John's answer to that? 'Why can't I be in that 5 percent?' "
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