Suggestions for watching?
 

My son and I are lucky enough to be going on Thursday. Any tips for the best way to watch? My only "musts" are to see Tiger and Phil from close range for at least a few holes each.

Thanks a lot.

teach

Try and catch Tiger & Phil at the range and/or short game area. That's usually a good show, and you don't have to fight quite as many people for a view.

Agreed with this one, you will learn more from the Pros by watching them on the range. Also if you are going with your son there is less chance of getting hurt or lost in the scrum and crowds that follow Tiger and Phil during the round.
Alex

A raging sea of festering humanity
 

I was run over by a guy jumping a hedge to get an autograph from Tiger in the 2001 US Open! You had to leap frog 6 holes at a time to get premium viewing...it sucked! Plus it was a squillion degrees! So, I watched them warm-up...went home watched the action...came back and watched the post-play practice! You gotta do what works for you right?! I just went to the practice rounds for the 2007 PGA. This is bit cynical but I have heard that British golf fans have a better understanding of the game, especially the Scots (if they will permit me to refer to them as British) so you probably will not have to fend off an inebriated ten ton Timmy barely wearing an ill-fitted autographed Dale Earnhardt Jnr cut-off t-shirt (they guy who jumped the hedge if you are wondering!) That simply would not be cricket, old bean!

Sunday at this year's Masters was much like that as Tiger and Phil were in the same group. You couldn't get a good view of that pairing without jumping many holes ahead. We saw them play #2, #17 and tee off on #18, and in both cases were in the bleachers on those holes an hour or so before that pairing showed up. The bleachers and good standing spots were all taken 20-30 minutes before they were on a hole. Once they arrived, there were people everywhere jockeying for some kind of view, most of which couldn't see anything. Can't imagine playing in a group with Tiger; the fans are noisy, rude, and distracting. The rest of the day we followed other groups, sat far away from the mass of humanity, and had choice views, saw fantastic golf, including the leaders and eventual winner with virtually no crowds to fight (on the course and in the beer lines!).

It is hard to see these guys, but study the course and find a tee box or green, the farthest from the entrances. People are basically lazy, you'll get your shot. Alternately you can wait mid fairway for one of them to hit one astray, then position yourself behind the ball. Finally, take in the whole course, don't make this your only mission, as they are all worth seeing.