Live From: The Fulton Open 2010 -- Round Two

Leaderboard -- click to enlarge


Jones. Nicklaus. Palmer. Watson. Woods. Fulton. No man has ever laid claim to seven major titles. With one round remaining in the Fulton Open, James Fulton has a chance to claim a record seventh title, to stand above these great men in the annals of history, and to really aggravate the Koch boys for the rest of their vacation.

Moving day at the 2010 Fulton Open was filled with the requisite drama – heroic charges, disastrous holes, acting pissed and throwing things – but ultimately the competitors were simply moving in place: Fulton retained the five stroke lead with which he began the day.

Round two of the 16th Fulton Open began amid cloudy skies. The threat of rain (more specifically, rain after the 6th hole, when rain checks are no longer given) visibly frightened Fulton, as his normally intense warm up routine was shortened to a quick forty-five minutes. If his insides were churning, his golf game was not. The tournament leader Fulton got off to a hot start, birding his first three holes, and extending his lead to seven strokes over Koch Jr. and fourteen over Koch Sr. midway through the front nine.

Koch Jr. – as he did in round one – made a courageous charge late on the front nine, cutting Fulton’s lead to only two strokes. After carding a four-under 32 going out, his lowest score since the 2006 event, tragedy reared its head. Entering the men’s room of the clubhouse, Koch Jr. was stunned to find both Koch Sr. and Fulton with their PANTS OFF. Though later reports claimed they were simply re-tucking, the indelible image haunted Koch Jr. throughout the back nine, as he posted a career worst five over coming home.

Jr.’s struggles again opened the door for Fulton to build his lead on the back nine. Playing steady, unspectacular golf, Fulton successfully navigated “Fulton’s Folly” as well as Cranky Amen Corner in even par. Several shots clear of the field, Fulton was able to take the time to enjoy in the spoils of a large lead – appreciating his surroundings, enjoying the good golf he was playing, and reveling in his opponents’ misfortunes. Truly, moving day had turned into a walk in the park for the man who in his spare time has joined a walking group that has an 83-year-old member. A beautiful birdie on the par three sixteen grew Fulton’s lead to six – a costly double on the 18th brought him to -3 overall, one over on the day and five strokes clear of Koch Jr., who posted his second consecutive round of +1.

With one round remaining it is Fulton – a man the tournament committee was considering asking only to hit the ceremonial first tee shot – who has a chance to make history. A win would give him his seventh championship – two more than Jr. and four more than Sr. A loss would allow Koch Jr. to tie him with six.

His flowing locks, distinctive accent, colorful fashion sense and swashbuckling style are all traits that cause people to confuse Fulton with his idol, Greg Norman. Like Norman, Fulton has a tendency to rise to the top in big events. Like Norman, Fulton uses a form of transportation very few others do (Norman: helicopter, Fulton: Subaru SUV). And like Norman, Fulton is not a comfortable frontrunner. His two stroke leads going into the final round of the ’07 and ’08 events were negated by the back nine, and his historic final round collapse in the ’06 event is something the press does not comment on out of respect – the wounds are simply too deep. To win Fulton will have to overcome these demons, along with a certain charge from Koch Jr., as well as the perils of the Koch boys riding in the same cart.

Fulton tees off at 9:30 Thursday morning. His playing partners are Koch Jr., Koch Sr., and fate.