Murray Wins Pro-Am

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Perhaps it is a clear and distinct signal of good things to come.  And only if he had recorded a hole-in-one on live television, it could have possibly been an even bigger indicator.

 

The bottom line is that Charleston RiverDogs' co-owner Bill Murray is once again a champion, and this time we're not talking about his successes it the movies or even his memorable rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" at Wrigley Field. 

 

However, Murray finishing first in this past weekend's AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am could be a warning of good things to come for his RiverDogs.  Maybe this victory on the links will be a good indicator for another successful season as the club prepares for the 2011 campaign, their 15th at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.

 

According to veteran sportswriter Art Spander, writing for The Los Angeles Times, "The golf tournament once known as the Bing Crosby now could be renamed the Bill Murray."  The man known for his role as greenskeeper Carl Spackler in 'Caddyshack,' already a legend at Pebble Beach, is now a champion."

 

As D.A. Points took the pro side of the tournament on Sunday, and teaming with Murray, who was funny when he could be and restrained when he had to be - which wasn't often - combined to win the pro-am event.

 

According to Spander, Points - who idolizes Murray - asked to play with the world-renown actor/comedian in this historic tournament on the Monterey Peninsula. The pro shot a five-under-par 67 and also mixed in some of Murray's classic lines from the 31-year-old film.

 

His 15-under total of 271 was two shots in front of Hunter Mahan.  It gave Points, 34, his first victory in a PGA Tour event and gave the imitable Murray an opportunity to offer, "The only chance we had was to make it through the entire week without asking what the initials 'D.A.' stand for."

 

The initials stand for Darren Andrews, and he and the 60-year-old Murray, playing off a 13-handicap - he's a golfer as well as a comedian - had a net best-ball score of 35-under-par 251 for the four rounds, two at Pebble, one each at Spyglass Hill and Monterey Peninsula.

 

The win gets Points into The Masters, and Murray, who's had the opportunity to play Augusta National more than several times, said, "This crowd was having a lot more fun than the crowd at Augusta.  This tournament works well."

 

According to Spander, Tiger Woods may have been in Dubai and Phil Mickelson may have been in a tie for ninth in the AT&T, but Points, Murray and others kept up the interest.  Spectacular weather, with vistas of Carmel Bay and the mountains toward Big Sur, didn't do anything to hurt attendance.

 

Of note, Points hails from Illinois, as does Murray. 

 

Murray's antics over the 20 years he's entered and become the main attraction, often partnering with Scott Simpson, unnerved many contestants.  On Saturday, he wore an Elmer Fudd hunter's cap and on Sunday, he had an outfit more appropriate for polishing a floor.  Points, however, insisted the Murray routine worked to his advantage.

 

"When I won on the Nationwide Tour," Points said, "I was chatting with the crowd.  Here, Bill loosened me up."  On 16, it was Points who did the loosening.  In a perfect rendition of Murray doing Carl Spackler, as Murray lined up a long putt, Points quipped, "The crowd would appreciate it if you knocked this in." Murray didn't.

 

The last celebrity on a winning pro-am team was the musician Kenny G in, 2001.  He and Mickelson tied for first with Woods and Jerry Chang that year.

 

Said Murray after his triumph, "I'm just thinking of turning professional."

 

Even if Murray doesn't turn to pro golf, he can be seen at numerous RiverDogs games.  The club opens its home portion of the 2011 season on April 15 when the Lexington Legends come to Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park for Opening Day.

 

 

*Art Spander and The Los Angeles Times contributed to this story.