TUCSON, Ariz. — The conditions out at Omni Tucson National on Wednesday were ideal for snowbirds who support the green and yellow.
"Packer fans show up no matter what, we're all over the world and we will come from all over the world to see our Packers," Diehard Green Bay fan Lynn Skony explained.
The Green Bay faithful are used to watching Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers light up the scoreboard at Lambeau Field, but the 2-time NFL MVP was tackling a different kind of green in southern Arizona.
"My golf swing is pretty bad, but it's supporting a good cause," Rodgers laughed about.
Rodgers is trying to save par with his good friend, pro and Wisconsin native Jerry Kelly. Not a bad partner to tee off with, to answer questions and receive any tips on form during a friendly round.
"To watch his competitiveness, his drive to get better, is just infectious, " Kelly described of Rodgers. He added, " I can see why he is the best, he puts his heart and everything into it, he is great to emulate."
Also hitting the links was former Canyon Del Oro High School standout Blake Martinez. While the Packer linebacker lettered in both basketball and volleyball during his 'El Dorado' days, his golf swing doesn't come quite as naturally.
"I'm trying to hit the ball at least once straight down the fairway but we'll see what happens, if it starts going bad we'll go back to the Happy Gilmore style," Martinez said.
Cheese heads packed the course to catch a glimpse of their favorite players, even if the results aren't quite the same as they're used too.
"I lost four or five balls last years, so there is probably a handful of holes I'd like to do better on," Rodgers said with a smile on his face.
Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz is also participating in the tournament this year, and not just the Pro-Am. While the former Atlanta Brave now spends his nights as an analyst for the game he loves, golf has become Smoltz's new obsession.
"I'll be the happiest guy no matter what the score is, " Smoltz said. He adds, " If I'm pitching I would never think of pitching until the first throw in the bullpen, problem with golf is I think about it all the time."
Rodgers, Smoltz, Martinez and Jerry Kelly helped the Cologuard present a $50,000 check to the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation. A true hole in one for everyone involved.
