Columnist Victoria Sun: Ex-Rebel Fryatt has more fun than expected at Pebble Beach

Victoria Sun

Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2001 | 3:32 a.m.

Victoria Sun's golf column appears Wednesday. Reach her at 259-4078 or victoria@lasvegassun.com

Ed Fryatt showed up at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am last week wanting to have a good time.

He wound up having the time of his life.

Bothered by the fact that he played poorly there last year and wound up missing the cut, the former UNLV standout made a late decision to play at Pebble Beach only after he tied for 13th at the Phoenix Open.

Fryatt will be the first to say he's glad he did.

He fired a 6-under-par 66 in the opening round of the tournament, then cooled off the final three days to finish in a nine-way tie for 27th place.

Another local product, Craig Barlow, fared well too. He tied for sixth, but was atop the leaderboard for a lot of Sunday's final round. He bogeyed No. 17 and double-bogeyed No. 18, but wound up earning $139,000.

"I almost planned on skipping it," Fryatt said Tuesday after playing nine holes to prepare for this week's Buick Invitational. "I went in with no expectations since I did poorly last year. I just wanted to enjoy the week. The conditions are not the greatest. The greens are not the easiest to putt.

"I drove the ball well, but didn't get the putter going. It's a beautiful place to play, though I struggle on those kind of greens. They're tough to read and you're playing the bounce."

Golf aside, Fryatt had one of the best weeks of his life thanks, in part, to fellow PGA Tour golfer Jeff Sluman. Sluman pulled out of Pebble Beach so that he could be with his ailing father. Before he left he asked Fryatt to play in his pro-am group.

Fryatt was more than pleasantly surprised when he found out that two of his playing partners would be actor Bill Murray and Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Mark Grace.

"I can't complain," Fryatt said. "I had no expectations and just wanted to have a good time.

"The week started off with great promise. I had a great time playing with Bill and Mark Grace. I met some wonderful people. My wife flew in and so did my mom and sister. More than just the fact I made the cut, I had a lot of fun filling in for Jeff."

Murray had some harmless fun at Fryatt's expense.

Several times when Fryatt hovered over a putt, Murray would tell the gallery amusing stories about Fryatt.

"Once he told the crowd I was from England and moved to Vegas with my mom and dad and my mom was a dancer from Glitter Gulch," Fryatt said. "He was hilarious to play with.

"Still, I don't think I could handle it every week, but just for one week was fine."

All proceeds will benefit the Rudy Award Program for middle school students. The program teaches children character, courage, contribution and commitment. Call 263-0088 to purchase tickets.