A Golf Nerd in a Reno-Tahoe Whirlwind

Though Nevada is one of America's smallest states population-wise, it acts like a much bigger spot on the golf map, especially this week. Take it from me. I live in Reno and since I follow and write about golf for a living, I find myself in the middle of a raging storm of options. Here's my schedule for today and tomorrow, for instance:

6 a.m. PST: Opened my eyes, grabbed the remote and turned on ESPN's Open Championship coverage just in time to see Tiger's post-67 interview. John Daly shot 66! And Rory McIlroy buried St. Andrews in the breezeless morning with an amazing 63. At this moment, I'm still watching. The wind is starting to blow. Phil can't make a move, stands at even par at the turn. Go figure.

9:30 a.m. PST: Jump in the car and drive an hour south to Edgewood Tahoe to get my first American Century Celebrity Golf Championship fix. Today's target: Ray Romano, if he's indeed decided to show up for the Celeb-Am. He's on the next cover of Fairways + Greens magazine, and I need some color from this Man of a Certain Age. Of course, I'll catch some glimpses of the Jordans, Barkleys, Romos and whoever else crosses my path. Just being on Tahoe's shore in mid-July is reason enough to get up there, see some semi-good golf and celebrate summer.

4-4:30 p.m. PST: Head back down the hill and, if time permits, stop by Montrêux Golf & Country Club to check the leader board for the Reno-Tahoe Open, played in July for the first time after 11 years as an August PGA Tour event. Defending champ John Rollins is back, as are a half-dozen other past champs. And Aussie favorite Stuart Appleby tees it up in the shadow of the Sierra for the first time. Always an underappreciated tournament, perhaps this year will bring some much-needed notoriety even as the Open dominates the headlines.

FRIDAY
6 a.m. Up early. British Open. Enough said.
10 a.m.-Noon: Cable guy swings by (hopefully) with a fresh new DVR so I can record the Open over the weekend.
Noon-6 p.m.: Out to Montrêux to follow the pros through the second round.
7 p.m.: Dinner with family to discuss the RTO's developments.

My weekend's schedule is still murky, but trust me, it'll involve big gulps of golf, both in Reno and at Tahoe. What a place to be in the sizzling heart of summer.