TUESDAY: BOO-YAH!!

EDITOR'S NOTE: I might as well put my incredible access to this year's Verizon Heritage, the PGA's annual stop on Hilton Head Island, to good use. Each day I will bring you some inside stories that go on behind the ropes, in the media tent, and behind corners that the public doesn't have access to.

Note Boo's camouflage hat

I’d like to personally thank Boo Weekley. It’s because of him that I had to permanently add the term “ain’t” into my Microsoft Word’s dictionary. I simply got tired of dealing with the scribbly, red line telling me that it’s not a word. I wouldn’t dare tell the two-time defending Verizon Heritage champ that ain’t just ain’t a word. The pseudo word is firmly entrenched in his vernacular.

Instead of fighting it, I suppose it’s time to welcome back the Lowcountry’s favorite adoptive son.

Unless you’ve been living in a cave with your head under your armpits for the last two days, undoubtedly you’ve heard that the Verizon Heritage has lumbered back onto Hilton Head Island.

You’re going to hear a lot about Boo in the days to come. I know what you’re thinking: I’ve already heard enough about this guy and the tournament hasn’t even started. I alone have written three articles in the last 24 hours on the 35-year-old from Wilton, Fla.

The story of Boo is an important one. The guy is a real-life Happy Gilmore — a breath of…well fresh air isn’t the correct term…for the Tour. Weekley’s been able to accomplish what John Daly was never able to do, despite having a similar following.

Despite spending time at last year’s Heritage, I didn’t quite get the full Boo experience. I figured the stories of his redneck ways had to be overly exaggerated.

Boy, was I wrong. This guy’s a walking cartoon character.

This is a guy who referred to the Sea Pines Lighthouse as a deer hunting stand, said he likes the Sea Pines course because it’s “fat-person friendly” and rode a replica 1700s- style wooden driver along the fabled 18th fairway like it was a wild stallion. All in a five-minute span during Monday’s opening ceremonies.

Calm down my fellow fat people. Boo referenced himself as one of us.

Before I could hit the Sol Blatt Jr. Expressway on my way home to Bluffton, I was enamored with the guy.

Tuesday proved different. When I approached Weekley on the driving green he was gruff, as if someone had just kicked his favorite hunting hound. He answered all my questions but seemed to be annoyed before I got to him. After observing his driving, he looked more annoyed and gingerly favored his left leg a bit.

On Friday he missed the cut at the Masters. On Monday he blamed it on over-practicing. One has to wonder if his leg hurts more than he is leading on. If so, let’s hope he can play through the discomfort. There are a lot of people here hoping he becomes the first golfer to win three-straight Verizon Heritages.

It’s funny how a complete goof can un-starch the collars of some of Sea Pines’ most uptight people. Fact is, he’s a stand up guy; one who will sign autographs forever, donates proceeds to wounded vets and said he wants to walk the course on the fans-side of the ropes just to be with common folks like himself. He's even allowing Paul Olson, a disabled vet, caddy for him during the week's practice rounds.

That ain’t too bad.

WHO ELSE IS PLAYING??

Believe it or not, there are 131 other players looking to derail Weekley’s two-year winning streak. One of them is Hilton Head’s own D.J. Trahan. The Hilton Head Island High School grad has had a rough go of late. He hasn’t finished higher than 30th in his last five tournaments, including missing the cut at Bay Hill in Orlando.

The big dogs — Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and even reigning Masters champ Angel Cabrera — don’t play in the Heritage. But there are plenty of great players here.

My prediction: Jim Furyk will win. I say that mostly because, like myself, Furyk attended the University of Arizona. Call me a homer.

Tune back in tomorrow for more. On the schedule is the Pro-Am. For those of you attending, Weekley tees off at 12:15 p.m. on hole No. 1.