TEEING IT LOWER

Ty Tryon played 18 holes of golf Tuesday and wasn’t asked for an autograph.

He played among peers: high school players who are at most a couple of years older. He got thirsty during the round and couldn’t find a water cooler.

It was much closer to the reality he’s accustomed to.

The week before was a fantasy, a surreal week in Florida he’s not sure really happened. Tryon, a 16-year-old high school sophomore, played in the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic against Jesper Parnevik, John Daly, Tom Lehman and Phil Mickelson, among others.

A Monday qualifier for the Honda Classic, he played there in the spotlight. Galleries swelled to watch the phenom. Television cameras followed his every move. Autograph seekers hounded him after each round.

There were drinks on every tee.

He was two strokes off the lead after an opening-round of five-under-par 67. He became the second-youngest player in tour history to make a cut after a 73 in the second round. He shot 68 Sunday and finished tied for 39th, eight strokes behind winner Parnevik.

Tuesday, he played with his high school team, Lake Highland Prep of Orlando, Fla., in a match against Santa Margarita and La Costa Canyon.

He played at Coto de Caza Golf and Racquet Club, a secluded private course in a gated Orange County community about 60 miles south of Los Angeles. The galleries swelled to about a dozen.

“It was different,” Tryon said. “It was hard getting up for this match, but it was nice to be out there just to have fun. To tell you the truth, I’m kind of sick of golf.”

Tryon shot a one-over 73 Tuesday and his team, considered the best in Florida, finished two strokes behind Santa Margarita, the reigning Southern California champion. Tryon was second to Scott Manley of Santa Margarita by two strokes in the individual race.

That’s right, 39th over the weekend in a field of 144 of the world’s best; then two days later second in a field of 18 high school players.

“I was mentally pretty dead out there,” Tryon said. “I had a tough time concentrating.”

It’s not abnormal for Tryon to finish second in high school matches. Tryon, ranked No. 5 in the nation among boys, is not even the top player on his team. That honor belongs to Christo Greyling, ranked No. 1 in the nation.

Before last weekend, Tryon wasn’t the most famous player on his team, either. Jason Cook, son of PGA Tour veteran John Cook, is a freshman. Andy Leadbetter, son of noted golf instructor David Leadbetter, is also on the team.

John Cook, who is an assistant coach for Lake Highland Prep, said this trip couldn’t have come at a better time for Tryon.

“[The Honda Classic] got a little overwhelming for him at points,” said Cook, a 10-time PGA Tour winner. “He needs to enjoy this time and be a kid. He put all his effort into those four days and he’s feeling that. It’s tough for a 16-year-old.”

The day after the Honda Classic, Tryon boarded a plane for Los Angeles for a long-planned trip to play against some of the top teams in Southern California. Lake Highland will play Palm Desert today at Desert Willow Resort in Palm Desert and Anaheim Servite Saturday at Virginia Country Club in Long Beach.

The trip is a quick escape from the spotlight for Tryon and a quick return to reality.

If Tryon is having any doubts about that, his teammates are sure to keep him in check.

“These kids will make sure he doesn’t get too big of a head,” Cook said. “They’ll be all over him. All these guys are just kids and Ty is still one of them.”

Tryon doesn’t plan to let go of that. He said his success last week isn’t going to tempt him to prematurely turn professional, though he hasn’t ruled out skipping college.

“I’ve got the whole amateur thing to do,” Tryon said. “I’ve got the next three years of amateur golf before I think about [turning pro].”

Some say he could be ready sooner than that. Taylor Wood, who plays for Santa Margarita and is ranked No. 47 in the nation, was paired with Tryon Tuesday.

“He’s pretty solid,” Wood said. “He’s comfortable out there. That’s the big thing is you have to be comfortable. I think he could turn pro in a year.”

Cook was more impressed with Tryon’s performance at the Honda Classic, where Tryon beat Cook by a stroke.

“He’s more than just a good junior player,” Cook said. “His success didn’t surprise me because he’s a good player, period. It’s a lot different now than when I was a kid.”

Tryon spent about an hour each day with the media last week and spent another two hours signing autographs.

“That was really weird,” he said. “I signed every one, but it was weird. Usually, I’m the one trying to get an autograph.”

The best part of the experience?

“Beating Coach [Cook] was kind of cool,” Tryon said.

Tuesday, Cook got revenge. The coach made seven birdies in 11 holes before quitting play to watch the end of the match. He could have bogeyed the rest of the holes and still would have beaten Tryon by a stroke.

Welcome back to reality, Ty.