Michigan's Hebert not quite at home at Oakland Hills

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) --
Scott Hebert is the first PGA Club Professional in 11 years to win the PGA Professional National Championship and earn the right to play the PGA Championship in his home state.

Hebert is the PGA Head Professional at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. The PGA Championship, which starts Thursday, is being held at Oakland Hills for the first time since 1979.

Home-field advantage? Uh, not quite.

"This is my first time in the driveway," Hebert said Monday. "I haven't seen it. When I get out of here, I'm going to look for the range. Shortly after that, hopefully I'll get to the first tee and play some holes."

How could a six-time Michigan Open champion never have set foot at Oakland Hills, the most famous golf course in the state?

For starters, Grand Traverse is about 250 miles away. Then there's that small detail of his job.

"It's not because I haven't had invitations," Hebert said. "Steve Brady is another great Michigan player who works here and has asked me to come down. And it's just never seemed to work out. But I hear wonderful things about it. A lot of my members grew up here and said, 'You're going to love the golf course.'"

That's the scouting report from his wife, too. She came to Oakland Hills in 2004 for the Ryder Cup.

Hebert is thrilled his wife and children will be able to watch him play.

A week before he won the PNC in Georgia, his daughter was born prematurely. But she is doing fine, and everyone is at Oakland Hills. Hebert will play the first two rounds with Rod Pampling and Sean O'Hair.

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