By Brett Grassmuck
Staff Writer

“Going, going, but not quite gone.”

Bob Ueker’s line from the movie Major League is a perfect explanation of the kickoff event to the BMW Championship that featured two Rams and a golf pro trying to drive a ball across the Mississippi river.

Rams punter Donnie Jones, wide receiver Dane Looker and professional golfer Bubba Watson lined up on St. Louis bank of the Mississippi river and attempted to drive a ball into Illinois.

“It was awesome, what an experience,” Looker said. “We had a great day for it. The wind was coming in off the river, though. I was a little disappointed about that. I was hoping it was downwind, but it was a fun event. I was glad to do it.”

The players stood at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the St. Louis arch, which measured nearly 575 yards from where the ball needed to land to successfully cross the river.

It would take a Herculean effort to send a ball across the Mississippi, especially with the wind coming off the river. All three players gave it their all, but none could come close to Illinois.

“It would have been a Paul Bunyan type of story to hit one across today,” Looker said. “It was like 575. Bubba, the longest player on tour was even laughing about that. But it was for a good cause.”

The event was held to kick off the Professional Golf Association’s BMW Championship taking place this week at Bellerive Country Club. If the players were successful in driving the river, BMW would donate an Evans Scholarship in their name.

The Evans Scholars Foundation provides scholarships to deserving high school seniors that spend time as golf caddies. The scholarships provide full tuition and housing grants for the students.

“I hadn’t played golf in a while, so it was good to come out and hit a few,” Jones said. “Not to try and tackle the Mississippi River, I don’t think that can be done.”

Each player was given three chances to drive a ball across the river. Jones stepped into the tee box first. At the same time, there happened to be a barge floating down the middle of the Mississippi. Jones aimed for the barge, but couldn’t quite get the ball there.

“I tried,” Jones said. “I didn’t have enough to get it there on the first couple. This was a fun deal. I’m glad I got to do it.”

Looker stepped up next and put his first one just over 300 yards into the river. His next two shots fell short of his first, but even that one didn’t have nearly enough to carry the Mississippi.

“I was able to carry it about 300, so that’s a good shot for me any day,” Looker said.

Closing out the contest was Watson, who averages over 310 yard drives on the PGA tour. He didn’t disappoint, taking his balls further than Looker and Jones, but even the longest player in the PGA couldn’t carry the Mississippi.

“(Watson) can pound it,” Looker said. “He’s a great guy too. It was fun to talk to him, see him in person. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to get out there sometime on Friday and check him out.”

The PGA Tour’s BMW Championship kicks off Thursday September 4 and runs through Sunday September 7 at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis.