Score: 75
I did not qualify for the Nationwide Tour event, but I did finally realize something that will definitely be a major part in the deciding factor as to whether or not I am successful as a professional golfer. That realization is I have got to become a better putter period.....and its got to start today. There's really nothing else to it. My swing has always been good enough to produce results at least some of the time in my playing career. And now that I've been working with Brian, those results have since improved and I believe will continue to improve as we move forward. However, it doesn't matter how good I can hit the ball if I can't make the putt once it's on the green.
Yesterday, I played pretty well. It rained from the time I got to the course all the way through the first nine holes. It wasn't easy dealing with the umbrella and trying to keep everything dry. Under the circumstances, I feel like I played a solid round. But yet again, I had 34 putts and didn't make a birdie until the very last hole.
I had some time in the airport last night to look at my putting stats since March and the results are what I expected. During the three months when I was in Florida competing on the Hooters Tour Winter Series, I averaged 31.05 putts per round. Since the first Adam's Tour event in March and including the additional qualifiers I've done in between, my average putts per round has gone up to 32.55. Consequently, my scoring average has gone up from 73.85 over the winter months to 74.33 since March. But it even goes further than that. Consistently missing putts has a greater affect on your confidence and how you approach a round. My lack in putting adds a lot of unnecessary pressure to the rest of my game. Instead of aiming at flags trying to make birdies, I'm aiming at flags to avoid 3-putting. And when I am hitting the ball well, there's no reward because I'm not converting the putts. This was the main reason I mentioned in a previous blog that I get nothing out of my rounds. I'm not looking to putt great all the time, but there has to be periods throughout the year where I putt well some of the time.
So, admitting that I have a problem with my putting is the first step. Fixing it is the next. I'll be looking for any advice that I can find. Tips, drills, changes you name it. I'll try anything because whatever I'm doing and have tried to do are not working. Friday I'm getting together with JT, my boss from New Orleans Country Club, and see if we can't figure something out. I've got two weeks until my next tournament so most of my practice time will be dedicated to working on that part of my game.
Side Note: Tomorrow, I have an appointment in Houma with the foot doctor. Hopefully he'll tell me that it's nothing and just needs a little rest. Hope everyone is doing well!
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