Score: 73
I had the round I was looking for, but just lacked the ability to get anything out of it. Once again, putting was to blame....however in spurts, it was actually the reason I had a chance to make the cut. For every one step forward, I found a way to take three steps back. In fact, there are so many holes in my feet I'm surprised I was able to walk all 18 holes.
I started out the day (on #10) with a great drive, solid second shot and a made putt from 15ft for birdie on the first hole. Good start. The 11th hole is a 205yrd par-3 where I nearly recorded my second hole-in-one ever. I hit a perfect 5-iron that landed just short of the pin and lipped out over the back edge. Unfortunately, I was unable to convert the 5 footer for birdie. On #12, I hit my second shot into the par-5 short right of the green which was really the only place to get up-and-down from. The only drawback was that I was in the bunker and had about 25yrds to the pin. An awkward distance, but I was feeling confident and decided to try and pull off the perfect shot. I came close, but needed another foot and now my ball was plugged in the lip of the bunker. Three strokes later and I was in for a bogey (6). Rather than playing the safe shot which would of been towards the middle of the green I went for kill and it cost me. Looking back on it now, it was the third hole of the day and should of went with the higher percentage play. On the par-3 13th, a front pin location meant the only way to make par of better was to be underneath the hole. Looking at a 182yrd shot slightly uphill and into the wind, I decided to hit a 6-iron and ended up long in the back of the green. Immediately, I knew what I was going to face. From 50ft, the best I could do was putt the ball 2ft off the green. Another bogey. So in the first four holes, I hadn't really missed a shot and I was +1 over. On #13, I came back with a great putt from 12ft for birdie. Back to even. My second shot into #14 hit the pin on the fly and luckily stayed on the green. It was somewhat unlucky at the same time because it might of ended up closer to the hole, but I'll take the 15 footer I was left with for birdie. I hit a good putt but just missed. Another par on the following hole and I remained at even with two to play on the first nine. I finished out with almost identical 3-putts from less than 20ft on holes #17 & #18. They were not difficult putts...I guess I just temporarily left the planet. Seriously though, the real problem was that I was trying to make them both not realizing how fast they were and that I needed to protect a little bit. So after all that work on the first nine holes, all I had to show for it was a +2 over (38).
I fought right back on the front with a well played first hole and near miss for birdie. On #2, I was able to convert the birdie putt from 8ft and again on #3. In just three holes, I was right back where I started. Still well within reach of making the cut, I knew that I just needed to stick to my game plan, keep hitting good shots and find a few more birdies. On the par-4 4th hole, I hit my first poor shot of the day. My tee shot found the right rough, but I was still left with a shot to the green. Again, with the location of the pin, it was a situation where I knew I could not afford to be long. I elected to hit a punch-cut 8-iron from 170yards that came out hot and ended up exactly where I was trying not to go. The best I could do was barely keep the ball on the front of the green and a good 2-putt later I was in for bogey. Back to +1 over. The 6th hole is a quirky par-5, but after two great shots I was right in front of the green and this time I was able to get up-and-down for the birdie. Back to even. At this point, we noticed the sign on the back of the officials cart said that cut was at +3 over. I was currently at +5. Not to panic, I was playing well and had three holes left to make two birdies. On the par-3 7th, I hit a good one to about 10ft behind the hole. Maybe a good shot, but being above the hole meant all I could do was tap my putt and this time I came up 2ft short. You could say I protected on that one. Still a par. The next hole, I hit two great shots and left myself with about 5ft for birdie except again I was above the hole. Not my fault really....the pin was only on 4ft so there really wasn't any room to be short. Another cautious stroke.....another near miss. I was down to my last hole and needed a 2. It was a par-4 so that meant eagle and the only way I felt like I could do that was to get as close to the green as possible. It was a relatively short hole so 3-wood would of put me within 100 yards. I tried to get too cute with my tee shot and instead of drawing it around the corner I hit a baby fade that went through the fairway and out-of-bounds. Double-bogey (6) and a final score of +2 over (73).
So there it is. I literally missed two shots all day and came away with nothing. It's extremely frustrating because these are the rounds where I feel like a PGA Tour player would of shot 66 at worst. But, I found a way to shoot 73. Even though I made some putts today, it was still the area of my game left to blame at the end of the day. The two 3-putts I finished with on the first nine really cost me in the end. And I think that the mentality of trying to make every putt is something that I really need to work on in the future.
I'm very pleased with the progress I've made with my swing over the last month or so. All the lessons, hours of practice and thousands of balls are paying off. There's just one piece of the puzzle missing and it's a pretty big piece. PUTTING! The ability to read greens, adjust to the speed from one course to the next and find some consistency week in and week out is going to determine how far I'm able to go. Just as I approached the situation of getting help with my swing back in April, I'm going to use trying to improve my putting going forward. It may be a change in grip, change of putter or just a change philosophy....whatever it takes it what I'll do.
It's getting to be that time of year where the amount of golf tournaments becomes limited. I'm in the process of looking ahead and trying to plan out a schedule for the winter months. More importantly though is figuring out where to start on making improvements with my putting. As I do my research, I'll be sure to pass along the information.
Aside from golf, Erika is starting to get back to full health again. She actually came up to Meridian for a couple days to be with me and was able to walk around all 18 holes yesterday. It was great to have her out there with me again. It's been a long almost two weeks and I just want to thank everyone for all the emails and phone calls. We're so lucky to have such wonderful support from all our family and friends. Thanks for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers and I'll be sure to keep everyone updated as we move forward.
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