July 14, 2013: Where were the two shots, Why, What's Next, and other observations

While I have been continuing to receive congratulations, I am still sad and been thinking about what happened and how I can keep a good golf game going over an entire event.  But first, where could I have found two shots.

• Thursday
• Missing three putts inside four feet
• Bogey on the reachable par-5 6th
• Friday
• Missing one putt inside four feet
• Four poor swings that lead to two doubles and two bogeys
• +6 on the par-3's

I was the third lowest of the 26 club professionals that qualified.  Two club professionals made the cut.  I beat the likes of defending champion Roger Chapman, +10,  and other past tour winners Bill Glasson, Tom Purtzer, Joey Sindelar, Brad Faxon, Steve Jones, and Scott Simpson.  At one time I was ahead of this year's winner Kenny Perry.

I was the only player under par after the first round to miss the cut.

I have been searching my memory as to what switch went off that caused me to play poorly.  Now the pattern of playing well early in an event, regardless of the number of holes, has always been a pattern.  It happened in college with intra-squad qualifying, in three Chapter Championships, and one round pro-ams.  And I now think it has to do with being score oriented.

Why did I go from 2 under through 20 holes and 9-over in the next 16?

I played well in the qualifying, particularly my short game in the last six holes, because I wasn't concerned about score, just shot execution.  And I did that well for 20 holes in the Senior Open.   But on Friday's second hole, made birdie to get to two under par, I recognized that fact in a different way than Thursday when I knew I was three under. And I think on Friday I got focused on score, instead of shot execution and it lead to too much pin seeking.

Of the six birdies I made only one was from less than 15 feet, and that was the second putt on #6 on Friday.  I had two birdie putts inside four feet - #18 Thursday and #13 Friday - and missed them both.  That confirms I was rarely pin seeking and relying on my putter for good scores.  But suddenly I became too pin oriented and not "the best place/shot for me" oriented.

On #3 I cannot conclude this for sure, but on #5 with the pin on the upper right shelf, I tried to hit the shot to the pin instead of playing for the middle and trusting my ability for a two putt.  #7 the shot should have been to the widest part of the green, the front third, with a shorter club and an aggressive swing.  #10 should have been the 6-iron the math and wind dictated instead of the 5-iron to get it there. If I hit the six good and it wasn't enough, I would have a simple chip or pitch instead of playing from a deep greenside bunker too far from the hole.  On #11 with the pin in front I should have played to the middle, giving me leeway to clear the front bunker, instead trying to hit a perfectly distanced shot to the pin.
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As I said in an earlier post, I found what in the moment means.  And I let myself get away from that those last 16 holes.  After 42 years of golf, being in the moment is new to me.  I have to learn from this week to stay there.  And I get to start tomorrow with a OPGA Sr. Pro-Am at Quail Valley.

What does this performance mean for my competitive future?  First I have to believe I am that good.  And the confidence that my tee shots will find the fairway helps me get that belief.  The final big event on my schedule is the PNWPGA Senior Professional Championship in September.  That is the  first of two steps to reaching the PGA Senior Championship, another senior major.  So my immediate goal is to play well enough in that event to qualify for the National Senior Club Professional Championship.

I will add more practice to my weekly routine for the rest of the season.  Over the winter I will decide if I want to arrange my business management to provide me the opportunity to play more.  That would mean more section tournaments, senior and regular, and time away from work and family to practice and play.  With Connor headed to Gonzaga in just under seven weeks, the family situation may be easier.  Work would require a reorganization and hiring of staff with different responsibilities.  I would focus on teaching, playing and tournaments and then delegate all the other stuff to staff.

Other Observations:

• My handicap index is 0.9 making me basically a 1 handicap.  Omaha Country Club is rated 74.6 for member play.  So to play to my handicap for two days, my total would be 151 and I shot 147.  When I post the 69, a - 5.6 differential, the computer will ask if  I am sure I want to post it.  Couple that with the 66 before I left, I am about to become a +1 and may likely get a scarlet letter for my recent tournament performances.
• Tour life would be tough.  Yeah the courtesy cars, free food, equipment and the like are great.  But living in a hotel, eating at restaurants, and being away from family would be tough.  It was fun and exciting this week, but would be boring very fast.
• In order for me to truly compete with those guys, I need at least 30 more yards on my tee shots and 10 more yards on my irons.  I have never had that and most likely never will.  But Jeff Hart gives me hope.  I our practice round our tee shots were close in yardage.  He shot 64 today.
• The greens got amazingly rough in the afternoon.  Not from spike marks like the before, but leaf tissue raised up.  That doesn't happen with West Coast grass, it maybe the type of turf they have to use in Nebraska.
• I want to get back to that event.  I can make the cut.  Sacramento in 2015 would be great, every year would be better.

A welcome home reception is at Green Mountain tomorrow from 5 -7 pm.  Food will be available.  Hope to see you there.

July 13, 2013: Round 2 Recap

I was restless all night and through lunch Friday.  But once I hit the practice range, I was ready to play.  The wind was blowing.  Heard Tom Lehman, Mark O'Meara and Fred Funk talk about the difficulty the wind was a would present the rest of the day and how slow the greens are as the USGA protects the turf.  Including the drying and firming of the greens.  I know that wind takes patience.

I see Duffy on the range and tell him today will be just like playing in Santa Ana winds of SoCal.

Go though the new routine and focus the full swings on smooth solid contact into the wind.  The putting green doesn't seem any faster than the last two days. 

My drive off #1 was solid down the right side toward the bunker but doesn't draw.  The ball comes to rest sitting up in the second cut of rough.  The pin is cut just over a bunker and I attempt to play toward the middle of the green, but end up firing at the pin instead.  The ball goes over the green and a simple, at least by Open standards, up and down brings par.

A drive and a 3 hybrid leave me 65 yards to the pin cut just two paces over a false front on #2.  I get the SW to about 20 feet safely above the hole and I roll it in for birdie to reach -2.  Funk at the time was the clubhouse leader at -3.  And I am calm and confident my good play will continue.

With the tees up on three, I select a five iron to a pin slightly back of center.  I do not drive through the shot with my legs and block the ball into the right bunker.  I have plenty of green to work with and plenty of green behind the pin to insure a bogey at worst.  But my shot doesn't reach the green. Whether I decelerated or just didn't hit it hard enough I'm not sure.  I make too aggressive a stroke with the chip shot from the long rough and miss a six footer for bogey.  The first double of the tournament.  But I am ok.

My drive on four starts on the right as planned but again, like number one, doesn't draw.  I am left with a 3 hybrid out of the first cut of rough to a left pin that requires a cut around the tree limbs to find the green.  A four iron would have reached the green, but I was afraid with the ball sitting up so well that I would hit an iron fat, but the wide sole of the hybrid would prevent that.

So choking down on the 3 I catch the ball squarely and it begins to cut to the middle of the green, but then begins to draw toward short side deep bunkers.  But it lands on turf and I can't see where it ends up.  But it rolls just through the green into long rough between a couple clumps.  These clumps deaden the ball and I leave the chip 18 feet short.  I have the line of the putt down, but leave it two feet short.  Bogey.

The pin on 5 is on the upper right shelf, but the tees are up, so only a six iron in my hand.  My plan is to start the ball over the right greenside bunker and draw it back to the pin. But I lean into the swing a push it horribly into a tree.  I hear it hit the tree and maybe the cart path.  I can't determine where it is and am not receiving a signal from the marshals. As I go to play a provisional, we receive the safe sign.  I find the ball under the tree and behind the bunker with the leader board blocking my preferred path.  I find out the only reason the ball stayed in bounds is it hit a TV crewman in the leg and bounced back.

I ask for line of sight relief from the temporary immovable obstruction for the path I wan to play.  A rules official is a called over and I am told I only get line of sight relief if the TIO blocks my direct path to the hole.  He says, "play hard".

In trying to make a bogey, my choice is to play toward the front of the green, but not so close as to risk running down the hill that fronts the green.  So I play into the bunker instead.  On the green 10 feet and miss again, another double.  Ouch.

Six is playing very short.  Fred Funk hit wedge in for his second shot earlier.  I hit a good tee shot leaving me a six iron second that I put on the front edge and two putt for birdie.  Relief.

I put my tee ball on seven in another greenside bunker but manage to get it up and down with the ball barely making it to the hole.  It almost looked like it hesitated and then fell in.

To 8 where there is no way I can reach the green today.  A good drive gets me half way and I don't want to hit 3D off the deck because I haven't tried that shot yet with that club.  I just want to hit 3W to near the front of the green, pitch up and make a par putt.  But I end up hitting a rolling dying draw that ends up in a fairway bunker 40 yards short of the green.  I play out to the front of the green and get that up and down for bogey.  Ok, that is an expected score on that hole.

A good drive on nine gets me to a flatter area in the fairway, but a pulled 8-iron puts me on the green but well away from the hole.  I leave the first putt five feet short and make that for par.

I turn at +3 for the event and feeling fine after the dilemmas of the front nine.

With strong winds helping the drive on 10 I consider hitting the 3D past the bunker and hazard, but I am not sure I can carry it that far.  So the 3W is played down the middle.  I have 182 effective yards to the front edge, playing less due to the wind.  That information tells me to hit six iron, but it doesn't look right.  So I try a punch cut 5 iron and totally miss the shot and hit a worm burner slice into a greenside bunker and make a bogey.

As we get to the 11th tee, tees and pin up, the wind is helping and it appears a PW would work well.  Matt Hall hits his shot in the back right bunker with that wind.  But as I approach the tee the wind shifts and indecision creeps in.  I choose to hit an easy 8-iron and plant it in the front bunker.  I should have hit it full to the middle or back of the green and rely on my putter for a par.  I tried to be too cute and paid the price.

A good drive on 12 gives me a five iron shot.  The pin is on the right tier and I attempt to start the shot at the middle of the green to fade to the right.  But it starts too far right, lands on the right fringe and just rolls into the 2nd cut of rough pin high.  But an excellent chip provides a much needed par.

Finally a solid iron off the 13 tee leaves me just under 100 yards to a pin in the back of the green near a side slope.  I play a great shot to within four feet with a L-R break.  I don't find the line at address again an miss the putt. I really wanted that putt to give me a cushion with the cut.  I am pretty sure it will be set at 5 or 6 over par, if I am lucky.

Another pulled drive on 14 puts me in the 3rd cut of rough.  I am more aggressive this time and get the ball to within 130 yards of the pin set on the back left shelf.  I need to draw the ball around some trees, but can't be too aggressive and flirt with the trees.  I do get the ball on the upper shelf, barely.  When I hit this putt my feet are on the downslope.  I don't get the ball high enough but make an easy par.

15 is much more downwind than any of the other days.  I get my drive to within 120 yards of the pin, but in the second cut.  The pin is cut on the front right portion of the green, so any shot right of the pin from the rough will most likely run off, or, if short, find a bunker.  So I am playing toward the middle of the green in anticipation of the slope moving the ball toward the hole.  I want to make sure I drive my legs strong through the shot here to avoid going right.  But the ball comes out too far left and lands short of the green, but fortunately hangs in the first cut of rough, otherwise it would have rolled back down the fairway a ways.  I have a simple makeable chip that I roll to within a foot for an easy par.  I have been told this shot was on TV.

The tees are up on 16 and so is the pin.  The effective yardage to the pin is just over 180, and just over 170 to the front.  The wind is helping and right to left.  A 6-iron hit well would get me to the front, but if I missed it I would find another bunker.  So I choose the 5-iron and finally put a good swing on a par-3 tee shot.  The ball begins to drift toward the left bunker, but lands just off the green and kicks on.

I am left with a 25 foot putt over a mound and downhill for 20 feet of the putt.  I can see a line where the ball will go in: big right to left but falling right at the hole.  With the putts having a tendency not to roll as much as one would like when trying to cozy the ball down a slope, I don't want to get too cute and leave a difficult down hill putt for par.  So I hit the ball on the line I see and it takes the last break just a half second too late and the ball runs 10 feet past the hole.

Another weak putt for par that is never high enough or firm enough gives me a bogey.  I see Connor twirl in disappointment.  Now six over and now I believe over the cut line.

I hit my second terrible tee shot of the tournament on the short 17th and I can only advance the ball into the front bunker on my second leading to the bogey that totally kills my chances of making the cut.

Tees are up again on 18.  I hit another good tee shot here and rope a 2 hybrid to within 10 feet.  This shot was on TV.  I hit the birdie putt too hard and settle for par and I know I blew this chance.

I leave the green and say "thanks Omaha" to the sparse remaining crowd and they invite me back.

I see my Dad and ask if I made the cut.  He doesn't know but tells me I made his cut.  Minda gives me a kiss as I walk to the scoring area where I see 64 players are at +5 and better.  And the final disappointment sets in.

Matt Hall finishes dead last of those that completed and Matt Sughrue is in the bottom 10.

Most of my errors in this round were lack of execution of the chosen shot whether due to lack of commitment or physical errors of a poor swing.

It is the putt on 16 that bothers the most.  Believing I needed to play the last three holes even par, including the short par-4 17th.  I chose and aggressive line on a putt in a situation that required more patience.  This mental error is the most troublesome.  Now if the putt had gone in, and it very nearly did, I would tell you the "field", as described in The Legend of Bagger Vance, showed me the way.

And not keeping my composure on the 17th tee shot was another error.  I should have motivated myself to hit good shots to give myself an chance and I didn't.

If I had made the cut on the number, I would have teed off on Saturday before 8am, less than 13 hours after completing the 2nd round.  That would have been physically demanding.

July 13, 2013: Round One Recap

Glad for the early starting time.

Arrive at the club at 7 for breakfast and to the range by 7:30.  Starting warm-ups these days with pitch shots to help loosen up my sore elbow for about 15 minutes, then 20 minutes of full swings and finish with 15 minutes of putting.

I originally thought hitting my first shot in a major off ten would be better than one, thinking bigger grandstands would be on one.  But here there are a bunch of corporate tents off the tenth tee.  I arrive at the tee about five minutes before the starting time and meet my fellow competitors, Matt Hall and Matt Sughrue.

I am second to tee off on this difficult par-4, a par-5 in my strategy.  Originally the plan was 3D in the morning and 3-wood in the afternoon, but the wind is blowing with the tee shot, so a 3-wood is the club selection.  I hit a weak fade into the right rough, missing the severe downslope of the fairway and the distance it provides in order to be able to reach the green in two.  An 8-iron out of the rough to about 120, a GW to the front fringe and two putts for 5.

My practice round shots on the par-3 11th all came up short, mainly because I didn't make complete swings.  So I made sure to make a complete swing on the 7-iron and put it pin high.  A good birdie chance, but a weak putt, I was little afraid of the speed, and an easy par.

Number 12 in practice had been playing long with my tee shots landing on its most significant up slope.  But downwind today so a 260 yard drive, I know because this is one of the two holes used to measure driving distance, leaves me a 5-rion to a pin in the middle but just left of a left-to-right tier.  I hit my 5-iron thin and it lands just short of the green but rolls to pin high about 15 feet from the hole.  A foot to the more to the right and the slope takes the ball to within 10 feet.  The putt has a slight double break and I read it perfectly and roll it in for a birdie on an unexpected hole.

13 is a simple 4-iron off the tee, Kenny Perry did drive the green in the group ahead of us, and a gap wedge to the middle and a two putt from 30 feet for a par.

14 is the lone par-5 on the back, unreachable for me.  Despite hitting a good tee shot in the first practice round, all other drives, including in this round, find the left rough.  A smooth 6-iron out of the 2nd cut of rough leaves me with and 8-iron third to a hole cut in the lower section of the green with a backstop.  I attempt to draw the 8-iron to the hole, but it doesn't draw as much as I would like.  Connor says it is a good shot, and it is better than I thought to about 18 feet.  This right to left putt holds its line long enough to catch the left side of the hole for another birdie.

A good drive on 15 and a wimpy 8-iron leaves me 40 feet from the hole and I get that down in two putts.

The par-3 16th, listed at 223, is downhill and we are playing the tee up today.  I try and draw a 4-iron with the wind and leave right pin high in a bunker.  Knowing that bogeys are ok, make hitting this shot, and the bunker shot on #9 later, easier because I don't feel the need to get it close, just on the green somewhere in the vicinity of the hole.  But I hit a good bunker shot to 6 feet and make it for par.

The second short par-4 on the back is 17.  A nice tee shot in the fairway leaves me about 100 yards to the pin uphill into the wind.  Over the green is bad and the pin is located on a downslope.  So the choice is between the gap wedge that if it carries to the pin will most likely stay on the green. If I swing the PW it could easily go over.  So I choose the GW and don't get it to the pin and the ball spins back down the hill to the front fringe and I two putt for par.

Fortunately with the wind blowing into the golfer's face on 18, the tees are moved up about 25 yards, giving me a chance to reach the fairway.  I have a 2-hybrid to a front left hole location where left of the pin is a steep slope.  I catch the shot a little thin and it is drawing from the middle of the green toward the pin.  It doesn't have enough height to carry on the green, but it rolls around the bunker toward the pin. 

Being down so far below the level of the green, I don't hear any cheers.  And as I walk up to see where my ball lay, I can't understand why there wasn't a big roar as it lies about four feet below the hole!  Matt Hall tells me they did cheer and that I couldn't hear it because I was so far down the hill, so I forgive the crowd.

The putt at first appears to be a simple inside left read.  But the way some balls of the Matts move around the hole lead me to believe it may be straighter than I originally though.  When I stand over the ball I feel the break, adjust my stance a little more left and decide to hit it easier to make sure it breaks.  But instead of stroking the putt, I slide my body during the stroke and miss it right eliciting a moan from the crowd.  But a par on this hole is acceptable, even with that great chance.

On the first tee preparing to hit my tee shot, I hear people in the stands talking and instead of stopping and asking for quiet, I make a terrible swing and hit a smother hook.  The ball lies where the gallery has been walking, but the turf is lying to the left of my target line, so this matted turf doesn't help.   Again with bogey being ok, I move the ball to within twenty yards of the green.  I hit the pitch shot too hard giving me a downhill L-R 15 foot putt for par which I make.  Guess that makes up for the miss on 18.

Two is a big sweeping dogleg left par-5.  A drive on the left side of the fairway, a 2-hybrid gives me about 95 yards to a back pin.  With severe rise to the green my third lands in the middle and skips to 15 feet below the hole.  This putt too holds its line near the hole and drops to put me at 2 under par.

Three is another 220 downhill par-3 and today the pin is in the front left and if you short side your self it would be difficult to get up and down.  I choose a four iron to start and the pin and cut to the middle of the green.  The ball starts at the pin and stays there stopping no more than 20 feet from the hole, just off the front left corner of the green.  My birdie putts just slides low.

Four is a reasonable par-4 of just over 400 yards.  The fairway sits in its own valley with a fairway bunker acting as a good target off the tee.  With my tee shot in the middle of the fairway, I have a 5-iron in my hand needing a slight cut to insure avoiding some overhanging tree limbs.  My shot flies directly at the pin and leaves me 15 - 20 feet for birdie.  Another slight double break and the ball dives in the hole at the last moment for another birdie.

I am now three under par after 13 holes in the US Senior Open!  I am having fun and not worried about where I stand.  Just playing well.

Five, and uphill par-3 of 188 with the most severely undulating green on the course.  I did not hit one good shot in practice to this hole.  With the pin back left and very accessible I attempt a soft drawing four iron: hit it full and it may go over, five iron is not enough.  A poor swing gets the ball on the green but a good sixty feet from the hole.  My first putt gets to about four feet.  I don't commit to the line outside the hole and miss the ball low for my first bogey since the first hole I played.  Although this bogey is a disappointment, it is only a bogey in a US Open.  No real problem.

There is a scoreboard off this green.  It shows my 3 under par status and leading the Open.  I do see this before I start putting and I have a reaction of "cool" more that anything else.  Now I did have a thought before the tournament began that I would birdie my first hole and lead the open that way.  Not leading after 13 holes at 3 under par.

Six is a par-5 in name only.  All down hill off the tee to a downward sloping firm fairway.  In practice a good tee shot left we with 210 in on a 540 yard hole.  When I make contact with the tee shot I like the feel.  When I first see the ball in the air it is a little right, but nothing to worry about.  The it starts to fade hard over trees and well right of the fairway.  Fortunately there is plenty of room and the rough isn't too bad.  I hit a GW over the trees and into the fairway.  I have a 9-iron third shot to a pin middle right on a tier.  I pull the shot and it travels to the back of the green and bounces into the back rough. I have a difficult chip moving significantly downhill and to the right.  I hit it just as I want and the ball comes to rest within three feet of the hole. I hit this putt as I wanted but it didn't take the break.  A bogey on what should be a birdie hole is poor to say the least.

7 is my final par-3 of the day.  Playing about 185 to a right pin, I hit a cut 4-iron just off the front right corner of the green and two putt for par.  Relief.  I believe I am a terrible closer, and to have bogeyed three in a row would have hurt.

Eight is a 477 par four into the wind.  The only flat par 4 on the course.  It plays much longer than 6, I can't reach the green in two in this wind.  So a 3D and a 3w leaves me five or six paces off the green to a pin about 15 yards on the green.  The pitch shot has significant left to right break to the point where the shot could be played to a point pin high and let the ball feed directly to the hole.  But I release the club a little early and slip it under the ball and leave myself and 12 to 15 foot curler that I execute perfectly for a par.

Number nine is a 380ish par-4 directly uphill.  The best angle is on the left side of the fairway, but the ball drawn into this area can roll through into the rough.  I try and cut it in that space, but bail a little placing the ball on the right side of the fairway.  The pin is dead in the middle of the green, just above a little extra slope.  But I pull my six iron into the greenside bunker.  UGH!

Standing in the bunker I tell myself bogey is still ok.  Even par in the Open would be a great score for me.  The course is rated around 75.0.  The bunker shot is fairly simple, get it out and the ball will run to the hole.  I hit the shot to about three feet.  It has a significant L-R break.  I am encouraging myself to make the putt for at 69 so that I commit to a line and a pace.  I hit the putt solidly and turn my head just in time to see it drop in the center.

A 69!!!!!!!

This is the greatest round of golf I have ever played.  And to think I still left three shots out on the course by missing three short putts.

As I am walking to the scoring area, Minda comes to give me a hug and I start shaking with emotion.  After completing my scoring task I find Mom, Dad, Dan, Minda, Connor and Patti outside the locker room entrance and as soon as I embrace my Dad I start sobbing and shaking and my Mom does the same.

To have performed this well at this event is very unexpected and something I had once dreamed about doing as a career.  It seem as if the 42 years of playing golf had cumulated in this round.

July 12, 2013: Not to be

Again it is late.  So I will do a short recap of today's round and go into detail about both rounds tomorrow.

A little nervous last night and this morning, but once I arrived at the course I felt comfortable.  Much warmer and windy. Saw Duffy and told him "just like playing in the Santa Anas".

After a birdie on #2, the par-3's happened, +6 on the five par-3's. I had a difficult time determining the correct shot to play calculating the effect of wind and elevation to create the proper shot selection and be committed to a shot.  And when I finally did that on the final par-3 I three putted being too aggressive.

Despite the troubles on the front and starting the back with two bogeys and missing a short birdie putt on #13, I had a chance to make the cut with three holes to play. But that three putt bogey on #16 and the only really poor drive on #17 that lead to another bogey required an eagle on #18 to make the cut.  I did hit a great 2 hybrid to within 12 feet, it got on TV.

Thanks to everyone - current friends, new friend, old friends and rediscovered friends - who have been watching, reading, praying, and rooting for me.  You have been a big part of making this a great week.

Despite the disappointment of missing the cut after yesterday's great round.  That round was the best round of my life, one I will be able recall each shot for the rest of my life.

Minda asked me tonight my favorite moment of the week.  It was making a four foot left to right curler on my last hole yesterday to post a red number in a major.

I will write a lot more tomorrow on our way home with a three hour lay over in Denver.

July 11, 2013: Red Numbers in a Major!

What an incredible day!  This was the round of my life. One under par 69 in a major championship and tied for the lead after 13 holes.

Without going into shot by shot details, for it is 10:30, keys to this round were:

• Score to par on fairways missed - +1
• Score on par-3's (four of the five par-3's required a 4-iron) - +1 because of at three putt.
• Sand Saves - 2 for 2 (obviously leading the field)
• No matter how low is was, I concentrated on making good shots for me.

There was many times where my thoughts wandered to answers to interview questions and other thoughts away from the shot at hand.  When they arrived I would close my eyes and shake my head to get them out.

My shortest birdie putt made was no shorter than 15 feet.  Always worked for the center of the green and rarely at the pin unless it was in the middle.  Made two great up and downs on 8, the hardest hole on the course today, and 9, either second or third hardest. to preserve red numbers.

Short game shots are much easier when bogey is ok.

When I finished Minda found me before I entered the scoring area and gave me a big hug and I was shaking.  When I found Dan, Patti, my parents after the round and my Dad gave me a hug I lost it.

After a leisurely lunch, went to the merchandise tent, walking all the way back up past the 18th tee.

Back to the hotel to rest, watch some of the tournament. And went to the Omaha Storm Chasers game where Manny Ramirez played for the visitors and an Omaha pitcher struck out the side on nine pitches.

Same approach tomorrow, play my game, hit good shots for me and I will play on the weekend.

July 10, 2013: Championship Eve

Weather much cooler today: 10 degrees on the thermometer and down to only 50% humidity.  Still sweaty when some activity involved. 

My left elbow has been bothering me for since the Chapter Championships.  It feels like an strained/inflamed ligament attached to the forearm muscles that are used to pull the club down through impact.  It has taken a much slower warm-up process to loosen up the left arm.  One thing it has done is prevented my from gripping the club too hard at address and may be making it easier for me to swing freely.  I went to the Champions Tour physical therapy trailer this morning for help.  They gave me a pressure band and told me to take Aleve, ice it when I am done for the day and apply a warm compress in the morning.

Finally ran into Jeff Wilson on the range and with Jeff Brehaut and was able to get a photo of the three UOP Tigers from the early '80's.

K. Coombs, Jeff Brehaut, Jaeff Wilson


 Headed out for nine on the back with James Camaione again.  A different wind made the hard holes harder.  I did not hit it well, tired swings, so I am glad only nine today.  The greens are beginning to get that USGA brown color and firm.  If the greens are allowed to get firm, it will be very difficult to get the ball close.  The best chance to get close will be pins with backstops.

 

Purple Greens mean firm and fast

 

So far during the practice rounds I have received three rounds of significant applause or oohs and ahhs: two wedge shots that skirted past the holes as they spun back (one today I was told should have gone in) and one shot out of the rough, under trees and rolled onto the green.  So hopefully I will get one a day.

 

After the nine went out on the range to reestablish proper ball position.  With so many uneven lies, it is easy to loose the basic address positions that are key for my success.  Then to the putting green to do my standard putting practice of making 25 in  a row from three feet and 20 of 25 from six feet.  Chose a left to right putt to build confidence on those.  Accomplished the 3 foot challenge in one try and the six foot challenge on the second attempt.  Concentration and commitment are key to making putts.  The greens are so good that the putts are much easier to make.

 

 

My friend Dan decided to come and will stay at Nancy' cousins house.  Mom, Dad and Minda are all arriving around 7:30 tonight.  Mom and Dad's flight is two hours late.

 

I have determined that par on this course for me is 74.  In thinking that it will take pressure off tee shots on the harder par 4's.

 

Received good advise from many sources over the past couple days.  The most uplifting was from my UOP Golf Coach Dr. Glen Albaugh to play to do the best I can, for if I am playing just to make the cut, I probably won't.  And knowing me, I would miss by one.

 

I tee of at 8:34 tomorrow morning.  For live scoring, make sure to have the Senior Open site available.

July 9, 2013: A Round with an Old Friend and Some Press

Got some press from three places today.

A story focused on my UOP teammates Jeff Brehaut and Jeff Wilson, mentions me late in the article. Our local paper, Camas-Washougal Post Record, ran a full version of this web preview today.  And a quick mention in The Columbian Community Sports page.

I also received from e-mails from some old friends from my El Caballero days.  Rich Greenwood, now a golf professional in So Cal, and David Solomon, Morris Hatalsky's nephew.

In watching tour events I have always wondered how I would handle teeing off so late.  Today I got a little taste with a 2:40 starting time.  Slept a little late for me, you know 7 am, hit the laundry, watch the end of Extremely Loud, Incredibly Close, and finally head to the course about 11:30 for lunch. Had a leisurely lunch and talked with a couple amateurs from Atlanta who wondered why pros get $1k for posting a 36 hole score, while they get nothing when the rules would allow them to win $750 in gift certificates.  Money that could be sent to their home clubs.

Hit the range, where I shake Duffy Waldorf's hand in the middle of a short game lesson, to practice pitch shots out of the three cuts of grass and wedge shots from 50 to 120 yards.  These are key shots to my success.  Don't want to hit balls because the heat is so overwhelming that I don't want to waste energy.

I am glad to play with Duffy today.  It may have been since the 1980 Calabasas Park Country Club Junior Club Championship since I played with him.  My maternal grandparents were big fans of his.  He signed a hat for my grandmother's 85 Birthday when he played in the Tournament of Champions at La Costa one year.

Also in our group is James Camaione, an amateur from Upland, CA who knows Duffy well.  He is very funny.  Duffy still hits it long.  On the first hole I have hit a PW from 120 while Duffy has about 70 yards. On the second hole, a 540 par-5, he hits a hybrid out of a fairway bunker to the middle of the green.  As I told the spectators on the first tee, that is the difference between a tour pro and a club pro.

We talked a little discussing course strategy and general game strategy.  Did a little family catch up.  But the heat really made the end of the round difficult.  The heat index was reported to be around 110.  Drank much more water today.  Connor called the round grueling.  Here are some pictures:

Played ok tee to green today, didn't really try to putt on the greens.  Trying to reinforce what the correct shots are, particularly into the par-3's.  The front nine is fairly straight forward, the back is trickier: even more elevation issues and longer shots into the par 4's.  I barely reached the 18th fairway today with a slightly missed tee shot.

Met the cousin of my friend, Dan Crilley's, wife Nancy.  She is also trying to convince him to come and bring his son Eric.  They will decide tomorrow and drive from Denver.

Tomorrow just nine holes, the back nine.  Giving up a chance to play with Corey Pavin to do so.

Meet two gentlemen from Del Paso Country Club in Sacramento, CA, site of the 2015 Senior Open.  I introduced myself and told them my paternal grandfather belonged there and that I played junior golf there when I was 8.  They were very excited.  It would be great to play there in this event.

Mom, Dad, and Minda fly in tomorrow.

July 8, 2013: This course is hard and lots of water

Up at 5:30 to leave by 6:15 to arrive at the course at 6:30.  We can feel the humidity even now, this early in the AM.

Down to the Locker room for breakfast.  Nothing but sugar and carbs, no protein what so ever.  But eggs are available in the caddie tent, so Connor gets me some.  I hope it is not like this all week, Minda will be very disappointed.

Up to the range to hit Pro V-1s for range balls at a space with my own name placard.

Head to the first tee for my 7:52 tee time and meet Greg Bruckner, Vic Wilk and Jeff Hart.  I know them and they all know me: Bruckner from mini-tour days. Wilk from junior golf and Hart from San Diego golf.  This is a great group for me for we are very social throughout the round.  Did I mention it is hot already?

What a golf course!!!.  All but one hole has elevation to deal with.  The only shots downhill to greens are on par-3's.  Every par-4 but one requires an uphill second shot, to only non-up hill  second shot is on the 477 par-4 8th.  Only on the 8th hole and the par-3's are the lies flat for shots into the green. I have never encountered a course that has so much unevenness and elevation change into greens.  Including the par-5's, as listed on the card, there are only 5 five birdie opportunities.  The two additional birdie opportunities are the two short par 4's on the back.  I did get some applause on #17 when I backed up a wedge to within a couple feet of the hole, not that I could see that.

My "3-D" club is working great.  I am able to keep up with Bruckner and Hart, who finished 6th in the Senior Players Championship two weeks ago.  The fairways aren't particularly tight, and in fact are fairly wide. I think the elevation is providing enough challenge without putting exceptional demand on the tee ball.

If you miss the green by more than a 5 yards, you really have very little chance of getting up and down, unless you are in a bunker where you can get some spin.  But no matter where you are you must commit to the shot and be solid with your hands through the grass and the ball.

Did I mentioned it is hot!  I must of consumed a half dozen 1/2 liter bottles of water.

I gave my autograph about 10 times this today.  Most people have a embroidered flag on a piece of cardboard for us to sign.  Gave one to a boy who must have been three and a gentleman in a scooter.

Back to the locker room for lunch. Jeff Hart asked Connor and me to join him and we had a nice conversation.  Lunch was much better with a small sandwich bar and hot dogs and sausages.  Michael Allen sat down with us for a little bit as well.  He attended UN-Reno while I was at UOP.

Three dozen Pro V-1s and two Titleist hats were in my locker when I arrived.  But no clothes from Nike.  So I am worried, neither Connor or I packed more than clothes through today. 

Connor received his tour of the media areas and may get to go into the NBC trucks later in the week.

As Connor took his tour, I hung in the cool locker room.  When I checked my locker one more time a box from Nike was on top, but it only contained pants for me and shorts for Connor, no shirts.  I called Nike when I returned to the hotel and was told that because I had logos on the shirts, GMGC and PGA Certified Professional, they wouldn't arrive until Wednesday!  Why wasn't I told this last week!  Having the shirts was much more important than the logos, but I was never given the opportunity to make that known to Nike because I was never told  the logos would delay the shipment!  Nothing drives me crazier than vendors or businesses that do not communicate issues with customers, it happened with receiving the king bed Saturday night instead of the two queens.  Tell your customers what is happening.  I hope I am good at that with my GMGC customers.

So a trip to the Laundromat tomorrow morning.

Saw Jeff Brehaut near the locker room today with his reading glassed hanging from the placket of his shirt.  We are old!  Had a short conversation as he headed to the tee.

Back to the hotel to relax, to Dillards to purchase some heat and humidity fighting underwear, sponsored by my mother in law. Yeah, I know TMI!

Late tee time tomorrow with Duffy Waldorf, currently fifth in the power rankings.

July 7, 2013: Checking In, Range Time

Goals for today were to get bearings, register, and practice short game.

The course is about 15 minutes away from the hotel. 

Player registration began at Noon with Connor and me arriving about 12:30.  This is the walkway to the main clubhouse entrance.

There were quite a few stops in the registration area: tell them who you are, receive your player's badge/medallion (what I wish I still had from the Jr. Am and US Am) receive family passes and ground passes for guests, receive tax forms (I am subject to Nebraska Tax) where they had reading glasses laid out - only at the US Senior Open, signed the player's list and two prints of the ninth hole, provide shipping address for a very nice box with the same print on the lid, receive info about the spouse events and others happening during the week, and a bunch of coupons for local restaurants.   Also got practice round times: tomorrow at 7:52 with Vic Wilk, Tuesday afternoon with Duffy Waldorf and Wednesday afternoon in the group behind by college teammates Jeff Wilson and Jeff Brehaut.

 

Took Connor up to Caddie registration, purchased a yardage book $25.  This yardage book has actual yardage from the to spots plus notations for how the slope affects the distance.  Without guessing, where is the challenge to the game?  Caddies get breakfast each day.

 

Headed down to the locker room.  My locker is next to John Cook and two down from Fred Couples.  It is nice a cool down there, right at the bottom of the stairs the air changes from hot a humid to cool in an instant.  Family can go down there as well to get breakfast and lunch.

 

The we headed to the range.  Started hitting pitch shots. Working on adding loft to the SW off fairway lies.

 

Then I practiced hitting the 2 hybrid off the approach with a lot of fringe and not much green and it seems this could be a option in the right situation.  While I was doing this, David Frost, in light blue, came to practice.

 

After the short grass, I hit some shots from the rough. Key is to determine if you can made solid contact with the ball and commit to that decision.

 

After that headed to the putting green. Speed at this time is fine, not scary fast.  Talk I heard was that the greens can't be that fast because of the undulations.

 

Then to hit some balls, focused on the hybrid, normal 3-wood and the 3-D.  Hitting the 3-D on the range just confirms this is the right club at the right time.  I just feel I can swing it freely and be successful.  Fred Funk was on the range for just a bit while I was hitting.  Passed him later and he wished me a good week.

 

We turned the clubs into club storage, relaxed in the locker room for a bit and then went to walk the grounds and get a sample view of the course.  The fairways seem wide, not the OMG this are tight, three rough heights, but the elevation changes are dramatic.  This is #10 from the most forward members' tee.

 

This is the one hole with a different par than what the members play.  A four for us, a five for them. at 494 yards.  The bunker on the left is 280 off the tee.  The course is rated 74.6 from the members' back tees, so breaking 75 for me will be good.

 

As we left I arranged a tour of the media areas for Connor tomorrow.

 

A mediocre dinner, saw Jeff Wilson driving by, walked around the Old Market Area and found where to really have dinner tomorrow.

 

 



July 6, 2013: The Joys of Travel, Starting Times are Posted

Portland to Chicago to Omaha to arrive by 10:30 pm.  Hoping all goes well getting the courtesy car.

But it is not starting well as an outside light on the plane is out and needs to be replaced.  This is discovered before us "B groupers" have boarded.  But I am glad I am not on the plane as lots of young, most likely impatient, children boarded just before the problem was discovered.

We finally depart about an hour and 15 minutes late.  We had a two hour layover, so there will be no problem with our connection.  A smooth ride to Chicago.  I notice the gray haze in the air as we fly over the mid West, the sign of high humidity.

In the Chicago-Midway Airport I receive a text from Minda that the starting times are out.  I am paired with two amateurs, one from Colorado just got in yesterday when Brad Bryant WDs.  I like my times.  Thursday's time, 8:34, allows for plenty of time to have breakfast on-site and an hour of warm-up.  Friday's time, 2:19, might run into delays if weather develops in the afternoon.  I am also glad to be playing with two people I don't know, can focus on my game.  I was kind of worried if the USGA would put us three UOP teammates together - me, Jeff Brehaut and Jeff Wilson. With Wilson's experience in USGA events and Brehaut's status as a Champions Tour member, they got paired with better players.  Kenny Perry is in the group directly ahead of me, so crowds should be out of our way by the time we play our shots.

Arrive in Omaha about 15 minutes early.  The tournament's transportation desk is easy to find.  I get a Lexus crossover vehicle.  No key.  All the doors open by remote control and push button starting.

The Hilton is downtown behind centerfield of TD Ameritrade Park where the College World Series is played and across the street from Century Link Center.  We get in the area and traffic is bad, for only a couple blocks, because a Justin Bieber concert had just concluded.

Get checked in a open the room door to discover only one king bed, not two queens.  Call the front desk and they say with the concert and a Church of God group in the hotel, rooms with two queens are not available for the night, but we can switch tomorrow.  Did that get mentioned when I checked in? Of course not!

Tried to write this in the room, but internet connection cost $10 per day.  It is free on the first floor, so I wait until Sunday morning to post.

July 5, 2013: New Club OMG!

A standard work day today getting all the ducks in a row so the operation runs smoothly while I am gone.  I am very grateful of the very supportive staff I have who go the extra mile for Connor and me to be gone.

The big excitement is the arrival of the three clubs I ordered for the event: an 11.5 degree driving club, and 2 and 3 hybrid.

Out on the range, the 3 hybrid flies about 200 yards with good trajectory and the 2 hybrid I can hit down on it like an iron to get some trajectory and spin for about a 210 carry or sweep into the ball more to generate a little more carry and more run.  Both these hybrids look like old Taylor Made Tour Cleeks.

But it is the 11.5 degree “3-wood” that excites me the most.  ON the range the trajectory looks good and it appears to carry further than my 15 degree three wood.  Now I can carry the 15 degree about 230 and get 20 yards of roll.  If I can get 20 more yards from this 11.5 and keep the ball in the fairway I will be very happy.  Now to test it on course.

Head to GMGC’s first tee and hit a push/cut downwind 260 yards – ok but nothing earth shattering.  Make a birdie.  Pull the 11.5 for the 2^nd tee and hit a great solid baby cut past the bunkers down the middle to about 20 yards short of the green. This was a very confident swing with results that have me smiling.  Miss an 8 footer for birdie

After being interrupted to take care of a new employee so he can get paid next week.  The tee shot off #3 is average as it is uphill and into a crossing breeze to the 150 marker.  A 7-iron to six feet and birdie.

Hit the 11.5 again off #6 and the push instead of a cut takes the ball 240 yards off the tee into the wind.  A 2 hybrid short of the green sets up another birdie.

A drawing tee shot off the right bunker on #7 takes the ball down the slope to where I expect to hit my 10.5 degree high profile driver.  Now I am convinced this is what I have been looking for in a driver: low profile, modern face technology, and at 44” much easier to control, swing freely and swing with confidence instead of hope.

A SW to 10 feet and another birdie.  Four under through seven and I am thinking about tying Brian Humphries’ 31.  But pars on the final two leave me with a 32. I post the score on the handicap computer and it tells me the score is lower than normal and asks if I am sure  I want to post it.  So my final 18 at GMGC before I leave totals 66, one shot lower than the course record I tied in August 2001.

Being able to stand up on the tee next week confident that my driving club, now nicknamed 3-D, will find the fairway is going to be so helpful in my chances to play well by my standards.

Out to dinner with Minda at Nuestra Mesa in downtown Camas to celebrate a friend’s birthday.  After dinner the crew heads to Caps and Taps and I head home to get some rest before the long travel day.

I have a tendency to catch cold in airplanes and hotels, so I have been taking a dose of Airborne each day over the past couple of days.

July 4, 2013: Did it Just Get Easier to Make the Cut?

The original exempt player list for the Senior Open contained 78 names, half the field.  The other half would come from the qualifying sites, slightly more than the 74 qualifiers for the US Open.

Four previously exempt players for the Senior Open have since withdrawn, Olin Browne, Craig Stadler, Nick Price and  Allen Doyle.  So that means there are 82 qualifiers in the field, about 53% of the field.  60 players and ties make the cut, about 38.5%.  So as more of the regular Champions Tour players drop out, does making the cut become easier because the quality of players is a little weaker?  It would seem so, every so slightly.

Worked today until about 2 pm.  Hit balls with the even numbered clubs, and then headed to the back nine at GMGC.  A good strong wind blowing, fired 2 under par 34 with three additional birdie chances where I hit good putts that didn't go in.

What I got out of today's round was more confidence in bunker play with the clubface laid open.  On #11 with the pin back right I hit my tee shot in the right bunker.  With a mound in front of me and the green sloping away, a high lofted shot is required to get the ball anywhere near the hole.  I laid the face way open and holed the shot.  On 18 with the pin in the very front and very left, my second shot lay in the bunker short and left of the green.  Again with little green to work with and significantly above me I was able to hit the shot within 8 feet.

Friday is the last work day before heading to Omaha.  My new clubs should arrive from Tour Edge, so I will practice with them and play nine more.

Weather for the week is currently forecast for upper 80's and low 90's.  Sounds like the Midwest in the summer.

July 3, 2013: Work, Press and Practice

Today was bookkeeping day: need to make sure the bills are still paid while I am gone.  Fortunately submission of time cards for payroll happens this week, so I don't have to make staff do that task while I am gone.

Also needed to take care of the GMGC Men's Club with their Wednesday game.  Also had appointments with the Camas/Washougal Fire Marshal about GMGC fuel storage and a person to dive our lakes for lost balls.

Dan Trujillo of the Camas-Washougal Post Record came to interview Connor and me.  The interview took about an hour.  What struck me about the answers Connor gave was his comment that he new I was good, having played Division 1 college golf, but he didn't know I could play this well.  The full story will be published in next Tuesday's edition, but a preview is here.

Also got a hold of my Titleist Rep to make sure I get some balls, so three dozen and some hats will be available to me when I arrive at the course.

Got to practice at 4 pm today.  Just hit about 80 balls.  My full practice routine was established I pick range balls at Calabasas Country Club: on odd numbered days I hit odd number clubs, even day I work through even numbered clubs, but I always hit driver.  Hit the ball solid throughout every club, even the driver.  It is all about the address the position and confidence.  Since I got these clubs it seems the short irons go short and the mid to long irons go a good distance.  I haven't figured out why that is yet.

I don't want to practice putting.  Willamette's greens on Monday were a good speed, closer to what I will find next week.  GMGC greens, although in great shape, are no where near the speed of an Open.

Left and went to the Camas Farmer's Market and to watch Connor's baseball game. He went 2 - 4 with a double, and RBI and a run scored.

I am going to try and play tomorrow.  I need to see drivers hit the fairways on the course.

July 2, 2013: A day of rest

Took a day off from golf activities today.  Partly due to a lack of time: getting my daughter Julia to and from a speed and agility camp, work, and taking my PGA Jr. League Team to Tri-Mountain GC for our final match.

Talked today to the Tour Edge Tour Rep and ordered three clubs: an 11.5 degree "driver" with a 3-wood profile (I have never liked the new high profile drivers, I think this low profile head with a 44" shaft will help me be more consistent off the tee.) and a 3 and 2 hybrid.  The 3 is to get higher trajectory at 200 yards and the 2 for 220 yard shots.  I am expect these to arrive on Friday, giving me time to hit some balls at home before leaving Saturday.

Worked with the Nike rep on clothes for me and Connor.  This will ship to Omaha CC. 

Called my Foot-Joy rep.  I can't wear all black shoes in Nebraska in the summer, oh the inhumanity! :). So I ordered a pair of FJ Sport shoes, white with black and silver trim.  These will also be shipped to the course.

Word is getting around town.  Dan Trujillo from the Camas Washougal Post Record called today to set up an interview for tomorrow.

My GMGC staff and customers are very excited and supportive.  I called and canceled all my lessons for the week.  They were also excited and supported my request.

My name has started to show up on the Senior Open webpage: under the players list and at the end of an article focused on Olin Browne withdrawing.  It is beginning to be real.

July 1, 2013: The Call

While I was playing in the Chapter Championships, Minda was assigned to call the USGA and ask if I became the 1st national alternate if I could arrive at the Championship and play practice rounds in case I got in late in the week.  She did that around 7:15 and received no for an answer.  Only championship participants can play practice rounds.

Not more than 10 minutes later a call from the USGA arrived informing Minda that a spot opened up for me in the championship!  When the winner of the AT&T Championship wasn't at least 50 then the spot for me opened up.

Minda then set about making travel arrangements: plane flights for Connor and I, changing the hotel reservations to the players' hotel, completing the player registration (she considered allowing me the pleasure of that task but felt it should be done sooner rather than later) and receiving the Player Memorandum (14 pages of information).

You know you are in a different world when questions regarding travel arrangements include your private plane's description and tail number.  They also wanted to know if my swing coach would be coming ( yes he is and it's me) or my agent.

There are some great perks: Lexus courtesy car, breakfast and lunch available daily,  family passes that allow family members meals as well, four additional passes, 15% discount in the merchandise shop (this might be my biggest expense - gifts). 

With Minda coming in Wednesday she will miss the spouses' event on Tuesday to Borsheims Fine Jewelry, 62,500 sq. feet of sparkle.

My parents are also coming to watch.  They will fly in on Wednesday as well.

My friend Dan, a Littleton, CO resident, is thinking of coming to watch.  It is about an 8 hour drive.

Connor will have to register as a caddy.  But he gets dual privileges with a caddy pass and family pass.

Sent e-mails this evening to the Nike rep for clothes for Connor and me that will deal with the heat and humidity of Nebraska summers and Tour Edge about some different clubs that will help.

July 1, 2013: Oregon Chapter PGA Championships

36-holes today back at Willamette Valley Country Club.  The course set up will be easier, mostly shorter, than the qualifying last week.

First round was a struggle off the tee with both the driver and three wood.  Hit 12 greens, had 33 putts for a 75.  Hit so many good putts with great speed that just wouldn't take that last break into the hole.  The only difference between this round and the qualifying round was the lack of four birdies.  But I am putting well, so I feel that they will start to drop in round two.

A nice lunch and then back out to the practice tee to figure out how to hit the tee ball.  I also think ball position has something to do with my accuracy.  So I took out the alignment sticks.  And of course I hit it well on the range.  And the first tee shot I hit is beautiful high slight draw that leads to a birdie on the shortest par-5 on the course.

The next tee shot with the 3-wood is hit well, but fails to draw and leaves me blocked out to a shot at the green.  A good 2-iron off the 17th tee, has me encouraged. But a big push on 18 and I loose confidence.  An ok 3-wood on #1, and good 3-woods on 2 and 4 are nice, but I start to loose focus and find the bogey train.  And an awful driver swing on the long par-5 6th leads to a double.  A birdie on 7 and I am feeling good back at 4-over.  But a mental miss of a very short par on 8 and another bogey on 9 does me in.  The final three tee shots, two 3-woods and a driver, are all in the fairway.

One of my afternoon playing partners tells me that Tour Edge, the equipment I use, has an 11.5 degree club with a fairway wood profile.  I have disliked the modern high profile drivers and would be so happy if this club is the answer to my driver problems.

I post my second round 78 and call Minda.  And she tells me I am going to Omaha!

June 30, 2013: Soccer Championship, Baseball, and a little practice

A family sports day today: two soccer games for Julia and baseball for Connor. 

Julia and her team, Washington Timbers GU14 Reds, won the 2013 Clash at the Border tournament winning there two games, their 4th and 5th games in three days.  Julia plays goalkeeper.  Only one goal scored against her team in the five games, on a free kick.  Her team's defense is very good, and she really hasn't been tested much, but she has been good when they have needed her.

Connor had two baseball games against a Senior Babe Ruth team from Hoquiam.  We were watching Julia's championship game during the first game, where Connor's team got killed 18-7.  In the second game Hoquiam jumped out to a lead, Connor's team took the lead, and the game was tied at 11.  Earlier Connor had driven in the go ahead run, only to have the game tied again.  In the bottom of the 7th, the winning run was on second with Connor at the plate and he delivered the game winner on an ground ball between the 1st and 2nd baseman.

After returning home from the baseball game, went to GMGC to hit a few balls, mostly with the driver.  It seems like good swings are always hitting the ball right.  I think it is because I want a higher trajectory than my 10.5 degree driver gives me with a good swing.  So I hang back, or play the ball too far forward to get my desired trajectory.  This, plus information from a Bridgestone Ball Fitting, leads me to believe I need a higher lofted driver.  When I played in the PNWPGA Senior Players Championship back in April, I drove the ball very well. But really haven't done so since.

I also think that I am closing my shoulders at address, also in attempts to get the ball in the air.  So during this practice session I don't adjust my shoulders after squaring my feet and it seems to help me hit the driver at or near the target.  That will work for the Chapter Championships tomorrow.

June 29, 2013: Helping a Friend

Today, GMGC held a benefit golf tournament for long time friend, staff member, and Green Mountain Golf Club Board Member Ron McGlohn.  64 players participated, Ron had said no one would come out, and we will raise well over $2,000.  Ron has esophageal cancer and completed chemo and radiation last month.  Surgery later this summer when his weight increases.

I played with Dan Frosh, we won, and I gave Dan the entire prize.  He chose four rounds at Orchard Hills.  I played ok, scrambles tend to create bad swings, particularly with the driver.  Putted well, but not much went in.  I think I made three putts, and hit a few irons close.

Didn't sleep well again last night.  Had a couple drinks with caffeine, need to stop that.

June 28, 2013: Confident I will play

The final qualifying produced 4 additional qualifiers, leaving 3 spots still available, based on my calculations.

Called the USGA today and finally spoke with someone in Championships.  Oregon’s alternate was fourth on the alternate list to get in.  The USGA has gone through two alternates, leaving me currently as the 2^nd alternate nationally.  I was told the USGA is still holding spots for otherwise unqualified players who win a Champions Tour event.  There are two Champion Tour events left before the Open. So it seems I will play, but may not officially know until the Sunday before championship week.  A very last minute deal, and expensive for flights.

I was told to call Tuesday for an update.  But conversations this afternoon have me leaning to booking airfare and hotel now.  If I am first alternate once tournament week rolls around, can I show up on Monday of tournament week, play practice rounds in the event someone drops out?  Then I am there and ready to play.

With the Chapter Championships on Monday, I really don’t want any kind of answer, especially yes.  If I was told I was going, it would be difficult to concentrate on the task at hand.

I have asked Minda to call the USGA on Monday and ask them my first alternate scenario.

Did some more pitching practice today.  After a 11 hour day and the heat, there is no way I could hit balls, so pitching keeps me swinging and is something that could show improvement with just a little practice.

June 27, 2013: No news is no news

Last of the qualifying today.  No results as of 9 pm on the website.

Called Tom Carey at Meriwether this afternoon.  He gave me some insights – should hear Friday or Monday, courtesy cars, free food, family passes and pavilions, giving lots autographs, and just how great the whole experience is.  He is a Nike staff member, so Nike gave him a bonus when he qualified.  Maybe Tour Edge will do the same for me.  All I hope is that they could get me a 2 and 3 hybrid and a 12 degree driver head fast.

Need to go work on my signature.

June 26, 2013: Practice!?

Another call to the USGA today, and no return call.  So I will stop calling, don’t want to be a pest.

One more qualifying tomorrow, so any call will come after that.  I think there are 78 spots for qualifying, and through completed qualifying, 71 spaces have been taken.  So it seems that there may be additional spots for alternates after tomorrow’s qualifying.  One can only hope.

I actually “practiced” some pitch and lob shots.  Of all the things that I could improve on the fastest, and what might be key is 40 to 60 yard pitch shots.  I assume that missing fairways in Omaha will cause me to miss greens well short thus requiring good shots from this distance to do well.

June 25, 2103: No Sleep

Hardly slept last night too excited and nervous, thinking about all that I would do while there and what would be needed to prepare.  Down to getting clothes that would be better in 90 degrees and 90% humidity.

Called the USGA to find out the procedure on how they notify the alternates, left a message but no return call.

Chuck Milne called me today to congratulate me, saying that I will get in.

Howie Smith, who was the starter and who once worked for me at GMGC, sent a congratulatory e-mail and told all our mutual friends.

I looked at the qualifiers, and I recognized 11 of them: Jeff Wilson and Jeff Brehaut from UOP, Steve Pate (played with him at Mission Viejo in a Golden State Tour Event when I shot 32 on the back nine), his brother John who I played with in some Southern California amateur events, Vic Wilk ( I remember staying at the same house for a junior tournament at Los Coyotes and he had root beer and donuts for breakfast and I think went on to win the event), Jeff Hart and Bruce Nakamura from San Diego, Greg Bruckner and Jim Carter from college competition.

When I qualified for the Jr. Am and US Am I felt I belonged.  I was practicing and playing all the time, and doing well.  I was striving for a career playing golf and felt comfortable playing with that competition and confident in my abilities to play well.  But now, not so much.  I don’t practice, play only local events, never win local senior pro-ams on easy short golf courses.  And occasionally I put a good round together and win a few dollars, but nothing significant.

One of the things I learned on Monday was the meaning of being “in the moment”.  What I concerned myself with on Monday was focusing on making a good swing and a good shot regardless of possible consequences.  That particularly worked with putting. It allowed me to commit to the stroke without worrying about the consequences.  I took the attitude that my life didn’t depend upon it, which it doesn’t.

June 24, 2013: Qualifying Day

What an amazing day.  I have suddenly been hitting the ball much better in the past week, but unable to make putts.  A 71 at Club GreenMeadows the previous Friday, but had the opportunity for a 66.  Yesterday morning at GMGC a 70 leaving two strokes on short putts.

So heading into today’s qualifying at Willamette Valley CC for the US Senior Open I just wanted to hit tee shots in the fairway and putt well.  I really had no serious expectations of qualifying.  This was to be practice for the Chapter Championship and the Section Senior Championship.  I did think the course length with the undulating greens, it wouldn’t take too much under par to qualifying.

I was nervous to start, missing the first two fairways and first three greens making one par.  A par on the fourth from the trees, an easy up and down on the fifth calmed me down.  A birdie on the long, 615, par-5 sixth let me know I would play well.  Birdies on 8, 3-iron par-3 and a 25 foot putt, and 9, a 60 foot putt that nearly slam dunks are encouraging. At one under par making the turn, I am still focused on hitting each shot and putt the best I can without concern for positive or negative consequences

A terrible tee shot on 10 to the right trees and I still make par with a 10’ putt.  Tee shot on 11 barely misses the trees, I have never liked that tee shot, but I miss a short L-R birdie putt.  Still having problems with those.  A lucky break on 12 and another 10 footer made for par. 

Beginning with 13, the pin locations got tough.  A poor tee shot on this par-3 lead to a difficult two putt that I executed.  A birdie on the short par-5 14^th was nice, but I still didn’t think I could make enough birdies on the remaining holes to qualify.  Finally a three putt on the long par-3 15^th, a missed short L-R.  16 was playing 50 yards longer than I usually play it, so a 3-iron to a back left pin hooked too much but made a 6’ for par. 17 was a routine two putt par.  Another bad tee shot on 18, right in the trees well over 200 yards away with no chance to reach the green.  But a made 12’ putt kept me under par for the day, equaling my lowest round at Willamette Valley CC.

As I left the scores tent, I saw Bruce Stewart on the putting green, and he said he was waiting around to see what happens.  Then he told me he shot 70.  I just shook my head in disbelief and the irony of missing out on qualifying by one shot.  Neil Bartlett and all my college friends would laugh as well.  I can’t tell you how many times in missed qualifying (1983 US Amateur is the biggest), or cashing a check by only one shot.

Around the scoreboard, some players say that the first alternate from this qualifying should get it the championship.  The USGA reserves spots for “unlikely winners” on the Senior Tour.   An unlikely winner is someone who wins in the last few weeks before the championship that isn’t already qualified.

Three of us head to the first tee for the playoff to determine the first and second alternates.  Tom Carey, Meriwether National, misses a 6-7’ birdie putt on #1 while Randy Mahar and I both make pars.  On the par-5 second, both Randy and Tom hit good drives and I hook one into the left rough and I squirt a 2 hybrid to the right rough while Tom and Randy are side by side about 90 yards from the pin.  I have 130 out of the rough and need to keep the shot under the trees.  I first pull and 8-iron to play it back in my stance to keep it under the trees, but I determine that it is too risky feeling the ball would fly too high and hit the trees.  So I pull a 7-rion and make a smooth  130 yard shot perfectly under the trees to about 15 feet from the pin.  Tom hits his wedge to 20 feet and Randy misses the green.  Randy chips to a foot and Tom’s putt is too hard and misses high.  My putt is downhill with a slight double break.  I put no pressure on myself to make an exceptional putt, but I have seen the lines well all day, and this was no exception as the ball dropped for a birdie.  Now I have played this golf course at least a dozen times, and have never birdied this hole until today!

This is unbelievable.  Again after returning to the clubhouse afterwards, a player tells me that I will get in and what a great experience I will have.  I am having difficulty at this time keeping it together.  One of my goals I set 30 years ago was to play in every USGA event available to me – Jr. Amatuer, 1980, US Amateur, 1983, US Open, not going to happen, and the US Senior Open, 2013?.  To be able to play in the Senior Open will just be incredible.

What to do?  If I get in I am calling everyone I know that has played in a tour event or USGA Championship – Jeff Wilson, Jeff Coston, Tom Carey – to learn how to prepare and what to expect.

I asked Connor to caddie.  At first he was unenthusiastic, but when he found out it is an actual championship he is all over it.

I will need to adjust my work schedule to provide more opportunity to practice and play.  I will need a 12 degree driver and a couple hybrids, I expect I need more loft into greens.

But I am already nervous about the first tee.  If I get the first tee shot off, I would be fine.

If I go I want to learn – tour vans, fitness center, watch the tour guys prepare.  Play practice rounds with old friends – Duffy, Brehaut.  Ask the USGA if they have replica player medallions from the 1980 Jr. and 1983 Amateur that I could acquire.