Well, we all finally made it to California. My journey started Sunday afternoon, flying from Charlotte, NC to Atlanta, GA to El Paso, TX. I arrived in El Paso Sunday night at 10pm. Then it was off to Phoenix, AZ Monday morning at 6am connecting on to Ontario, CA. After 24 hours and five different states, I finally made to San Jacinto.
Kevin's journey started Monday but his flight was cancelled. He had to wait to fly Tuesday morning and was rerouted to LAX rather then the Ontario airport. LAX is not only further away from San Jacinto but he now had to change his car rental, hotel reservations, etc. It was a mess. Kevin finally arrived to the course around 2pm (that is 5pm est after waking up at 3:30am est). After a little practice, we went out for a nine hole practice round. He actually hit it very well and we had a good practice session. Kevin's girlfriend, Brittany, is out with him this week. Brittany came and picked us up about 5pm and then we all went out for some dinner.
For those of you that don't know, Kevin is also dealing with the Shingles. A few weeks ago, he had some back pain and then a rash broke out on his lower back while we were in Boise, ID. So early last week, he went to the Doctors and was diagnosed with Shingles. He lost focus in Salt Lake and looked very tired in Boise which are all symptoms of Shingles. He says he is feeling much better but the things I have heard about Shingles are they can be very painful. Lets hope the worse is behind him.
We are in the morning pro-am tomorrow at 7:30.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Boise Open - Sceond Round
Kevin started the day with an unbelievable warm up session. He carried the warm up out to the course and had a very good ball striking day. We teed off number 10 and birdied the 11th and 12th holes to get the day started. One bad swing with a five iron on the par 3 number 13 lead to a bogey and killed the momentum. Another good birdie on 16 was followed by a 3-putt bogey from the fringe on the par 3 17th that killed the momentum once again. We made the turn at one under par (-2 total). Back to back 3-putts on the 3rd and 4th holes put us in a position that we could not get out of. We ended up shooting even for the day (-1 total) and missed the cut.
Kevin is taking next week off as the Tour goes to Midland, TX. As I mentioned yesterday, Kevin is worn out both physically and mentally. The week off will be good for us. It is time to recharge the battery and get ready for the home stretch. Even though it looks like Kevin has his PGA Tour card for next year, every week is so important. Each position on the money list could mean more opportunities to play early in the year on the west coast. We need to continue to play well and stay focused.
As for me, I am flying home on Monday. Looking forward to getting home, spending time with the family, cooking out, and playing a little golf of my own. I hope everyone has a great week next week and I'll sign back on when we get to Soboba, CA.
Kevin is taking next week off as the Tour goes to Midland, TX. As I mentioned yesterday, Kevin is worn out both physically and mentally. The week off will be good for us. It is time to recharge the battery and get ready for the home stretch. Even though it looks like Kevin has his PGA Tour card for next year, every week is so important. Each position on the money list could mean more opportunities to play early in the year on the west coast. We need to continue to play well and stay focused.
As for me, I am flying home on Monday. Looking forward to getting home, spending time with the family, cooking out, and playing a little golf of my own. I hope everyone has a great week next week and I'll sign back on when we get to Soboba, CA.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Boise Open - First Round
We teed off this morning at 8:40 paired with Charles Warren and Patrick Sheehan. It is a great pairing this week. Kevin has played many practice rounds with Patrick and Charles has been a family friend since Kevin was young. Everyone was relaxed and enjoyed the day.
Kevin played fairly well today with the exception of two tee shots and one three putt green. We had three bogeys along with four birdies to shoot one under par (70). Kevin was not in total control of his swing but he managed his game well and kept the ball in front of him (putting it in the right position). By doing this, we had plenty of opportunities which is the goal each day. We struggled with a few reads on the greens but if we were able to convert a few more putts it could have been a great day.
After the round, Kevin hit some putts and then went to work on the range. We worked on getting the club in front of him on the way down and then swinging left by turning his chest through (less arms). When the body gets tired, you have the tendency to swing too much with your arms and the swing gets out of sync. Kevin has played a lot of golf and the win has taken a lot out of him. By the end of the session, he was hitting it much better.
Earlier this week, The Golf Channel asked Kevin for some interviews and said he would be the featured player on Friday. Coverage comes on at 4:30pm (EST) - 7:00pm. Check him out!!!
Kevin played fairly well today with the exception of two tee shots and one three putt green. We had three bogeys along with four birdies to shoot one under par (70). Kevin was not in total control of his swing but he managed his game well and kept the ball in front of him (putting it in the right position). By doing this, we had plenty of opportunities which is the goal each day. We struggled with a few reads on the greens but if we were able to convert a few more putts it could have been a great day.
After the round, Kevin hit some putts and then went to work on the range. We worked on getting the club in front of him on the way down and then swinging left by turning his chest through (less arms). When the body gets tired, you have the tendency to swing too much with your arms and the swing gets out of sync. Kevin has played a lot of golf and the win has taken a lot out of him. By the end of the session, he was hitting it much better.
Earlier this week, The Golf Channel asked Kevin for some interviews and said he would be the featured player on Friday. Coverage comes on at 4:30pm (EST) - 7:00pm. Check him out!!!
Monday, September 13, 2010
Boise Open - Monday Practice
After missing the cut last week, Kevin took the weekend off. Saturday was spent watching College football and yesterday was spent in the car driving up to Boise, ID from Salt Lake City, UT. It was about a five hour drive so I arrived in Boise about 4pm. My hotel this week is much nicer then last week. I'm in a Hyatt Place about 5 minutes from the golf course. My roommate (Randy Dietz - caddies for Jon Mills) flew in about 10:30pm (they took last week off). I picked him up at the airport about 11pm and then came back and went to bed.
I met Kevin this morning around 9am. We warmed up and then played a practice round with Darron Stiles. Kevin loved the course. It is in great shape and the greens are fast. Kevin spent extra time around the greens chipping and putting. We also worked on keeping his arms connected better through the swing. Last week he talked about hitting alot of shots in the heel of the club. We talked and felt like he could do better keeping his arms connected to his body. To feel this, Kevin played most of his round with a golf glove under his right arm. He started hitting it much better. With his putter, I felt his rhythm was off. He practiced hitting putts with his eyes closed. This really helped him get a better rhythm and flow back into his stroke. With all of this, we had a great day of practice.
Tonight, I'm planning on having a little dinner and watching some MNF. It's kinda cool having MNF coming on at 5pm. I actually have a chance of staying up and watching an entire game!!!
I met Kevin this morning around 9am. We warmed up and then played a practice round with Darron Stiles. Kevin loved the course. It is in great shape and the greens are fast. Kevin spent extra time around the greens chipping and putting. We also worked on keeping his arms connected better through the swing. Last week he talked about hitting alot of shots in the heel of the club. We talked and felt like he could do better keeping his arms connected to his body. To feel this, Kevin played most of his round with a golf glove under his right arm. He started hitting it much better. With his putter, I felt his rhythm was off. He practiced hitting putts with his eyes closed. This really helped him get a better rhythm and flow back into his stroke. With all of this, we had a great day of practice.
Tonight, I'm planning on having a little dinner and watching some MNF. It's kinda cool having MNF coming on at 5pm. I actually have a chance of staying up and watching an entire game!!!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Utah Championship - Friday
We teed off today at 2:00pm. The weather was great. It was sunny and about 65 degrees. Unfortunately, the weather was about the only thing that was good today. It seemed like we just could not get it right this week. When we played the ball to bounce and release - it would be soft and the ball would stop. When we played the ball to check and stop - it would bounce and release. We struggled with distance control, wind direction, etc. You name it...we struggled with it!! As easy as it seemed last week, it was twice as hard this week.
We ended up shooting two over (73) today for a three over total. The cut fell at one under par. The week can be summed up on the par five's. As much as we struggled, we just did not take advantage of the par 5's this week. There are five par 5's on this course and most of them were reachable in two. We were only able to make two birdies on the ten par five's we played in two days.
Next week in Boise, ID we will have to deal with the high altitude again. The weird thing about playing at high altitude is the adjustment changes with the temperature. Early mornings could only be a 5% adjustment and it could go up to 10% or more in the afternoon. So this is something Kevin and I will work on so we can be better prepared by next Thursday. I'm real excited about next week because I feel it is a perfect course for Kevin's game. I'm looking forward to it!!!
We ended up shooting two over (73) today for a three over total. The cut fell at one under par. The week can be summed up on the par five's. As much as we struggled, we just did not take advantage of the par 5's this week. There are five par 5's on this course and most of them were reachable in two. We were only able to make two birdies on the ten par five's we played in two days.
Next week in Boise, ID we will have to deal with the high altitude again. The weird thing about playing at high altitude is the adjustment changes with the temperature. Early mornings could only be a 5% adjustment and it could go up to 10% or more in the afternoon. So this is something Kevin and I will work on so we can be better prepared by next Thursday. I'm real excited about next week because I feel it is a perfect course for Kevin's game. I'm looking forward to it!!!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Utah Championship
Monday was a long day. My flight arrived into Salt lake City at 11:00pm (1am est), picked up my rental car, and finally made it to my hotel a little after midnight (2am). I was hoping the reviews I read about my hotel were wrong but when I checked in...it was worse then I expected. Oh well, at least the bed is comfortable!!!
Kevin and I met up on Tuesday a little after lunch. We practiced and then went out for nine holes with Casey Wittenberg. We finished our day shortly before 6pm. The club hosted a nice BBQ at the pool for everyone so I decided to hang around for some dinner.
On Wednesday, we were in the afternoon pro-am that teed off at 1:45. Kevin came out before lunch and we worked on the range. He also spent some time testing out some 2 irons. He was able to find one with a different shaft that now allows him to work the ball both ways. After lunch, we putted until our tee time. The pro-am finished about 7pm, stopped for some dinner on the way back to the hotel, and was in bed by 9pm.
Today we teed off at 9:10 with JJ Killeen and Jeff Quinney. The weather was cold and windy. Kevin played solid starting out and was 3 under through 10. He lost his tempo on the back and missed every green except the par five's. He fought hard to make pars but it finally caught up to us on the last three holes when he was unable to get those up and down. We finished at one over (72). Another thing that made it difficult today was adjusting for the high altitude. We are at 4800 ft so the ball flies much further here. Add that to the cold, windy, firm conditions...its tough!! After the round, we worked on tempo and he is feeling better about things. Looking forward to getting at it tomorrow!!!
Kevin and I met up on Tuesday a little after lunch. We practiced and then went out for nine holes with Casey Wittenberg. We finished our day shortly before 6pm. The club hosted a nice BBQ at the pool for everyone so I decided to hang around for some dinner.
On Wednesday, we were in the afternoon pro-am that teed off at 1:45. Kevin came out before lunch and we worked on the range. He also spent some time testing out some 2 irons. He was able to find one with a different shaft that now allows him to work the ball both ways. After lunch, we putted until our tee time. The pro-am finished about 7pm, stopped for some dinner on the way back to the hotel, and was in bed by 9pm.
Today we teed off at 9:10 with JJ Killeen and Jeff Quinney. The weather was cold and windy. Kevin played solid starting out and was 3 under through 10. He lost his tempo on the back and missed every green except the par five's. He fought hard to make pars but it finally caught up to us on the last three holes when he was unable to get those up and down. We finished at one over (72). Another thing that made it difficult today was adjusting for the high altitude. We are at 4800 ft so the ball flies much further here. Add that to the cold, windy, firm conditions...its tough!! After the round, we worked on tempo and he is feeling better about things. Looking forward to getting at it tomorrow!!!
Monday, September 6, 2010
Mylan Classic - Final Round
2010 Mylan Classic CHAMPION. Kevin shot a bogey free 67 to win by one shot. The win moves us to 14th on the Money List and in good shape for the rest of the year. (top 25 gain 2011 PGA Tour cards)
Kevin played great all day. Right from the first tee shot that he striped down the middle to the final 4-footer that he hearted in the center of the hole on the 18th. I was very impressed with his composure today. Our goal/thought for the day... "golf is a process, f*** results". We were so toned into the process, he was completely focused on hitting great shots. He was calm and in control all day. Nothing bothered him and he handled the pressure like a Champion.
Kevin played great all day. Right from the first tee shot that he striped down the middle to the final 4-footer that he hearted in the center of the hole on the 18th. I was very impressed with his composure today. Our goal/thought for the day... "golf is a process, f*** results". We were so toned into the process, he was completely focused on hitting great shots. He was calm and in control all day. Nothing bothered him and he handled the pressure like a Champion.
I have a busy day ahead of me today. After the tournament last night, I drove 7 hrs home. I got home about mid-night. Woke up this morning and doing laundry. I'm flying out to Salt Lake City, UT this afternoon from Charlotte. I'm trying to get packed early so I can spend some time with the kids today. Thanks to everyone for their text, emails, phone calls and voice mails. The support means a lot!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)