After a long day, we shoot one over par and miss the cut. We caught a bad break for the first round as the Tour had to make the guys play the ball down for round one. Since the first round started Thursday morning under those rules, the Tour could not allow lift, clean and place after the heavy rain yesterday and over night. Kevin drove the ball great but we had zero control from the fairways. I have never seen so many balls with so much mud on each and every hole. There was nothing we could do. We managed it the best we could, shooting even par (72) even though we had balls flying "sideways" finishing so far off line; two of them ending in water hazards.
When we finished, we had about 1/2 hour to get ready for the second round. The Tour played lift, clean and place for round two. Kevin continued to drive it great but struggled with the putter. Only missing two greens through 13 holes, we could only manage two under par to that point. With 5 holes left to play and hanging on the "cut number", we missed the next three greens; making bogey on each of those holes. In a blink of an eye, we watched the entire day go down the drain. We once again left too many opportunities out there. Hitting it well, we only missed 8 greens for 36 holes and played those 8 holes 6 over par. We played the par 5's one over without a birdie and had a total of 63 putts. For the second year in a row, we leave the Shell Houston Open very frustrated.
As for leaving, we are all heading home tomorrow. I will be back pounding the pavement at 3am for my 16 hour drive home. I am hoping to get home before the kids go to bed. It looks like we will have two weeks off before our next start in San Antonio. We did not qualify for The Masters next week and we will need an exemption to get into Hilton Head the week after The Masters. We'll get our rest and try to do better next time.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Shell Houston Open - First Round (Suspended)
No golf for us today. A storm rolled in just before our 1:40 tee time and play was suspended at 1:30. It dropped about 1.5" of rain and the Tour could not get the course back playable before dark. Play was officially called for the day about 4:45pm. The practice facilities were open so we went out and hit a few balls, chipped and putted.
It looks like we will be in for a long haul tomorrow. Our tee time is set for 7:40am and as soon as we finish 18, we will go right back out for the second round. Some isolated thunderstorms are in the forecast for tomorrow but, if all goes well, we should get 36 holes in before dark.
As for Kevin's hip, he said it felt "better" earlier today during our first warm up. When we came back out tonight, we mainly hit short irons and only a few 3 woods. We did not hit the driver. He said it felt fine so he didn't want to push it. We have a lot of golf to play tomorrow.
It looks like we will be in for a long haul tomorrow. Our tee time is set for 7:40am and as soon as we finish 18, we will go right back out for the second round. Some isolated thunderstorms are in the forecast for tomorrow but, if all goes well, we should get 36 holes in before dark.
As for Kevin's hip, he said it felt "better" earlier today during our first warm up. When we came back out tonight, we mainly hit short irons and only a few 3 woods. We did not hit the driver. He said it felt fine so he didn't want to push it. We have a lot of golf to play tomorrow.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Shell Houston Open - Practice Days
When we arrived Tuesday morning, we went to the putting green to find a putter. Kevin's main concern was finding a putter with the same feel as his Odyssey Backstrike. He found another Odyssey putter with the same insert which provided the same feel. This putter produced the type of stroke his putting instructor, Pat O'Brien, was looking for with the same feel / distance control as his old putter.
After finding a putter, we warmed up and played a practice round with Vaughn Taylor, David Mathis and Matt Bettencourt. Mathis and Bettencourt only played nine and Vaughn continued on with us. Kevin played well and we had a great day with Vaughn, listening to Ryder Cup stories. Vaughn played on the 2006 Ryder Cup Team in Ireland. After the round, we had some lunch and Kevin had his left hip worked on by the physical therapist. His hip has been bothering him and got worse through the round. It really bothers him when he hits the driver. After his treatment, we went through our practice routine, concentrating on the short game and putting. Kevin finished his day with a workout and then took Brittany and I out for a great dinner in downtown Houston.
Wednesday was a light day. Kevin's hip is still bothering him when he starts hitting the longer clubs. His ball striking is good, so we didn't force the issue and spent most of the session on the scoring irons, chipping and putting. We tee off tomorrow afternoon at 1:40 with Erik Compton and Kyle Reifers.
After finding a putter, we warmed up and played a practice round with Vaughn Taylor, David Mathis and Matt Bettencourt. Mathis and Bettencourt only played nine and Vaughn continued on with us. Kevin played well and we had a great day with Vaughn, listening to Ryder Cup stories. Vaughn played on the 2006 Ryder Cup Team in Ireland. After the round, we had some lunch and Kevin had his left hip worked on by the physical therapist. His hip has been bothering him and got worse through the round. It really bothers him when he hits the driver. After his treatment, we went through our practice routine, concentrating on the short game and putting. Kevin finished his day with a workout and then took Brittany and I out for a great dinner in downtown Houston.
Wednesday was a light day. Kevin's hip is still bothering him when he starts hitting the longer clubs. His ball striking is good, so we didn't force the issue and spent most of the session on the scoring irons, chipping and putting. We tee off tomorrow afternoon at 1:40 with Erik Compton and Kyle Reifers.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Shell Houston Open - Monday Qualifier
As I was leaving the hotel this morning for the qualifier, Kevin text to let me know we moved to first alternate. We talked about not even going but since there was a pro-am on the Tournament course, we decided to head over to the qualifier. Kevin has only hit balls since his wedding, so we thought it would be good to get out on a golf course and play. But the day didn't last long. An official came out and told us we were in the field after only 5 holes into the qualifier. We hopped on the cart and headed in to the clubhouse.
We went over to the Tournament course, registered and then practiced. After some range work and chipping, Kevin was able to work with his putting instructor, Pat O'Brien. They worked for almost an hour, making a change away from his Odyssey Backstrike putter. Pat saw that the design of the Backstrike putter was putting Kevin into a bad position with his hands and he was manipulating the putter through the stroke. They switched to a "conventional shafted" putter and he started rolling it great. Since it was late in the day and all of the manufacturer reps were gone, we will be looking for a putter early tomorrow before we head out for a practice round.
We went over to the Tournament course, registered and then practiced. After some range work and chipping, Kevin was able to work with his putting instructor, Pat O'Brien. They worked for almost an hour, making a change away from his Odyssey Backstrike putter. Pat saw that the design of the Backstrike putter was putting Kevin into a bad position with his hands and he was manipulating the putter through the stroke. They switched to a "conventional shafted" putter and he started rolling it great. Since it was late in the day and all of the manufacturer reps were gone, we will be looking for a putter early tomorrow before we head out for a practice round.
Louisiana Open - Final Round
It wasn't the final results we were looking for this week. Richard's ball striking was better today statistically but we could only manage a one under par round (70). Trick's 8 under total left him two shots from the "magic top 25 number" which would have put him into the next Nationwide event in California.
Looking back on the week, 8 under par was actually a pretty good score with what we had this week. He fought his swing and putter all week but stayed patient and worked extremely hard for every shot. When you add his 8 under to his 5 under par on Monday; 13 under for the entire week of competition is pretty solid. The next "re-shuffle" on the Nationwide Tour will come after the next event. His position will improve and he will be getting into more events as the Tour moves to the east coast.
After the round, I hopped in the car and started my 200 mile drive over to Houston. An overturned semi turned a 3 hour trip into a 4 hour trip. Kevin texted me on my way in and I was able to meet Kevin and Brittany for dinner.
This morning we have moved to 2nd alternate. Our Monday qualifiying tee time is scheduled for 1pm. It feels like deja vu from last year. We were 3rd alternate in 2011 on Monday morning and teeing off in the afternoon for the qualifier. We played 7 holes before a Tour official came out to let us know we were in the field. We hope that happens again this year, but we still have to prepare to do our best today. You never know how many guys will withdraw, especially the week before a major, so we need to go out and prepare as if today was our only chance at getting into the event.
Looking back on the week, 8 under par was actually a pretty good score with what we had this week. He fought his swing and putter all week but stayed patient and worked extremely hard for every shot. When you add his 8 under to his 5 under par on Monday; 13 under for the entire week of competition is pretty solid. The next "re-shuffle" on the Nationwide Tour will come after the next event. His position will improve and he will be getting into more events as the Tour moves to the east coast.
After the round, I hopped in the car and started my 200 mile drive over to Houston. An overturned semi turned a 3 hour trip into a 4 hour trip. Kevin texted me on my way in and I was able to meet Kevin and Brittany for dinner.
This morning we have moved to 2nd alternate. Our Monday qualifiying tee time is scheduled for 1pm. It feels like deja vu from last year. We were 3rd alternate in 2011 on Monday morning and teeing off in the afternoon for the qualifier. We played 7 holes before a Tour official came out to let us know we were in the field. We hope that happens again this year, but we still have to prepare to do our best today. You never know how many guys will withdraw, especially the week before a major, so we need to go out and prepare as if today was our only chance at getting into the event.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Louisiana Open - Third Round
We had another tough day with the ball striking. Trick continues to have trouble driving the ball as we only found three fairways. The Tour played the ball "down" today so at least we weren't giving up much of an advantage by missing the fairways. Trick managed to hit 11 greens and had a solid short game to keep us in there shooting a two under par round (69).
After the round, he headed back to the range to work on things. He worked on his ball position, feeling like it has moved forward on him. After moving it back, he started to hit it more consistent and he decided to go with it. We finished the day with some putting practice before we called it a day.
We tee off tomorrow at 10:03 with Stephen Gangluff
After the round, he headed back to the range to work on things. He worked on his ball position, feeling like it has moved forward on him. After moving it back, he started to hit it more consistent and he decided to go with it. We finished the day with some putting practice before we called it a day.
We tee off tomorrow at 10:03 with Stephen Gangluff
Friday, March 23, 2012
Louisiana Open - Second Round
Today was another perfect day to play golf. The wind was down and the temperature was perfect. Trick drove the ball better today but he is still not happy with it. We caught two good breaks when we missed the fairway on the 18th and 4th holes which allowed us to still have shots to the green. Other then those two swings, I thought he drove the ball fairly well. Our only bogey came on the long par 3 third hole with a missed up and down from short of the green. He was able to add 4 birdies to that lone bogey for a round of three under par (68). Our five under total keeps us around with an opportunity to get something done over the weekend.
After the round, we went through the normal routine - putt, chip and hit balls. Kevin called this afternoon to check in on us and told me to just "stay out of Trick's way." He has made it back from their trip to New York and is now getting ready for the Houston Open with Rickey. When entries officially closed today at 5pm for the Houston Open, Kevin is the 5th alternate. We will have to play the Monday qualifier to try to get in or have five guys withdraw by Thursday. At least we now have two good chances at getting into the tournament.
Trick tees off tomorrow at 10:06 with Josh Broadaway.
After the round, we went through the normal routine - putt, chip and hit balls. Kevin called this afternoon to check in on us and told me to just "stay out of Trick's way." He has made it back from their trip to New York and is now getting ready for the Houston Open with Rickey. When entries officially closed today at 5pm for the Houston Open, Kevin is the 5th alternate. We will have to play the Monday qualifier to try to get in or have five guys withdraw by Thursday. At least we now have two good chances at getting into the tournament.
Trick tees off tomorrow at 10:06 with Josh Broadaway.
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