Kevin and I met up on Monday to start preparing for this week's Waste Management Open. We had a great practice session which included working with wedge guru, Roger Cleveland. After working with Roger, Kevin will be getting some new wedges built to help produce the shots he wants and needs around the greens. After the short game work, we headed out to the range and spent time with the Callaway team getting Kevin into a better three wood and driver. Once everything was dialed in, we went out and played a late nine hole practice round with Woody Austin.
Tuesday was an early day as we teed off about 8:00am with Lucas Glover and Kevin Chappell. Kevin's new driver and three wood were awesome. He was swinging it well and we just spent the day learning the new redesigned course. With new tee boxes and greens that are less then a year old, the course was playing very long with extremely firm greens. The firmness of the greens reminded us of the US Open and it was difficult getting the ball close because we were hitting so many long to mid irons. When we finished, Kevin called it a day so he could support Brittany and the PGA Tour Wives Association at a wives golf outing.
On Wednesday, Kevin worked out in the morning and I met him after lunch. With the help of JT, we restructured our practice routine this week with an emphases on drills and mechanics during Monday and Tuesday and then focusing only on shot shapes, execution and results starting Wednesday. We incorporated this by calling out shots (yardage, trajectory, shape) and then playing the entire course on the range. We finished the day with some putting, working on speed drills and games.
Thursday we were first off at 7:30 with Luke Guthrie and Bo Van Pelt. Kevin played solid most of the day with only a few loose shots but once again we failed to get anything out of the round. His one over par (72) was frustrating for him and we headed to the putting green and range to do some work. Friday's round was played in some miserable weather. After an overcast morning, the rain started right as we were teeing off. It was never a hard rain but it was a steady, windy, cold rain that kept the umbrella up all day and the course playing extremely long. With a steady dose of 4 irons, 3 irons and hybrids, Kevin kept hitting lasers to about 20 feet. It was the most impressive day of ball striking I have seen, PERIOD. With the exception of the tenth tee shot, he did not miss a shot. But, unfortunately, this game all comes down to getting the ball into the hole. As well as he hit it, we just could not make the putts. We walked off the 18th green with another one over par round (72) and the two over total left us one shot shy of making it to the weekend.
So, once again, we leave a tournament disappointed but we have to keep reminding him of the positives. The work that we all have been putting in WILL pay off. I know because I can taste it! As for this next week, Kevin will be taking Torrey Pines off and staying out in Scottsdale with Brittany and Kate to practice before heading over to Pebble Beach. For me, I changed my flight and I'm on a plane right now heading back home to see the family. I'll check back in when we get to Pebble.
No comments:
Post a Comment