ATT Pebble Beach Pro-am (Round One - Pebble Beach)

Our 10:12 tee time off of number 10 met us with perfect weather. The wind we had earlier in the week left the course playing firm and fast. We played our practice round at Pebble on Tuesday and the greens were much softer then today. On a day when it was tough to get the ball close, Kevin's ball striking was very good. He drove the ball extremely well but three bad bogey's on holes 15, 6 and 7 summed up the day. On 15, we made bogey from 115 yards after a perfect drive. On the par 5 sixth, we made bogey from the middle of the fairway after going for the green in two from 212 yards to the front of the green. And then on the par 3 seventh, we missed the green short from 90 yards. Even though Kevin continued to struggle with the putter, missing quite a few opportunities, these three holes cost us three to four shots at the end of the day. Forget about the putts he missed, our 2 over par 74 could have been an under par round of 70 or 71 on a very difficult scoring day. It was the highest score we should have shot, so we need to take that as a positive considering where we were the past few weeks. We walked off the golf course today with the thoughts about cleaning up the round rather then searching for something that will work. I continue to be very encouraged with the progress. We are off to Monterey Peninsula tomorrow. Teeing off at 9:28.

Pebble Beach Pro-am (Practice Days)

We had three great days of practice. After a few days off at home, Kevin and I both flew in on Sunday. We met up Monday morning and played a practice round at Spyglass. Kevin started working with Ricky Sullivan last week in Charleston, SC and Ricky came out to Pebble for the week. They changed Kevin's address position by lowering his center of gravity in his setup. He maintains that position throughout the swing and has the feeling of swinging more level with his chest through impact. Kevin is hitting the ball extremely well. After the round, we returned back to Pebble and worked on the short game. An adjustment with his right hand grip started producing the pitch and lob shots Kevin was looking for and then some work in the bunker with "less hinge" in the backswing completed a very productive day.

On Tuesday, we played Pebble Beach with amateur Joe Rice and celebrity (singer) Darius Rucker. Mr. Rice played with Dustin Johnson (two-time defending Champion) the last two years. It was an extremely windy day but Kevin's ball striking held up in the windy conditions. We had a great time as Kevin's girlfriend, sister, and brother-in-law all arrived for the week and met us on the back nine.

Today we played Monterrey CC with Tommy Gainey. Another golf course with great views along the water. Kevin continues to hit it well. The bumpy greens have Kevin a little rattled so after a short session on the range we spent the rest of the day on the putting green. Kevin felt his hands were getting a little too high and Ricky felt that Kevin was not striking his putts with enough "authority." He thought Kevin was stroking his putts too soft and the ball was not rolling very well off of the putter. They worked on increasing his grip pressure slightly and then maintaining that pressure through the entire stroke. The ball instantly starting rolling better and it was staying on line even though the ball was bouncing.

Tomorrow we start at Pebble Beach at 10:12.

Farmers Insurance Open (Torrey Pines) - Second Round

We shot even par 72 today. The ball striking was average but we still had plenty of opportunities. We needed to make a few putts today but that did not happen. We miss read too many and when we finally had the correct line, the speed was off. Our three over total of 147 was four shots off the cut line.

We are not in the field for next week's Tour event in Scottsdale, AZ. Kevin will have to Monday Qualify. Our plan is to play tomorrow morning in a Pro-am on the North Course and then we will take the six hour drive over to Scottsdale. Kevin's good friend, Scott Brown, is also coming out to try the Monday Qualifier. Kevin will meet up with Scott tomorrow night and then we will play a practice round together on Sunday.

Farmers Insurance Open (Torrey Pines) - First Round

We play two courses this week at Torry Pines. The South Course is the course that the US Open was held and is the "more difficult" of the two courses. The lower scores are typically shot on the North Course.

Today we played the South Course and was paired with Andres Gonzales and James Oh. We still fought the driver today but it is was better. Kevin grinded it out the entire day but it was all spoiled by a poor 18th hole. On the par 5 18th, the drive went left and all we could do was advance it about 140 yds down the fairway. After a nice lay up down the fairway, we hit a 6 iron well right of the green. A nice pitch to 5 feet but 3 putts later - adds up to a double bogey 7 to finish the day. We shot 3 over par 75.

After signing the scorecard, we headed to the range. Our session went well. We will need a good one tomorrow. We tee off the tenth tee on the North Course at 9:20.

Bob Hope - Fourth Round

Another solid day of ball striking with the exception of the final tee shot on 18 that led to a double bogey. We shot 2 under 70. The day was much like the third round. I feel like he is finally back to feeling comfortable on the golf course. All we need to do is clean up a few swings and sharpen up the short game. This game is hard enough but when you add in working on swing mechanics, it is near impossible. We have worked hard and cleared that hurdle.

One of Kevin's amateurs today was a Doctor from Canada that I played with on the Canadian Tour. I represented a Medical Supply Company called Mentor from 2000 through 2002. I played with him at the Vancouver Open and I also did an outing at his club in Kelowna, BC. His caddy this week was another Doctor that I also played with on that day. Talk about a small world!!!

Bob Hope - Third Round

It's getting closer. Our scores are not showing it but we are getting closer. We were only two swings away from shooting an easy 4 under par. Kevin's even par 72 included a 9 iron that plugged under the lip of a bunker and a driver pull hooked out of bounds. Both of these swings led to double bogeys. The two swings plus a few more putts and the easy 4 under turns into a 7 under round. That is how close it is. Kevin is still frustrated with the poor swings but considering how it was a week ago in Hawaii, we need to focus on the positive. It's a long year that is just beginning. 

Tomorrow we will be playing the Nicklaus Course at PGA West.

Bob Hope - Second Round

We woke up this morning to a wind advisory. When we showed up to the course, the wind was already blowing a solid 15-20 mph. Kevin had a good warm up session on the range. The stuff we worked on last night was something that he can feel and it showed today. Kevin's ball striking was very good all day with the exception of a few shots early in the round. We ended up shooting one under 71 but only made one putt outside of 10 feet on the eighth hole. Kevin gave himself plenty of opportunities. It was the ball striking round we were needing so he could finally start feeling comfortable with what he is working on.

After the round, we went back to the range to continue working on the same stuff. It was nice to get to the range and work on maintaining something rather then trying to find something. Kevin has kept a great attitude the past 12 days during a very frustrating time. There is no quit in this kid and he has worked his tail off. 

Tomorrow we move over to PGA West and play the host Palmer Course. We will need two great rounds the next two days but no matter what happens this week, we are heading in the right direction.