My family and I arrived in Louisville Saturday night and jumped out on the back nine to play a few holes. There was only one other player out on the course. Only a practice round, but you could get a sense of how the golf course would play...LONG. I did make eagle on the 18th hole finishing up on Saturday. That's hopefully a good sign of things to come!
On Sunday, I played 18 holes and thought it would be a great day to play all the holes and go at my own pace. There were only about 20 other contestants. No big names out that I saw. It was a great opportunity to see the course and form a good game plan for where I could miss shots around the greens and get the ball up and down. Greens were running about a 10.5 on the stimp meter. That's not too fast. The course has 10 holes at 437 yards or longer. I highly doubt they will play them all back on the same day, but I'm prepared either way. I thought I played well, wasn't hurt if I didn't hit the ball correctly and made some birdies. Course will give up some birdies, but you may be making birdie with clubs other than the wedge.
I showed up early today to play nine holes, get the grips changed on the clubs and to play the front nine. I learned a bit more about the course today on the front. I can hit driver a couple of places more than I originally thought, but it needs to be strategic. I played behind Matt Kuchar today on the front and saw some faces from the past. I talked with Charlie Hoffman, Charles Howell, Erik Compton...all good guys and very friendly to talk too. I hit a lot of great shots and putted it well...just need to keep getting more comfortable.
There were loads of people on the course today, and I definitely felt more pressure. I went back to the basics on the range...PRESHOT Routine!!! Worked on that on the range and really started feeling comfortable. This will be key going forward to try and compete with all the hustle and bustle going on. BTW...check out the picture of me on the range today. That's Phil Mickelson in the background...he just shot -8 yesterday at Firestone. Wow, he is a well-built dude...on tv he looks a little heavier, but in person, he looks like a rock. Also, for those of you who are wondering...I was hitting driver exactly the same distance as Phil (but who is counting (me!! hahaha)). Turned in my clubs to the Taylor Made staff to get re-gripped. They'll have them in my locker in the morning. Putted for a while on the putting green and talked with last year's PNC Champ, Rod Perry. I asked him some questions about all the PGA events he played in over the last year and if he learned anything in particular. He said not much other than these situations give him more confidence going into the next one that he can handle the situations a little better each time. This also was an alarm going forward to keep my PRESHOT routine!
The rounds will go by super-fast. I need to find reassurance in my pre-shot routine to just be myself on each shot. It is okay to hit a bad shot! (I'll be telling myself that in the mirror every morning before I head out). The crowds were awesome today. All the people were very nice and courteous. I'm assuming the crowds will get ENORMOUS by the time Thursday and Friday roll around. Having fun and enjoying the process. I'm trying to take it all in. Tomorrow I will tee off on the back nine around 8:00 a.m. to play nine holes and get going before groups make the turn. Keep praying for me and I'll talk to you tomorrow.
Cheers,
Jamie
