A Brand New Year

Well it's 2011 and I have been away for some time. As I look back my last post was talking about the possibilities of being a cast member of the Golf Channel's Big Break. Boy, I was really looking forward to that and hoping that I would become a member of that show. It was going to be a huge step forward in getting my face and name out there to the masses to be noticed and hopefully create some sponsorship buzz from it and hey, why not winning the whole thing!
Unfortunately, it wasn't the case. I received an email in December explaining that I had not been chosen but was asked to re-apply for the next season. It was an obvious let down as I had spent a good bit of money to travel to Florida and do the audition. Not only that but I had pulled myself out of the final Canadian Tour Palm Springs event which was being conducted on the same days. So I felt like I had wasted an opportunity to play in an event when I was playing great for an obvious opportunity of being on a TV show broadcast all over the world. I still stand by my decision but it makes you question your decision when it doesn't end up as you had hoped.
It seems a lot these past two months of 2011 have not turned out the way I had anticipated (as of yet). I have met a bunch of great people since the end of the tour season, some who I have been looking to as being a potential sponsor in my upcoming seasons. I have been working hard to find the financial help necessary to continue for my second tour season. I have been extending my reach to try and find companies interested in placing a logo on my golf bag and apparel in hopes of generating some of those funds.
This second year is a very big one for me and I fear it will have to be postponed because of the lack of funds. Postponing the charge in my golf career comes at a cost when everything is so fresh and I feel I am in the right position to get my break. There are a few reasons for that so let me explain.

1. Rookie Season is over - This past 2010 season on the Canadian Tour was not a very successful season monetarily but I learned a wealth of knowledge out there on tour. From how to travel, study the courses and plan your days leading up to the event. Where to stay, how to deal with caddies and how to conduct myself on the golf course, it was all the things a rookie has thrown at him and has never experienced. All the while having to compete at a high level against guys who have been doing this for years.

2. Course Knowledge - Now that I have played these courses I look forward to doing it all over again. It's no secret that the more you play a golf course the better you get. The more you play a course the more comfortable you feel out on that course and naturally the better you do. I missed 4 cuts by one stroke last season and looking back there are a million things I could have done to make those cuts but unfortunately it wasn't in the cards because of nerves, forcing shots or just not allowing myself to play at the level I'm able to. Returning to these courses with the knowledge I have gained from playing a few times already, getting all the greens breaks into my course books and tricks I learned throughout the year to compete at a higher level(Pre shot routines, breathing, in game thoughts). These things have all been huge breakthroughs for my game. I'm not saying I never had these tricks before but once you get out onto the competitive scene and professional golf it all changes. You need to re learn a lot of your tendencies to be successful because some may not work under the pressure of tour golf when it did in say, college.

3. Belief - The biggest lesson I learned out there on tour from the competition with some of the best golfers in our country and around the world is belief. It's something you have in yourself before you even start an event on the Canadian Tour but you don't exactly know where you stack up. You have a belief because of your past but everyone is so good out there and sometimes your belief is shaken. During my play on the Canadian Tour, even when leaderboard watching from the sidelines after missing a cut I have realized that I have what it takes without a doubt that I have what it takes to compete with anyone out there. The more and more I play, the more comfortable I will become and the more competitive I will be. I know that the Canadian Tour is the place where I will develop my game and grow to become a solid player. But the best thing I could have gained from this past year was the confidence that I belong out there. These guys are not far out of my league and I have what it takes to be one of the best.
Again, having the belief in yourself is one piece of the pie and same is gaining the knowledge of being a touring pro. But you can't do it if you don't have the money. Unfortunately for me (at this moment) I don't have what it takes. Some deals are in the works however and like these past couple months I am still waiting for them to materialize. I have confidence that it will work out but it gets tough as times begins to run out.
I have to return to Q School which takes place in Florida at the end of march. There is also another qualifying event which takes place the week after in California before the tour moves into Mexico. The events individually cost $2800 US but the Canadian Tour runs a deal if you want to sign up for both events. If I were to pay $5000 US I would be entered into both events, if I qualify for the tour in Florida I will be given back the $2200 for the California event, saving me $800 if I had to go to California. Just goes to show how expensive this pro golf stuff is when the qualifying school alone is so expensive, not mention the tour.
I plan on getting down to the warm weather in the next couple weeks so I can prepare for Q school. In that time I will be focusing heavily on cementing these sponsorsand getting the clubs swinging again over at Oakridge's indoor/outdoor range facility.
If you or anyone you think may be interested in helping out or getting their logo placed on my bag and clothing for the 2011 season please get in touch. My email is jacobscriven@gamil.com and I am still open to any possibilities. If you have any questions please feel free to get in touch.
It's a big season ahead and despite the past the future looks very bright, and I plan on keeping this journey rolling without hiatus.


JS

Reality TV ?

Last week I traveled to Orlando FL on an invitation to have an audition for a chance to be a part of the Golf Channel's reality TV show "The Big Break". A couple of months ago (sometime after the Tour Championship) I went onto the Golf Channel's website and found an application for the Big Break. My reason for doing it was because my season had finished and wasn't exactly the rookie season I was hoping for but thought that the Big Break would be another great way to continue having some excellent learning experiences on the golf course. I feel it's a great way to put my game under pressure in a whole different way. Being watched by a camera and knowing that Millions of people would be watching that episode would be a great way to develop my game into a whole other level. Plenty of players (now successful) have had their game flourish after being on the Big Break. Some notables are James Nitties - PGA Tour, Hugo Leon - Nationwide Tour, Tommy (two gloves) Gainey - Nationwide/ PGA Tour. I think a lot of their success came from their initial talent but blossomed from the high pressure created from this unique golf show.
My hopes are to be a cast member of this show. In order to do that, all I can do is sit and wait. In Orlando the audition was very quick and easy. After signing a waiver to allow the channel to perform a background check on me I was allowed to warm up for a few minutes. Shortly after I was asked to come in front of the camera and hit a few shots. That consisted of six 7 irons and 3 drivers. I thought they would have asked me to perform a few more golf shots but that was not the case, I guess they just wanted to see if I was lying on the application that I could actually hit a golf ball... Lots can be said by the looks of your swing, unless you use Jim Furyk as an example. Next I was introduced to a gentleman who mic'd me up and had a conversation or interview with him. We touched topics of how I got started in golf, what I thought my strengths were in my game, where I saw myself fitting in for the show and where I saw myself going on from here/what I thought I could get out of the Big Break.
I felt it was a successful but quick audition, I feel I did quite well considering I've never been in front of a camera but all in all I'm happy with the results up till now. So, at the moment we wait till they contact me and tell me that they will be conducting the background check. That's the point where I have made it to the "semi finals" of the audition process and then all that's left is them letting me know when I will be flying out for the taping, which I'm told will be between the 3rd of january and the 17th.

Wish me luck, just another chapter I hope added to the journey

JS

BIG 3 WEEKS AHEAD

I'm sorry I haven't made a post since Saskatoon. I certainly have had some good things happen since that dismal day bogeying last two holes to miss cut by two. Unfortunately for me the same tough stuff happened the following week when I bogeyed my 36th hole on Friday to miss the cut by one stroke. It was upsetting but I have really been playing well and feel that my game is moving in a great direction. Some proof was made when I place T2 in the Coppinwood Invitational last Monday earning a little check. Actually again, I made bogey on my final hole and missed a playoff for the win and a $5000 payday.

Lately I have had a three week break and I have used them well. Since I have been playing well I haven't wanted to mess with it too much so just a little warm up here and there and a casual round with a little wager to make the putts worth a little more. The weekends have been enjoyable, going up north to enjoy the cottage life and relax before a big three week push competing in the final 3 events of the Canadian Tour schedule.

Aug 12-15 : Jane Rogers @ Greystone GC in Milton, ON
Aug 19-22 : Seaforth Inv. @ Seaforth CC in Seaforth, ON
Aug 26-29 : Tour Championship @ St. Catherines CC in St. Catherines, ON

I am presently confirmed into the Jane Rogers and should be fine to get into the Seaforth event. The Tour Championship depends on earnings and at the moment I am in the event but need to make some more money in the next two to confirm my place. The next two events don't have a very large purse ($125,000) and the Tour Championship having a $325,000 purse, the biggest of the year. Since I'm playing well I really hope to do well and have some strong finishes. I am tired of worrying about making cuts and want to put my focus solely on hitting good shots and playing a strong round. I now understand that I am playing well enough and have the ability to compete very well in these events and deserve far more than I have achieved this year. What I would really like to do is earn my tour card for the 2011 year. In order to do that I need to earn around $7,000 for the season, which means I need to basically earn that in my next 3 events. Not out of the question ... like I said I'm playing really well.

So this upcoming week I play in Milton, ON and would love all the support I can get while competing in my first Canadian Tour events in Ontario. If you are interested in coming to the event I can request tickets. All I need is an email of how many you would need. You can email me at jacobscriven@gmail.com. Of course these are some very big weeks coming up and any and all support will be much appreciated. I look forward to seeing some familiar faces out on the links and I certainly can't wait to play some great golf for you either.

JS

Saskatoon Missed Cut

Yes, missing a cut in Saskatoon is no fun. I really enjoyed the golf course and have been playing well coming into this week. However, I still missed the -5 cut line yesterday and it hurt. Yesterday I rallied back, got off to a good start and found myself at -4 for tournament by my 16th hole. I was getting up and down when I had to (which wasn't much). I hit 14 greens and the two big ones were the final two holes 17 and 18. I knew I had to get it to -5 for tournament. That meant shooting a -6 66 for the day. A 219y par 3 over a bunch of gnarly dunes. I played it right and it rolled just off the green which meant a 40 foot putt from off green. Maybe I should have chipped it but I still like my decision to putt, it was over a couple humps and I left it 5 feet away and the killer was the lip out to ruin my bogey free round and put the pressure on to make an eagle on 18. Hitting the driver well I wanted to hook the ball into a dogleg left fairway and set up for a strong shot to the green. The ball not turning as much as I wanted flew through fairway and underneath the lip of the bunker. That pretty much solved the day there. Tried getting out, didn't and moved on.
All in all I can still say I'm happy. I'm learning, and I think I found something that I can really use to help me in the future. You see the first day I was really nervous and anxious over my putts, and I had looks at birdies all day. I was pushing, pulling, coming up short... A very timid sort of golf. It even felt like the day just blew by which I consider was lack of focus, or just trying to be too relaxed out there. Day 2 I really focused hard and controlled my breathing (deep breaths before putting) it seemed to help and I was hitting my putts. It was really the first round that hurt me. However I really think I found something that can work for in the future. It is always good to know that I can peg it with these guys out here and even better to know that I feel like I'm growing week to week even if I'm not playing in the event... Big key.
Looking forward to The Players Cup in Winnipeg, I have to Monday qualify at the moment being 3rd alternate. I hope I don't have to deal with it but whatever I'm playing well so hopefully I get through. Wish me luck

JS

Edmonton Out / Saskatoon Inn

Play on words for a title, but here I am in Saskatoon, a week after sitting around the first tee all day as first alternate. It was the second time I had been the first alternate for an event but this time I was surprised I didn't make it in. It was a pretty strenuous few days as I was the first alternate for three days until the final tee time went off 2:30 pm Thursday afternoon. Every phone call I heard ring in would have me so elated that I was going to get my start for the week. Instead, it was only a chance to get the heart rate up and the stress level higher. All is well though I promise. This week the tour is here in Saskatoon at Dakota Dunes golf club. Yesterday I played a practice round and can say that I am truly excited to play this event. The golf course is in great shape and seems like a great layout to have a good competition. I feel very comfortable with this course and hope to do very well and improve my position on the list before the Winnipeg re-shuffle. I can say I am playing well, during yesterdays round I was working the ball well both ways and also putting and chipping very nicely. Tomorrow I am part of a clinic held at the golf course where we will be getting paid $200 for the hour session. A very nice and easy way to pay for my food for the week. Anyways, Big week this week and I hope to do well, I am just going to calm down, let the stresses settle and get ready to have fun this week and make some serious money.


JS

PS for those of you that have been loving the weather in Ontario... it hasn't stopped raining all day, 30 mile winds and 15 C.

Tough Week

As you know I had the misfortune of playing this week through injury. I had hoped I would be able to work through the pain and stay calm and take it easy. At least get through the first couple days of pain, make the cut and hopefully by weekend pain is gone... Not the case. Because of the location of the spasm (under right shoulder blade) there was pain on the back swing however, the real problem was on downswing and finish I found myself leaving a lot of balls out to the right because my body wasn't allowing me to finish swing. That led to a lot of work on the short game or just a really really long putt... and I had a lot of those.
It's certainly dissapointing to have missed the cut but as I look at the number of great players that scored about as bad I did I realize I played some fairly decent golf through injury. Never once did I quit or give up due to pain and always tried to get myself right back in the game. I hope it's a character builder for when it comes to count and I feel healthy. I hope it's not long before this goes away, the most unfortunate thing about all this is how excited I was about competing in the Times Colonist which usually leads to good results. Second, how well I had been playing leading into this week. I felt like I was in the perfect place to have a strong finish. Either way, this had never happened to me where I have had a physical injury (other than flu) and had to make the decision to play through pain or WD. Another life lesson on the course and like I said before I hope it helps in the long run.

Tee Time 2:20

It's 10 am here in Victoria and I've already been to the golf course. Not exactly for practice but for therapy. Yesterday before I rolled in for the practice round the muscle underneath my right shoulder spasmed and left me in a little bit of discomfort, enough to finish after 10 holes and see the on site Dr. for some treatment. Last night was not a pretty scene as I was keeled over in pain hardly able to take a breath. I have never had this sort of problem and I will say for a golfer, this is one of those pains you wish you never had. Fast forward to now, the pain is still there but I have a larger range of motion in the back and I feel I will be able to get through today hoping the pain reduces by tomorrow. The weather is great right now, the sun is out, the wind is down and the course is soft. There is no reason why I would want to withdraw from competition at this point even with the discomfort.
Funny story, a couple of the guys who are the #1 and #2 alternates were offering $2000 to WD (under the table) from the event so they could get in. It goes to show you how important that cut in Puerto Vallarta really was as I would be one of those guys stranded in the alternate list. After this event is a reshuffle which means a chance for me to move up in the category 6 and after that there will be no more until we hit the Ontario events. Who knows, maybe being slightly injured or sick in my first rounds will be a good omen for me. I tee off at 2:20 and will be playing with two other Canadians. Greg Mactaller and a great guy who I was practicing with in Houston, Roger Sloan. Should be a good day, I'm looking for red numbers but mostly just trying to be calm relaxed and get through a day that may prove to be a little more challenging then I expected.

JS