Day 4 - 71 : Silverthorn CC

I apologize for not posting as prompt as the last three entries but the end result was disappointing and has been haunting me now ever since I tapped in my bogey on the eighteenth hole. Before the round I believed that if I shot a 67 I would have no problem earning my card. That would leave me at -2, I felt that was a comfortable place to sit as I was one of the first guys in on that day and would have to wait the duration of the back nine. Once we began the round I felt great again, the second hole I left a downhill putt short by a dimple for birdie which I laughed off as I was instructed by Barry who had been having success by laughing off tough breaks the last two days. When I went to the 3rd hole I hit a big drive straight down the middle favouring the left side which gave me a great angle at going to the green in two... downwind, 220 over water completely. I didn't catch it as well as I would've liked and it came about two feet short of clearing and I made a bogey. When I came off that green I was upset because all I really wanted to do was avoid the bogey and take my birdies when they came... and there would be a lot because I have hit my tee ball so well. Next hole I flew the ball just too far and missed a 7 footer par putt... Now I was getting a little angry, the 67 I was looking to shoot was going to be tough and didn't have to be as hard as I was making it. I actually got angrier on the 6th hole, the number 1 handicap hole on the course. I had a 6 foot birdie putt and missed it short side (and I felt like I had hit a great putt). I missed my 10 foot birdie on the next hole 7 par 5 and the same thing on 9... had an 8 footer and had a 4 footer coming back (it was actually a very tough pin placement). So when we made the turn it was tough telling the scorekeepers I was 2 over because I knew I had 9 holes left to make something happen.
On the tenth hole I hit a great tee shot and was left with 62 yards to a back to front green... hit past the flag and spun back to the front of green which was only a 12 footer, it lipped out. 11th hole I got up and down and at that point I said to myself " I will play these next holes perfect"... kept on repeating it. Numbers 12 (493 par 5), 13, 14, 16 and 18 are all terribly easy golf holes if you make your tee shot. As I kept telling myself that I was just hoping the putts would fall and sure enough I had a 12 footer downhill for eagle on 12 and made it in. Moved to next hole, 60 yards left from a divot, 15 feet left of hole and lipped it out (and yes I was angry)... made a 12 footer for birdie on 14. Stuck my 15 hole ball 15 feet right of flag (par 3) and rolled that putt over the edge. 16 I made about a 20 footer , thank goodness that straight putt stayed online. I two putted on 17 for par and made my way to 18 four under par on the back nine only have making three putts. Very nerve wracking tee shot I had a couple re grips more than usual, I ripped my tee shot way down fairway. 18 is a par par 5 520, and it was playing downwind and I hit my ball in perfect position to make the green in 2 to hopefully two putt, make my birdie and sweat out the afternoon at even par... hey maybe I eagle and -1, I thought that was in for sure as well. 180 yards a good breeze downwind... water is in front and to the right of green and the pin is located on the right side of green 7 paced off right to be exact. From the middle of the green there is a slope that falls to hole. That made it quite easy for me, I had a lady in a prominent blue dress standing behind the green on the left portion of the green, I took aim at her with a 7 iron and hit the shot. I caught it slightly low on the face which means coming out of it a bit. I watched my ball sail towards the at the middle of the green, straight at the flag, then right of green and in the water. Crushed I dropped my ball and two putted for a bogey on the last and knew I had ruined my chances at earning my card. Now I know I made a good run at it in the clutch and all week no putts fell even tough I felt I putted well, and over the 4 days missing by two strokes is really nothing. But I had that card in my hand, a 7 iron to the center of the green.
That is "the" nightmare of the Q school, the tree putt on the last, the ball in the water... those are the ones you hear about and you hope you never have to endure it. Well, it happened... to me, and it really sucks. I've been using my NLP training from my mental strategy sessions to replay the round and further more that shot. I've hit that shot a thousand times perfect now in my head and I can assure you it makes me angrier to know just how easy that was to make that shot and earn my card.
I did learn some good things this week however, I know I have it within me to be there and I know it will happen. I learned a little more how to plug away one shot at a time in a 72 hole event and never get down. It has given me a great deal of confidence in myself to play to my potential... I mean when those putts start to fall, look out.

I return back to Houston today, Barry and I will be stopping in New Orleans half way to break the drive up. Maybe do some celebrating as well as he earned partial status on the tour in first position... so basically he will be in every event this year. I have entered myself into the Shell Houston Open qualifier and hope to make it in to that, win and go to the Masters. If not, I will be working on the game and get set for spring Q school in Vancouver May 26th.

Thanks for all the well wishes I play as though you all are watching every shot and I enjoy having that ... because I hate making bad shots in front of anyone.

JS